FAMILY DAY
Monday, February 19th
Monday, February 19th is Family Day, a day to celebrate our families. The Parish Office will be closed and there will be no 9:00 AM Mass on that day.
FEAST OF ST. GABRIEL
Tuesday February 27th is the feast of St. Gabriel. St. Gabriel, a member of the Passionist Community, was born Francis Possenti on March 1st, 1838 in Assisi.
In September, 1856, he entered the Passionist novitiate but before his ordination, he contracted tuberculosis. He died February 27th, 1862 at the age of 24. Francis had a special devotion to Mary and chose as his religious name Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin. He is remembered for his enthusiasm in life and his extraordinary generosity. Pope John XXIII proclaimed him as a special Patron of Youth. Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 AM
LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
Sunday, February 25th after 12:30 PM Mass
Saturday, February 10th, 2024 marked the beginning of Lunar New Year. This year is the Year of the Dragon. For many years, the Asian community in our parish has gifted our parish community with a wonderful Lunar New Year Party. This year, the Lunar New Year Celebration will take place on Sunday, February 25th after the 12:30 PM Mass in the Gathering Space. A group from a Chinese Church will perform the Lion Dance. All are welcome. Don’t miss it!
ANNOUNCED MASSES
February 19th – February 25th, 2024
MONDAY – FAMILY DAY – No 9:00 AM Mass
TUESDAY – RAYMUND MARTE ✞ – Requested by Michelle Alonzo
WEDNESDAY – THANKSGIVING – Requested by Amal Asha
THURSDAY – PRINCESITA MARTIN ✞ – Requested by Larry & Leonore Cacao
FRIDAY – CHIARA INTINI ✞ – Requested by the Annibale & Oakie Family
SATURDAY – JOYCE & CATHY DRAB ✞ – Requested by their Family
SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – BRUNO CORTESE ✞ – Requested by Antonietta Cortese
SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – EAMON GAUGHAN – Requested by Agnes Gaughan
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Stations of the Cross will take place each Friday evening during Lent at 7:30 PM.
You are also encouraged to attend our daily Mass as often as possible throughout Lent.
STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION
1st Sunday of Lent
1st Reading: Genesis 9.8-15
2nd Reading: 1 Peter 3.18-22
Gospel: Mark 1.12-15 – THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS
As we read the account of Jesus’ temptation in the desert, we should realize that we too have to fight temptations. When temptations come our way, we must intentionally distance ourselves from the source of temptation and pray for strength
This Lent, let us begin to run away from occasions of sin and fill ourselves with good things from God instead which will slowly help us grow in holiness.
CARING FOR THE HOMELESS IN OUR CITY
Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.
Rosalie Hall is an accredited children’s mental health facility focusing on the needs of pregnant and parenting youth ages 12-25, their children, and their families.
Good Shepherd provides hot meals, clean clothes and shelter for the homeless in our city They help find housing and provide follow up support. They support the homeless who are working to overcome addictions and provide a chance to start again through the Resettlement or DARE Programs.
Your food donations are so important as numbers of people in need continue to increase. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.
SHARELIFE
Support our vulnerable youth through ShareLife
In this time of Lent, we ask you to think of our brothers and sisters in need – especially our vulnerable youth who call the streets their home.
“Your gift ensures youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness have access to individualized support and variety of programs and services to meet their complex and diverse needs,” says Mark Aston of Covenant House Toronto. “With your caring support, youth have a safe space to turn to and a supportive team to help them plan their own path.”
Please give at the parish using a ShareLife envelope, online through our parish website, or at sharelife.org/donate.
CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
Next Weekend, February 24th/25th
Your prepared frozen casseroles will be collected at the Masses next weekend for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. Many more volunteers are needed to help feed the hungry in our city.
Three recipes are available on St. Gabriel’s web site. Printed copies of the recipes are also available in the Parish Office. Pans can also be picked up here in the office. Please remember to mark the label on the pan lid with the name of the casserole. For more information, you may contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.
THANK YOU FROM THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL – ST. GABRIEL CONFERENCE
We very much appreciate your contribution to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. Your support assists our Neighbours in Need locally as well as those in need served through the Society’s programs and services.
