Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!”
Amen.
Fr. Henri J.M. Nouwen
ANNOUNCED MASSES
December 16th to December 21st, 2013
MONDAY – ANNA McGLADE – Requested by her Friends
TUESDAY – THANKSGIVING Requested by Wai Chin & Paul Hwang & Family
WEDNESDAY – HARRY LEUNG – Requested by Mary Leung
THURSDAY – JOHN & CATHERINE KELLY – Requested by the Family
FRIDAY – FOR THEIR 62ND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY – Requested by Anne & Brendan Clarke
SATURDAY – KATHI WATTS – Requested by Kathi Leah
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
Dress Rehearsal: Sunday, December 22nd 2:00 to 4:00 PM
S.K. to Grade 5 children are invited to participate in the pageant. Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 for more information.
Christmas Schedule 2013
MASSES
CHRISTMAS EVE – Tuesday, December 24th
No 9:00 A.M. Mass
7:00 P.M. – Family Mass – Carol Singing
9:00 P.M. – Adult Choir – Carol Singing
12:00 A.M. – Midnight Mass – Contemporary Group
Office Open 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. only
CHRISTMAS DAY – Wednesday, December 25th
10:30 A.M.
12:30 P.M.
Office Closed
BOXING DAY – Thursday, December 26th
No 9:00 A.M. Mass, Office Closed
NEW YEAR’S EVE – Tuesday, December 31st
No 9:00 A.M. Mass
Mass at 5:00 P.M. for the Feast of Mary the Mother of God
Office Open 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. only
NEW YEAR’S DAY – Wednesday, January 1st
FEAST OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD
10:30 A.M.
12:30 P.M.
Office Closed
Parking
While parking at ground level is limited to 51 spaces, there is plenty of space in the underground parking lot. Please follow the instructions of the attendants. Do not park in front of the Church since this is a fire route and must be kept clear.
Additional parking is available on the east side of Elkhorn Public School and in the bus loop.
Again, please follow the instructions of the attendant. The school requests that we do not park on the grass. Many thanks to Holly Richards, the Principal of Elkhorn Public School, for allowing us the use of the school property.
CHILDREN’S CHOIR
FAMILY MASS – CHRISTMAS EVE AT 7:00 PM
Rehearsal: Sunday, December 22nd from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Each year, young people, Grade 3 and up, form a special choir for the Family Mass on Christmas Eve. Children must be at the Church by 6:00 PM. One rehearsal, which is mandatory, will be held on Sunday, December 22nd from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Please call Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041 for more information.
THE ALTAR LINEN SOCIETY NEEDS YOU!
We are in need of 2 people to help with the altar linens. If you are interested, please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866.
ADVENT-SOLSTICE REFLECTION
“Shifting from Darkness to Light: Not by Passive Hope.”
Saturday, December 21st from 7:30 to 9:00 P.M.
The hopeful expectation of the Advent season requires our active participation to effect change; it is not a passive hope.
By examining the recent typhoon in the Philippines, we will seek signs of active hope and reflect on the Church’s calls for ecological justice.
Please contact Dennis O’Hara at dennis.ohara@utoronto.ca or 416-926-1300, ext. 3408 to register or for more information.
GIFTS FOR ROSALIE HALL
For many years, St Gabriel’s has had a close relationship with Rosalie Hall. At this time of the year, we are thinking of the young mothers and babies in need of assistance. If you wish to help, you may choose a “Christmas Stocking” from the Christmas tree in the Gathering Space to purchase pyjamas or undershirts, for babies ages 6, 9 or 12 months. If you wish to buy a toy, please take a”Gingerbread Boy” tag.
Unwrapped items with the original tag attached can be left in the box provided near the Giving Tree no later than December 12th.
For the Moms, we are suggesting gift cards from Shoppers Drug Mart, Tim Horton’s, Walmart or MacDonald’s. These can be placed in the envelopes provided and brought to the Parish Office. Thank you for your ongoing support of Rosalie Hall.
BISHOP GARY GORDON
Many of you have been asking how to contact Bishop Gary Gordon. You can contact him at www.whitehorsediocese.com.
THE GIVING TREE
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has a Giving Tree in the Gathering Space decorated with gift tags. Each tag has the gender and age of a child. We invite you to take a tag, buy a gift of about $25.00 for that child and return the unwrapped gift, with the tag attached, to the box provided in the Gathering Space by this Sunday, December 15th. If you are a knitter, there are mitten tags. Please take one and return mitts to the box in the Gathering Space. Thank you for your generous support.
GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
There but for the Grace of God…
Please help feed the hungry and homeless this Christmas by participating in the Good Shepherd Centre’s annual Christmas Food Drive.
Urgently Needed Items:Rice, pasta and sauces, breakfast cereals, powered fruit juices, canned items – fish, meats, vegetables, fruit, soup or stews, peanut butter, jams, tea, ground and instant coffee, sugar, cookies and crackers, ketchup, mustard and relish.
Donations may be left in the designated containers at the doors of the Church. We thank you for your generous support.
SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL INFORMATION MEETING
Tuesday, December 17th at 7:30 P.M.
If you are interested in learning more about or joining the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, you are invited to attend an information meeting on Tuesday, December 17th at 7:30 P.M. here at the Church.
CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE
We are having a Christmas Toy Drive for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society. Can you help by dropping off an unwrapped new toy for a child 0 to 12 years old? Containers will be set up at the doors of the Church until Sunday, December 15th.
FINANCE CORNER
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for December 8th, 2013
Envelopes 444 $9,181
Loose Change $889
Weekly Portion of PAG 182 $3,519(Pre-Authorized Giving)
Total $13,589
Moving Forward Together Collection $5,736
Thank you for your generosity!
Please remember to print your full name on your Offertory envelope and then seal it. Receipts for 2013 donations will be mailed out by the end of February.
OFFERTORY DONATION USING VISA, MASTERCARD OR AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CARD
You can now use your credit card to make your recurring or one-time Offertory donations to St. Gabriel’s. Your donations may earn you valuable points, travel miles or cash back! A classic case of giving and receiving!
Simply log on to the Archdiocese of Toronto website (www.archtoronto.org) select “Donate Now”, “Our Parish”, “Toronto East”, then pick “St. Gabriel Catholic Parish” under Parish in the Donation Information section. Complete all required information.
Remember that your tax receipt for a recurring offertory donation will be issued to you by the Archdiocese at the end of the year. For a one-time gift, your tax receipt is emailed to you immediately.
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2014
The 2014 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are now available in the Gathering Space. Please inform the Parish Office if you have recently moved or are new to the Parish so that we may update our records. If you are on the Pre- Authorized Giving Plan, you will still receive a smaller green box of envelopes which includes Initial, New Year’s, Christmas, Easter and Maintenance envelopes. You may contact the Parish Office if you do not have envelopes but would like a box for 2014.
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.
