ANNOUNCED MASSES
September 27th to October 2nd
MONDAY – HELEN LEE & HENRY HUI – Requested by Linda Law & Family
TUESDAY – EVELYN CORMIER – Requested by Tom & Ellie Pidgeon
WEDNESDAY – THE INTENTIONS OF CHUN LI – Requested by Tony Fernandes
THURSDAY
FRIDAY – THANKSGIVING – Requested by Sophie Pereira
SATURDAY – ANDREW HUI TAI PANG – Requested by Diana Lau
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – THANKSGIVING by CAROLYN COOK – Requested by Carolyn Cook
SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – ANDREW HUI TAI PANG – Requested by Howa Hui
SACRAMENTAL REGISTRATION
Until September 30th
There is still time to register your child for First Communion,
Please Note: A copy of the child’s Baptismal Certificate is required if registering for First Communion or Confirmation. Registration forms will not be accepted without it.
A Baptism certificate is not required for Reconciliation.
A fee of $30 is required at registration for Confirmation to defray related costs.
The deadline for registration for all sacraments is September 30th. No registrations will be accepted after that date.
R.C.I.A. AND ADULT FAITH DEVELOPMENT
Meetings in preparation for the R.C.I.A. (Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults) will begin in October. These meetings are for persons interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith. The exploration may lead the candidate to seek baptism, and become a member of the Catholic Christian community; or for Christians already baptized into another Christian denomination, the reception into the Catholic Church.
Adult Catholics who have not received the sacrament of Confirmation but who wish to do so are also encouraged to attend these sessions.
As well, these meetings may be an opportunity for “Born Catholics” to deepen their understanding of our faith. Very often, especially for those of us who received our religious instruction at an early age, we tend to grow physically, mentally, psychologically etc., but the understanding of our faith does not grow correspondingly.
The RCIA may serve as a good opportunity for us to ask questions and to develop a more adult understanding of our faith. Registration will continue until September 18th. If you are interested in joining the RCIA meetings or if you would like to have more information about it, please contact Sr. Maria Lucia by email at StGabrielParishRCIA@gmail.com or by phone at 416-221-8866.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
At the 10:30 AM Mass from October to May each year, children ages 4 to 10 have the opportunity to gather as a group for the Liturgy of the Word led by parents 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.
FIRST COMMUNION INTERVIEWS
For Children Who Were Registered in 2019 and 2020
First Communion interview dates are now being booked. They will take place on Tuesday, October 19th, Wednesday, October 20th and Friday, October 22nd.
They are scheduled every 15 minutes from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Please call the Parish Office at 416 221 8866 to book your appointment with Fr. Brando as soon as possible.
NEEDS OF THE CHURCH IN CANADA
Second Collection this Weekend, September 25th/26th
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is involved in national and international areas of pastoral activity, including social justice, ecumenical and interfaith relations, collaboration with Indigenous peoples, life and family issues, liturgy, catechesis, doctrine and relations with Catholic associations and movement.
There will be a second collection this weekend, September 25th/26th for the Needs of the Church in Canada. Your gifts are used by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to represent Canadian Catholics in national and international pastoral activity. Thank you for your support of this important work.
SHARELIFE
World Day of Migrants and Refugees
ShareLife Sunday is October 10th
Your gift to ShareLife facilitated the arrival of 528 refugees through the Office of Refugees of the Archdiocese of Toronto last year. They are among the 150,000 people helped by generous donors like you.
As we emerge from the pandemic, let’s not forget the plight of those facing hardship and persecution, and continue our efforts to welcome them to Canada.
October 10th is the next ShareLife Sunday.
Please give generously during the special collection or anytime at sharelife.org.
THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE
For the Good Shepherd Centre and Rosalie Hall
You can make a difference in the lives of the hungry and homeless this Thanksgiving by participating in the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Good Shepherd provides hot meals and shelter for the homeless in our city as well as a chance to start again through the Resettlement or DARE Programs.
