As of March 18th, weekday and weekend Masses have resumed at the Church.
In order to attend Sunday masses, a reservation for each attendee is required. Please review the Protocol for Sunday Mass celebrations before making any reservations. Please click Sunday Mass Reservations to make your reservations on Eventbrite. If you have any difficulty in registering, please call the parish office during regular office hours.
There is no reservation required for the 9:00 am Monday to Friday weekday Mass but sign in upon arrival is required.
For the safety and health of our community, please remain home if you show or have any signs or symptoms of Covid-19. Under a City of Toronto by-law, all attendees are required to wear non-medical grade masks or face coverings throughout their entire time of attendance at church while at the same time respecting the physically distance rules of 2 metres (6 feet). We are looking forward to seeing you.
OFFICE HOURS
The parish office is currently open only on Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 12:00 noon and 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Please call before you come.
Email Scam Alert
The parish office received a scam or phishing email from Fr. Brando requesting for assistance. You may have also received one. When you are in doubt if these emails are genuine, please always call the parish office to check before you reply or click on any attachment.
ANNOUNCED MASSES
March 22nd to March 28th, 2021
There are no announced Masses this week.
DAY OF CONFESSIONS
This Lenten season, each parish in the Archdiocese of Toronto will be holding a Day of Confessions. Let us make the journey into the heart of our relationship with God. Take a long, loving look at the ways God calls us to grow. Take this challenge and hold it in readiness for the rich blessing that is manifest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
In our parish, the schedule for confessions is as follows:
March 19th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM
March 26th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM
MINISTRY FOR MATURING ADULTS
WAYS TO PRAY IN LENT
Wednesday, March, 24th
This is the final Wednesday program for those who might be interested in deepening their prayer life during lent. This week the focus will be on ways of praying with mandalas and Taizé Prayer. For the first hour, a brief explanation regarding a mode of prayer for that day will be given. The next hour will be devoted to a guided prayer experience itself in that mode of prayer.
TIME: Afternoon Session: 3:00 pm to 5:00 PM;
Evening Session: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
COST: Your time and an open heart and mind.
PLACE: Virtual (via Zoom)
Schedule:
March 24, 2021
Taizé Prayer Praying with Mandalas
For more information, please contact Sr. Malou via email at StGabrielMMA@gmail.com or call her at (416) 221-8866 Ext. 228 during the week on Thursdays or Fridays.
The following programs will begin within and after the Lenten Season:
Writing Circle
For those who attend the Life Story Programme members that was offered in January and February 2020. We will meet once a month and will run for the next several months.
Scripture Programme
For those interested in deepening their understanding and praying with the Sacred Scriptures. This will run once a month.
Technology
Learn how to connect with others virtually and via social networking apps safely and with ease.
Milk Bag Weaving
Learn how to weave milk bags into mats via virtual workshop or training session which will be conducted by Sharon Gusz and other members of the MMA Team.
FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
Each month the food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. These agencies provide essential services to young parents and the homeless in our city.
With everyone struggling at this time, your food donations are more important than ever. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your generous support!
EUTHANASIA PREVENTION COALITION
Canada legalized euthanasia in June, 2016. The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) has worked with many groups and individuals to create a strong opposition to the expansion of euthanasia in Canada by Bill C-7. The COVID shut-down and media bias did not stop them.
Last week, the Canadian Senate voted to pass Bill C-7 with 5 amendments which included expanding euthanasia to people with mental illness.
Legalizing euthanasia gives medical professionals the right in law to lethally inject their patients, but permitting euthanasia for mental illness and through advanced directives directly contradicts the need for effective consent.
Oppose Bill C-7 now and demand that parliament reject euthanasia for mental illness and incompetent people.
To sign this petition opposing Bill-C7 and for more information about the organization please go to Euthanasia Prevention Coalition Canada or epcc.ca
This organization is built on donations from members and other supporters. Regular and monthly donors are the life-blood of the EPC. They are thankful to everyone who has enabled them to do this important work.
