NOVEMBER IS THE MONTH OF ALL SOULS
BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE
A Book of Remembrance has been placed on the altar for the month of November. You are invited to write the names of your deceased relatives and friends in the book. They will be remembered at all the Masses celebrated in November.
DEACON PHILIP ALLARD – CHALICE SPONSORSHIP
At all masses this weekend, Deacon Philip Allard will speak about CHALICE, a Canadian, Catholic sponsorship program. He will explain how you can help a destitute child at one of 56 mission sites in 15 developing countries.
Deacon Philip was ordained in 2000 for the Archdiocese of Toronto. He was raised in Toronto and has been married to Arlene for over 30 years. Arlene and Philip have 3 dependent children who are living at home and engaged in post-secondary education. Philip has served in the same Scarborough parish since his ordination, and also ministers in a residential treatment centre for women with addiction and emotional problems.
BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY TRAINING
November 9th & 16th, 2019 – St. Gabriel’s Parish
The second of the two new ministries we are launching in our parish community is the Bereavement Ministry. The Bereavement Ministry is also known as the Ministry of Consolation. Training is required for those who are interested in becoming a part of Bereavement Ministry Team. The Bereavement Ministry Training is designed for those who are ministering to the bereaved in a parish setting. New and seasoned parish bereavement ministers and volunteers are invited to join others in an interactive, two-day faith-based educational and spiritual learning opportunity.
We are pleased to announce that the upcoming Bereavement Ministry Training this fall will be hosted by St. Gabriel’s Parish. The training dates will be held on November 9 and 16, 2019 (both Saturdays). The sessions will start from 9:30 AM and will finish at 4:00 PM on both dates. Participants are required to attend both Saturday sessions. Registration deadline is Monday, November 4th, 2019. There is no cost to attend the training sessions; however if you wish to purchase the optional participant workbook, that would be $45 (with the cheque made payable to RCEC). Refreshments will be provided but please bring your own lunch.
The training will explore ways to begin a Bereavement Ministry in the parish or enhance your present bereavement ministry programs. If anyone is interested to become part of the Bereavement Ministry Team of our parish, please contact Sr. Maria Lucia at our Parish Office no later than November 1st so that she can register you at the archdiocesan office responsible for the training program. Come, learn, and share how the Christian faithful comfort mourners with words of faith and support and with acts of kindness!
Youth Ministry Update
The St. Gabriel’s youth group is excited to share an update of the activities that have been going on in our ministry these past few weeks.
We had our first youth gathering in early October to kick-off the new school year and welcomed a number of new youth members. On October 20th, we took to the streets of downtown Toronto as part of our long-standing Street Patrol initiative to help those in need. We distributed 125 meal packages consisting of a homemade sandwich, granola bar, and juice box. It was truly a heart-warming experience as we were living out Jesus’s teachings in the Gospel. In keeping with our church’s care for creation, we also planted over 50 native shrubs and trees at Cedarvale Park through a Stewardship volunteer event run by the City of Toronto. This past Sunday we also planted tulip, snowdrop, grape hyacinth, and daffodil bulbs around our church property with the help of our church’s Gardening Ministry. We ended off the month of October with a Halloween movie night social.
We look forward to all that is in store for our ministry in the coming months, especially our annual Talent Show this February, and our other future fundraisers to support our attendance at the annual Steubenville Catholic Conference. Thank you to our parishioners for all your ongoing support for our ministry!
We are always welcoming new members from Grades 6 to 12. If you are interested in joining our dynamic, passionate group of young people, send us an email at sgpyouthgroup@gmail.com.
ANNOUNCED MASSES
November 4th to November 10th
MONDAY – VLADO PETRANOVIC – Requested by Mira Petranovic
TUESDAY – WAHIBA BALADI – Requested by Mary Zakher
WEDNESDAY – VICTOR, ROSIE & POONA JOSEPH – Requested by Margaret Joseph
THURSDAY – JOAN RUEST – Requested by her Family
FRIDAY – DECEASED MEMBERS OF MINNAN WONG FAMILY – Requested by the Family
SATURDAY – ALL WHO HAVE DIED – Requested by Chara & Tina Intini
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM DORIS YUNG – Requested by Paul & Wai Chin Huang & Family
SUNDAY – 12:30 PM VERNON MULHALL – Requested by Vivian Mulhall McDonough
FIRST COMMUNION INFORMATION MEETING
Thursday, November 7th at 7:30 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church
There will be a meeting here at the Church on Thursday, November 7th at 7:30 PM for parents of children wishing to receive First Communion in 2020.
FIRST RECONCILIATION INFORMATION MEETING
Thursday, November 14th at 7:30 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church
There will be a meeting here at the Church on Thursday, November 14th at 7:30 PM for parents of children wishing to have their First Reconciliation in 2020.
R.C.I.A. AND ADULT FAITH DEVELOPMENT
The R.C.I.A. (Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults) sessions have commenced. Please pray for all our R.C.I.A. participants that they may patiently persevere in their spiritual journey. You may use this short prayer.
Prayer for the Journey of Faith:
Loving God, bless those who are moving forward into the fullness of faith in You and full communion in the life of our Catholic Family. Protect them on their journey. Reveal to them the love of Your Son Jesus. Empower them with the gifts of Your Holy Spirit. May their journey to deepen their faith be fruitful and enriching. We offer this sacrifice of prayer for them, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN PREPARING FOR BAPTISM
If you have, or know of, school age children (ages 7 to 14) who wish to prepare for Baptism, please contact the Parish Office at 416-221-8866. Classes for them will begin soon.
GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE CASSEROLES
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 48 casseroles for October. For November, your prepared frozen casseroles will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of November 23rd / 24th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are needed to become active in helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. Three different recipes are available in the Parish Office or online at the Parish website. Casserole pans are also available in the Parish Office. If you require more information please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
FOOD FOR LESS FORTUNATE
Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Your food donations are very much appreciated.
Good Shepherd provides hot meals and shelter for the homeless in our city. Rosalie Hall provides a wide range of child services for young parents and their children.
Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your ongoing support of these important centres.
MASS OF MEMORY
Sunday, November 3rd, at 3:00 PM
St. Paul’s Basilica, 83 Power Street
The Mass of Memory is dedicated in memory of the many victims of the Irish Famine of 1847 who died of typhus on arrival in Toronto. 861 people were buried in the then St. Paul’s Catholic Cemetery and 281 were buried in St. James Anglican Cemetery.
Sacred/Celtic music prelude by The Irish Choral Society of Canada starts at 2:30 PM with a reception to follow after the Mass.
Proceeds from this celebration go to the Children’s Breakfast Club Program of St. Paul’s Basilica.
THE GARDEN SHED
The installation of the south garden is now over 90% complete. Originally anticipated to finish on October 31, 2019, completion will now be delayed until the spring of 2020.
St. Gabriel’s garden has now been “put to bed” and the final event of 2019, during which members of the Youth Group planted bulbs for next spring, has been held. We, in the Garden Ministry, now move into planning mode for next season. Please check this space for future announcements of planning sessions in which you might like to take part. Thank you for your donations and support over the past year!
The next meeting of the Garden Ministry is on November 10, at 1:30 PM, in the Library.
For more information on the Garden Ministry, visit our website at https://stgabrielsparish.ca/ministries/garden-ministry/ or email Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.
SHARELIFE – LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL
Cardinal Collins has written a letter of gratitude to pastors and their communities for their hard work and generosity toward the ShareLife Campaign.
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.
