ANNOUNCED MASSES
September 21st to 27th
MONDAY – FIORENTINO GIANNOTTA – Requested by Lina Giannotta
TUESDAY – SOULS IN PURGATORY – Requested by Mirian Fabra
WEDNESDAY – GERRY, MIKE & EDNA HATCH – Requested by their Family
THURSDAY – AURITA FERNANDES – Requested by Tony Fernandes
FRIDAY – FABRA LEYTON – Requested by Mirian Fabra
SATURDAY – JOHN POWELL – Requested by Kathleen Olden-Powell
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – RENATO BELLISARI – Requested by Chiara
SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – INTENTIONS OF MIRIAN FABRA – Requested by Mirian Fabra
FIRST COMMUNION INTERVIEWS
Interviews for children who have been preparing to receive their First Communion are now being scheduled.
Interviews began on Tuesday, September 15th and will continue until Thursday, October 1st. They are scheduled every 15 minutes from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866-to book your appointment with Fr. Brando as soon as possible.
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 normally in person but, due to Covid 19, they will probably be online. They 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.
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 at 416-221-8866.
CHILDREN’S FAITH PROGRAM
We are discerning how the program will be delivered in these times. More information will be forthcoming, so stay tuned.
STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY
This Sunday, September 20th
Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, has announced the institution of Stewardship Sunday across the archdiocese on the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time. The first Stewardship Sunday will take place this Sunday, September 20th. To mark the occasion, Cardinal Collins has authored a homily on stewardship (which is also available in a video format). You may read the Cardinal’s homily or view it on video at www.archtoronto.org
WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS & REFUGEES
Sunday, September 27th at 10:00 AM.
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented some unique challenges for the Church, as well as for our efforts to plan for this year’s World Day of Migrants & Refugees. In response, our office arranged for this year’s World Day of Migrants & Refugees, which will take place on Sunday, September 27th to be celebrated virtually. On that day, Cardinal Collins will be the celebrant and homilist at the 10:00 AM Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica. The Mass will be livestreamed. Following the livestream, the Mass along with pre-recorded videos from several guest speakers will be made available on ORAT’s website and Facebook page. These are intended to draw our attention to the plight of so many who have been displaced from their homes and homelands.
BUNDLE UP WEEKEND FOR THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
This Weekend, September 19th/20th
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is collecting gently used clothing, shoes and linens to support our neighbors in need or to be sold to help support their special works in the community this weekend, September 19th/20th.
They cannot accept books, dishes, furniture, appliances, mattresses, construction materials or videos and cassettes. Please bring your donations and help others in your community.
The truck will be open:
Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Sunday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Volunteers will be there to assist with loading before and after Mass.
COLLECTION OF MILK BAGS
For the foreseeable future, we are stopping the collection of milk bags. There are no workshops being scheduled at this time and Sharon has many more than she can use. We will let you know when we can begin collecting them once more.
2021 REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
For Families of Parishioners
The Archdiocese Office for Refugees has a program to assist parishioners who would like to sponsor a family member that is in need of refugee sponsorship. This program is intended to assist parishioners only. If you are a parishioner, and would like to sponsor a family member, please contact the parish office to schedule a meeting with the pastor prior to November 15th. The Office for Refugees will look to the sponsoring family to provide the necessary funds for sponsorship.
The Process
Step 1: The Program is Announced at Parish by October 20th, 2020.
Step 2: The Parishioner Meets with the Pastor – Interested parishioners are to arrange a meeting with the pastor by November 15th, 2020
Step 3: The Pastor Sends Request to ORAT by November 29th, 2020
Step 4: ORAT Invites Parishioner to an Information Session – Following the receipt of the request from the pastor, ORAT will extend an invitation to the parishioner, inviting them to attend the Introduction to Resettlement Information Session. This is a mandatory session for the parishioner. The session will take place on or before Saturday, December 12th, 2020.
CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
Your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses next weekend. Each month, the casseroles are picked up early on Monday morning for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are needed to help feed the hungry in our city. We encourage you to pick up a copy of a casserole recipe and a pan and give it a try. Three recipes are available on St. Gabriel’s web site. Printed copies of the recipes are also available in the Parish Office. For more information, you may contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.
FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
As you are aware, St. Gabriel’s has always collected food for Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.
During the pandemic, there was no food collection and shelves were depleted so these organizations are desperate.
Please help if you can by bringing non-perishable foods such as rice, canned goods, powdered milk, coffee, tea sugar, cereal, peanut butter, jam, pasta and sauces. You may place them in the large bin in the Gathering Space.
Thank you to all the parishioners who heeded the announcement and already brought food. Your response has been awesome!
THE GARDEN SHED
September sees the waning of most flowering plants in the south garden, but there is one wonderful exception: Smooth Blue Aster. It’s profusion of small, blue-pink blossoms remind us of the gentle, spring garden shades overtaken in summer by more raucous colours like the extravagant magenta of Hairy Beardtongue, which has just finished flowering or the boisterous yellow of Smooth Oxeye, which is still blooming. Take a stroll and enjoy the scene before the inevitable frost.
For more information on St. Gabriel’s gardens visit the Garden Ministry web-page on the parish website. If you would like to participate in caring for our gardens, please email heathermjb@gmail.com.
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.