CATHOLIC FAMILY SERVICES OF TORONTO’S ONLINE SESSIONS
Catholic Family Services of Toronto is now offering online quick access single sessions. The single-session consultation is a quick and effective way for individuals, couples or families to address a mental health or relationship concern. To arrange for a session, please contact: info@cfstoronto.com or at 416-921-1163 or 416-222-0048. Leave them a message with your name, email and phone number, and a staff person will contact you.
Clients who are interested in pursuing other or additional services in the agency have the option to access their ongoing counselling, wellness or group programs.
Counselling fees are charged according to a client’s income level. No one is denied service because of his/her inability to pay fees.
“THE ETHICS OF LAW IN JUDAISM”
Thursday, March 25th at 12:30 PM
A Virtual Event
This event is organized by the two well-known Catholic Institutions in Rome: The Centro Pro Unione and John Paul II Center for Interreligious Dialogue (Angelicum University).
It will be presented by Prof. Menachem Lorberbaum, Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Talmud, Tel Aviv University.
For more information and registration please go to: https://bit.ly/EthicsOfLawOfJudaism
COME AND SEE WEEKEND ON ZOOM
Friday, March 26th from7:00 PM to 9:00 PM and
Saturday, March 27th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
The Office of Vocations will be hosting a virtual Come & See Weekend, via Zoom, for men who are 17 years of age and older. This event will take start on Friday, March 26th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM until Saturday, March 27th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The weekend offers a way for men to discern a possible call to priesthood at our seminary.
To register go to www.vocationstoronto.ca
For more information, email vocations@archtoronto.org
THEOLOGY ON TAP PRESENTS
The Extra ordinary through the Ordinary Via Zoom
Monday March 29th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Join the Sisters of St. Joseph for a conversation on the extraordinary expressions of love and justice that are found in very ordinary ways. Learn more about the rich history of Catholic Social Teaching and how we apply the principals and evolving practical expressions in our own, individual and everyday lives today.
SONGS FROM THE SEMINARY
An Evening of Music in Honour of Our Blessed Mother
A Virtual Event Hosted by St. Augustine’s Seminary
Thursday, April 15th from 7:00 to 8:00 PM
The pandemic prevents us from gathering in person, so we will bring this concert to your home!
Join us virtually from the seminary for an evening of music in honour of Our Blessed Mother.
Join online at: youtube.com/archtoronto
The concert is free but donations are welcome. Support the Chapel Restoration with your donation at: http://bit.ly/SeminaryChapelRestoration (type “chapel” in the comments box to direct your donation to this specific project).
THE GARDEN SHED
The great excitement this week, thanks to the generosity of William Dam Seeds, a family-based company in Dundas, Ontario, was the arrival of seeds for the community garden. Indoor planting will take place on March 27th (not March 20 as stated in last week’s bulletin).
Also exciting is the launch later this month of our Garden Ministry newsletter, to be published quarterly to coincide with the 2 solstices (summer and winter) and the 2 equinoxes (spring and fall). Those of you who are on our email list and were receiving garden news updates in previous years will automatically receive the newsletter in your email. If you would like to join our email list, please send a request to the email address below. The newsletter will also be posted on our webpage.
If you are an experienced gardener, perhaps missing your own garden and would like to take on the leadership of St. Gabriel’s community garden, growing vegetables for the Good Shepherd Ministries and providing direction to our team, please get in touch.
Looking to deepen your connection with the land? To volunteer or to obtain more information please email sgpgardenministry@gmail.com.
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES
Offertory envelopes for 2021 are available at the parish Office. If you would like to pick yours up, please call before coming so that we will have them ready for you. If you are unable to pick yours up, please call the Parish Office and we will make other arrangements.
REMEMBERING THE PARISH IN YOUR WILL
Your parish has been there for you and your family during the most important moments of your lives. Help keep your Catholic community active and alive for years to come.
Please consider your parish in your will or through a planned gift. A bequest is a beautiful way to express your faith and gratitude for a lifetime of blessings – a lasting legacy of love that will help the Church continue with its many ministries.
For more details, please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 or contact Peter Okonski, Manager of Planned Giving and Personal Gifts at 416 934 3400 Ext. 519 or by email at development@archtoronto.org.
All calls are confidential.
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.