The St. Gabriel’s conference is comprised of volunteers from the parish. Together with your support, we provide assistance to persons who require help with food, furniture, clothing or other essentials, support and friendship.
St. Gabriel is a member conference of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Greater Toronto Central Council. You may know us best by our collection boxes and Bundle Up clothing drives, however the Society also serves as follows:
Emergency Shelters for women in crisis: Amelie House, Elisa House, Mary’s Home, St. Clare’s Residence
Supportive Housing: DePaul, Martineau and Vincent Homes for adults requiring developmental services, St. Francis Residence for adults living with mental health challenges, Ozanam House and VincenPaul Community Homes for men in recovery
Camps for children: Marygrove Camp and Camp Ozanam
Other programs: Stores Division and Court Services
During this pandemic year, St. Gabriel’s conference managed to visit 88 families in the parish, assisted 170 adults and 144 children with food, clothing, bedding and furniture. During Christmas, we distributed grocery assistances and gift cards donated by parishioners to 17 families.
You will be remembered in the Society’s masses and prayers.
Sincerely on behalf of the Conference of St. Gabriel,
Brenda D’ Souza
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR
Registration for the 2024-2025 school year began on January 24th, 2024 at 10:00 AM. Children born in 2020 are eligible to register.
The following original documents for your child are required upon registration:
- Birth certificate.
- Proof of Catholicity (one of the following documents): Your child’s Catholic baptismal certificate.
- The parent’s Catholic baptismal certificate (note: the Catholic parent must provide proof of residency in the City of Toronto).
- A letter of enrolment to the R.C.I.A./R.C.I.C. program.
- Passport / immigration documents (if child was not born in Canada).
- Two proof of address documents.
Connect with us for questions about the admission process
Admissions and Placement Department:
Email: admissions.registration@tcdsb.org or Phone: 416-222-8282 ext. 5320
PLANNING TO BE A CATHOLIC TEACHER?
If you are planning to be a teacher, it is important for you to know that to be hired to teach in any Catholic school board in Ontario, there must be a letter of reference from your pastor as part of your application.
The letter explaining that you belong to and participate in the community cannot be written if your pastor does not know you. It is recommended that you have a conversation with him early in the process well before the applications are to be submitted.
PALLIATIVE AND BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY TRAINING
February 15th, 22nd, 29th and March 7th, 14th, 21st
Online from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
For those who may be interested in becoming a member of the Palliative and Bereavement Ministry Team in our parish, the next archdiocesan bereavement ministry training will be coming up shortly. This online training will be held from February 15th, 22nd, 29th, March 7th,14th & 21st, 2024 from 7 :00 to 8:30 PM All are Thursday evenings. The training is designed for new and seasoned parish bereavement ministers. It will explore ways to begin a bereavement ministry or enhance the present bereavement ministry programs in the parish. Registrants are required to participate in all online sessions and complete pre-homework to receive full training.
If you would like to discern about your call to this important ministry to those who are grieving, please contact Sr. Maria Lucia at StGabrielBereavement@gmail.com and she will guide you through the process before you are recommended to attend the training. There is no cost to attend the training but registration is required (space is limited).
“WITNESS THE WORK OF THE PASSIONISTS OF KENYA AND TANZANIA” THIS SEPTEMBER!
The Passionists of East Africa have invited a small group from the Toronto area to witness their work in Kenya and Tanzania this Fall. We will visit Nairobi, central Kenya and the Lake Victoria region before travelling overland to Tanzania where we will stay with the Passionist Community in Arusha.
The experience ends with a wildlife safari in the northern part of Tanzania. Similar small group travel experiences have happened in 2018, 2019 and 2023.
Space is limited so if you would like more information, please contact Steve Carey at skecarey@gmail.com
JOURNEY THROUFG LENT VIDEO SERIES
As we journey through Lent 2024, the Ash Wednesday video and the First Sunday of Lent video of the series titled “Journey through Lent” are now available on the CCCB website:
in English: https://www.cccb.ca/lent/
in French: https://www.cecc.ca/careme/
Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, every Passionist takes a special vow to spend his or her energies in promoting remembrance of the sufferings of Jesus, the memory of the Cross, and reflection of the meaning of the Cross for the world.
