PARISH NEWS
Youth in elementary school and high school, as well as young adults 19 and up are invited to join our parish youth ministry. There will be a table in the gathering space on September 16th/ 17th to learn more information. There will also be a special slideshow from our young adults who attended World Youth Day this summer in Portugal.
JPIC COMMITTEE SURVEY
The members of our committee would like to thank the many parishioners who participated in the Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) survey last June 2023. You have helped us identify the issues that are important to you and for the parish to be involved with. Homelessness and Food Insecurity were identified as major concerns, as well as issues regarding our Indigenous brothers and sisters.
While our parish is already actively involved with the issues of homelessness and food insecurity, our JPIC committee members will soon meet to discuss the possibility of providing additional support regarding those issues. We will also be looking at increasing our awareness about Indigenous issues. On this matter, we will include in next week’s bulletin information about the Canadian Library Project and the Orange Shirt Day in time for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation which is observed each year on the 30th of September.
If you need any other information, please contact the co-chairs of JPIC Helen Pierre and/or Lily D’Gama or Sr. Malou at StGabrielJPIC@gmail.com.
ANNOUNCED MASSES
September 11th to September 17th
MONDAY – RENATO BELLISARI ✞ – Requested by Chiara Intini
TUESDAY – TINA INTINI ✞ – Requested by Chiara Intini
WEDNESDAY – ARMAND OAKIE ✞ – Requested by the Family
THURSDAY – THANKSGIVING – Requested by Maria Cabacungan
FRIDAY – ANNIE SUE BOOY THAM ✞ – Requested by Wai Chin & Paul Hwang
SATURDAY – HEUNG WAH HANNAH LAM ✞ – Requested by the Fung, Lam & Montero Families
SUNDAY – 8:30 – MASS FOR THE PARISHIONERS
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – LUKE VUKOVIC ✞ – Requested by his Family
SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – KOK YAU MEI ✞ – Requested by Kok Yau Lam
CHILDREN’S LITURGY – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
At the 10:30 AM Mass from mid-September to June each year, children ages 4 to 10 have the opportunity to gather as a group for the Liturgy of the Word led by adults who have volunteered. We are in need of more volunteers to assist this program. For more information or to volunteer, please call Dawn Burke at 416 671-0561 or leave a message at the Parish Office.
CHILDREN’S FAITH PROGRAM – 2023/2024
Registration forms for the Children’s Faith Program are now available in the parish office. This program is for children of the Parish who attend other Catholic schools, public or private schools. Classes are held at St. Gabriel’s School every second Sunday. Classes begin on September 17th.
Please note that a separate Sacramental registration form is required if your child will receive the sacraments of First Communion, Reconciliation or Confirmation during the 2023/2024 school year. These forms are also available in the Parish Office. Baptismal Certificates are required for First Communion and Confirmation
ST. GABRIEL’S CHOIRS
All youth in Grades 2 and up are invited to join our parish youth choir for the 2023-2024 school year. Rehearsals take place every Thursday from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in preparation for the 12:30 PM Sunday Masses. Volunteer hours will be awarded to high school students. Please contact our Youth Minister at 416-221-8866 ext.227 to join.
The Adult Choir will rehearse on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 PM in preparation for Sunday Masses at 10:30 AM. Please note the change of rehearsal evening.
SEASON OF CREATION 2023
The annual event of the Season of Creation began on September 1st (the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation) and ends on October 4th (the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology).
Each year a theme is chosen by an ecumenical steering committee and in 2023 inspiration is taken from Amos 5:24 that proclaims, “Let Justice and Peace Flow” and the symbol is “A Mighty River.”
An introductory video and resources to observe this season at home and school may be found at the following links:
Resources: https://drive.google.com/file/d/145WzDi32U8YdlyY9Peo1bn-aLqyi4cl6/view
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgAbavjkTik&t=2s
Let us pray and work for responsible stewardship of the earth and sustainable living
CELEBRATION OF THE SOLEMNITY OF ST. MICHAEL & CONFERRAL OF THE PALLIUM UPON THE MOST REV. FRANCIS LEO
Friday, September 29th, 2023 at 5:30 PM
St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica
The Archdiocese of Toronto celebrates the feast day of our archdiocesan patron, St. Michael, on Friday, September 29th, 2023. All are welcome to join in a special celebration on that day at 5:30 PM. at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica (65 Bond St.). Archbishop Francis Leo will celebrate Mass, with music from the world-renowned St. Michael’s Choir School. As part of the celebration, the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, the Most Rev. Ivan Jurkovič will confer the pallium on our archbishop, a symbol of his role as Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto and shepherd to the faithful.