Rosalie Hall assists young parents and their children to realize their potential through the provision of a wide range of child development, community, residential and educational services.
Urgently needed items include:
rice pasta sauces, canned tomatoes
breakfast cereals hot chocolate
tea bags jam
granola/protein bars chocolate bars
cookies and crackers, hard candy
sugar coffee
canned legumes e.g., chick peas, black beans
canned tuna, soups, stews, fruits and vegetables
Please check the expiry date as we cannot pass on expired foods. Please no fresh or frozen foods.
We thank you for your generous support!
DISASTER RELIEF FOR HAITI
As you know, Haiti has now been hit with a 7.2 earthquake, the latest in a series of disasters to strike this small nation. The devastation was worsened by arrival of Tropical Depression Grace, bringing heavy rains flooding and landslides.
In an effort to support those have been most directly impacted by these disasters,
St. Gabriel’s Parish is accepting funds which will be passed on directly to Fr. Rick Frechette in Haiti.
Contributions can also be made through the Archdiocese of Toronto.
Those wishing to help may do so in the following ways:
Through the parish, making cheques payable to: St. Gabriel’s – Haiti Disaster Relief 2021. Disaster Relief envelopes are on the table in the Gathering Space.
Online through the Archdiocese of Toronto website
Through the Development Office at 416-934-3411
Please offer your prayers for all those impacted by this tragedy. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to assist those in crisis.
CHURCH BULLETIN ADVERTISING
Liturgical Publications is seeking advertisements for our church bulletin. This advertising helps to cover the costs of producing the bulletin each week. Please support our bulletin and advertise your product or service. Call Liturgical Publications at 905 624 4422 for more information.
NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMEMORATION
This Sunday, September 26th from 12:30 to 2:00 PM
Native Peoples’ Mission (at St. Ann Parish)
711 Gerrard St. E., Toronto
Join the Native Peoples’ Mission (NPM) community in a day of reflection, solidarity and commemoration of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a new federal statutory holiday being observed on September 30th.
John Robinson, an Ojibway elder, will do a purification ceremony. Sr. Petite Lao, RNDM, NPM volunteer and Filipina researcher, will share her reflections on the “Filipino Catholics and the Challenges of the Truth and Reconciliation Process in Canada.” For more information, contact Sr. Petite Lao, RNDM at petite.lao@utoronto.ca
WORLDWIDE Marriage Encounter
Virtual Online, October 22nd to October 24th
Live your best life in love! Restore your loving communication with your spouse and rekindle the romance. The Marriage Encounter experience is a skill-building enrichment program where you, as husband and wife, learn how to be the best couple you can be; a special weekend to spend in ways that normal, daily living tends to inhibit. No group discussion. Based on Catholic values but open to couples of all faiths. Rediscover the love in your relationship! For more information and to register, contact Marge & Gerard McCauley at gerard.marge@rogers.com or (905) 792-1925.
Website: wwme.org
THE GARDEN SHED
For the latest Garden Ministry news, please check the parish website for our fall newsletter, which contains an editorial by Fr. Paul Cusack, retired pastor of St. Gabriel’s and a member of our local Passionist community.
On Saturday, September 18th, St. Gabriel’s and the Garden Ministry hosted our first Garden Retreat, focused on the garden as “Gateway to Earth Spirituality.” Participation was limited to 20 participants in addition to Garden Ministry members, who acted as guides for hands-on gardening activities. The event was well received. Speakers Fr. Steve Dunn, Roberto Chiotti, the architect of St. Gabriel’s church and indigenous knowledge holder, Maria Montejo, exposed participants to the need to heal ourselves of the legacy of abusing Earth and its peoples and to honour all Earth communities as our relations.
To get involved in the care of St. Gabriel’s garden, please email sgpgardenministry@gmail.com. As little as an hour a week can make a difference.
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.