Following Mass, there will be an informal reception with light refreshments in the St. Michael’s Cathedral atrium and courtyard. Seating will be first come, first served. All are welcome to join in this special celebration for our archdiocese and archbishop!
THE 109th WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
Sunday, September 24th
Cathedral of the Transfiguration
10350 Victoria Square Blvd, Markham
The theme announced by His Holiness Pope Francis for this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees is “Free to Choose Whether to Migrate or to Stay.”. In his message, Pope Francis acknowledges that while the decision to migrate should always be free, in many cases it is not. This point was reflected by St. John Paul II in his message for the 90th World Day of Migrants & Refugees, in which he wrote, “building conditions of peace means in practice being seriously committed to safeguarding first of all the right not to emigrate, that is, the right to live in peace and dignity in one’s own country.” As he concluded his message, Pope Francis referenced the words of the Lord when He said “…I was a stranger, and you welcomed me” reminding us that the Lord’s words are a “constant admonition to see in the migrant not simply a brother or sister in difficulty, but Christ himself, who knocks at our door.”
This occasion will be marked with the celebration of Mass, which will take place on Sunday, September 24th, 2023, at 12:00 PM. at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration, located at 10350 Victoria Square Blvd. in Markham. Monsignor Makarios Wehbi will preside, and Bishop John Boissonneau will be the homilist. A short program will follow. All are welcome
CARING FOR THE HOMELESS IN OUR CITY
Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. They are very grateful.
Rosalie Hall, assists young parents and their children, offering prenatal supports including prenatal classes, nutrition and can help find a child care provider.
The food we donate from our parish often replenishes their empty food bank.
Good Shepherd provides more than 800 hot meals each day. As housing costs soar, they provide affordable housing and assisted living supports to help seniors and other homeless to find their way back to secure housing and for some, a chance to start again through the Resettlement or DARE Programs.
Your food donations are very 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
For those who have not yet contributed to ShareLife, you may still do so. Envelopes are at the back of the church. Please be as generous as your means allow.
MILK BAG WEAVERS WELCOME NEW VOLUNTEERS
September 20th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM
The weavers will be meeting from 1:00 – 3:00 on the following dates: Sept. 20th, Oct. 18th, Nov. 15th and Dec. 13th. Parishioners and friends are welcome to drop by to either be actively involved or simply to learn about the project. Your donated milk bags are cut, looped and woven to make sleeping mats for those living in the streets in Toronto or shipped to developing countries. All are welcome.
Participants attending on Sept. 20th will also be invited to cover a book in Indigenous fabric representing the life of a missing Indigenous woman or children as an act of reconciliation.
SPIRITUS EAST – BBQ SOCIAL KICK-OFF
Wednesday, September 13th, from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM
St Elizabeth’s of Hungary – 432 Sheppard Ave E
Calling all young adults in the Eastern region (ages 19 – 35), we are back and are beyond excited to see you on September 13th, at St Elizabeth of Hungary Parish (432 Sheppard Ave E) at 7:00 PM for our annual BBQ Social Kick-Off! Join us for an amazing night filled with fun, fellowship, and incredible food! We will end off the night with s’mores! Bring your friends and see you there!
Please register via Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/bbq-social-kick-off-tickets-682180128127?aff=oddtdtcreator) for an accurate headcount for food.
CHURCH PRESENTATION AND “TOUR”
With Roberto Chiotti, the Church Architect
After each Mass on the Weekend of September 23rd /24th
During the course of the two sessions on exploring our parish’s Journey Forward back in March and April, a number of parishioners expressed interest in learning more about St. Gabriel’s Church and its connection to and reflection of the mission of the Passionist Community.
Roberto Chiotti, the architect who designed the church, has generously offered to give a short presentation and “tour” of the building and will be doing so after each Mass on the weekend of September 23rd and 24th. Please save the date(s) and plan to join us after any of those Masses!
Rick Coles and Leanne Kloppenborg, Mission Co-Directors
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.
