ST. GABRIEL’S PICTORIAL DIRECTORY 2019/2020
Before and after all masses today, all members of St. Gabriel’s community (whether a single person, two spouses, or a family) are encouraged to sign up for a specific sitting time to have their portrait taken by a professional photographer to be included in the 2020 St. Gabriel’s Pictorial Directory which is expected to be completed and distributed in early 2020. Each family or person photographed will receive a FREE Directory and a FREE 8′ x 10″ colour portrait.
There are still some sitting times on October 9th, 10th, & 11th (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday). As well new appointment times are now available on Wednesday & Thursday (October 23rd & 24th) and on Wednesday & Thursday (October 30th & 31st). Sitting times will be on the quarter hour starting at 2:30 PM until 8:30 PM and on Saturday from 10:00 AM until 3:15 PM
We need many more parishioners to register for the Parish Directory in order to make it successful – no one is too old or too young! Please consider signing up today.
If you are attending St. Gabriel’s on a regular basis, but have not formally registered at the Parish office, you are encouraged to do so.
THE LIFE STORY PROGRAMME
Presented by the Ministry for Maturing Adults
St. Gabriel’s Passionist Parish
Beginning October 3rd from 9:30 to 11:30 AM
“The life story programme provides an opportunity to stop, take stock, and look back over the process of life in order to gain deeper understanding, clearer perspective and a more integrated view. Undertaken from a faith perspective, it is a search for evidence in your life that God has been with you and is still with you.” Dr. Richard Johnson
Sr. Mary Rose Marrin CSJ will facilitate the reflection on life experience in each decade of life and from these reflections, the participants will write stories that are significant to them. Later on each person will choose what they wish to share from their personal reflection and writing.
The group will meet for a total of 8 sessions on consecutive Thursdays beginning October 3rd to November 21st from 9:30 to 11:30. AM. The cost for the workbook is $20.
Please register by contacting Sr. Maria Lucia at 416 221 8866.
ANNOUNCED MASSES
September 23rd to September 29th
MONDAY – GERRY HATCH – Requested by his Family
TUESDAY – AURITA FERNANDES – Requested by Tony Fernandes
WEDNESDAY – RENATO BELLISARI – Requested by Chiara & Tina Intini
THURSDAY – KENG OWYONG – Requested by Helen Owyong
FRIDAY – MARION & BOB DESROCHES – Requested by Mark DesRoches
SATURDAY – JOHN POWELL – Requested by Pat Kathleen Olden Powell
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – FRANK YORKE – Requested by the Scanga Family
SUNDAY – 12:30 PM
ALTAR SERVERS
On Sunday, September 29th there will be an altar server welcome back and retraining session after the 10:30 Mass. Every altar server is invited. Interested boys and girls, ages 9 and older, who are willing to train to be an altar server are very much welcome. Refreshments will be provided.
REGISTRATION FOR SACRAMENTS FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN
St. Gabriel’s Church
September 24th 25th and 26th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Registration for children who wish to receive the Sacraments of First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation will be held at St. Gabriel’s Church on the following dates:
Tuesday, September 24th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Wednesday, September 25th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Thursday, September 26th from 7.30 PM to 9:00 PM
Please Note: A copy of the child’s Baptismal Certificate is required if registering for First Communion or Confirmation. A fee of $30 is required at registration for Confirmation to defray related costs.
WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
Sunday September 29th
The theme announced by His Holiness Pope Francis for the 105th World Day of Migrants and Refugees is “It Is Not Just About Migrants.” In his message, Pope Francis reminds us that “the presence of migrants and refugees, is an invitation to recover some of those essential dimensions of our Christian existence and our humanity that risk being overlooked in a prosperous society. That is why it is not just about migrants. ‘
“For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?’
(Matt: 5:46).”
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.
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.
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 Sr. Maria Lucia at 416-221-8866. Classes for them will begin in October.
LECTOR WORKSHOP
Gabriel Room
Saturday, September 28th at 2:00 PM
“Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” Romans: 10:17
Are you a good story teller? Would you like to share with others? On Saturday, September 28th at 2:00 PM join the Lectors to learn more about the ministry at a workshop in the Gabriel room. The workshop will provide time for lectors to share their experience and learn some of the best kept secrets of proclaiming the Word. Those who would like to join this ministry are asked to RSVP to the Parish office by September 23rd, 2019.
HURRICANE DORIAN RELIEF FUND
Last week, Hurricane Dorian devastated the Caribbean nation of the Bahamas, and caused significant damage in Nova Scotia and along the Atlantic coast of the United States.
The hurricane moved excruciatingly slowly across the Bahamian island of Abaco, leaving most buildings and infrastructure destroyed. More than 70,000 people in the Bahamas are expected to need emergency assistance, including food, shelter, electricity and safe drinking water. A still unknown number of people are missing and at least 50 people dead — a number that is expected to rise quickly over the coming weeks as more bodies are recovered.
In an effort to support those have been most directly impacted by Hurricane Dorian, the Archdiocese of Toronto is accepting funds that will be sent through our Catholic relief partners. Contributions can be made by those wishing to help in the following ways:
Online through the Archdiocese of Toronto website: www.archtoronto.org
By phone through the Development Office – 416-934-3411
Through the parish, making cheques payable to: St. Gabriel’s Parish – 2019 Hurricane Dorian – Disaster Relief
THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE
You can make a difference in the lives of the hungry and homeless this Thanksgiving by participating in the annual Good Shepherd Ministries 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.
Urgently needed items include:
rice, pasta and pasta sauces,
peanut butter, jam cooking spices
hot chocolate powdered milk
black/Orange Pekoe tea ground or instant coffee,
sugar cookies and crackers,
vegetable oil jams
canned tuna, soups, stews, meats, fruits and vegetables.
Please no fresh or frozen foods.
We thank you for your generous support.
ST. JOSEPH MORROW PARK CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, October 3rd at 7:00 PM.
St. Joseph Morrow Park is holding an Information Night for students who are entering secondary school. It will be held on Thursday, October 3rd, 2019, at 7:00 PM.
Parents/Guardians and students are cordially invited to attend. Join them at 3379 Bayview Avenue, just south of Steeles on the east side. For more information please call 416-393-5516.
BREBEUF COLLEGE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, October 3rd at 7:00 PM.
Brebeuf College School is holding an Open House on Thursday, October 3rd at 7:00 PM for students who are entering secondary school. Parents/Guardians and students are invited to attend. Join them at 211 Steeles Avenue East, just west of Bayview on the south side of Steeles. They can be reached at (416) 393-5508.
ATTENTION POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS
Are you new on campus and looking for a place to belong? Check out Catholic campus ministry! Find your Catholic home on campuses in the GTA and across Canada by connecting at www.chaplaincyconnect.ca.
THE GARDEN SHED
Congratulations to Olga Bonilla, the winner of our blueberry pie raffle! Thank you to everyone who generously helped us raise $339 for supplies for our Good Shepherd community garden.
On Sunday, September 29th, from 1:30 to 3:00 PM in the Gabriel Room, Cameron Couchman, a familiar face from previous workshops and on-site in the gardens, will lead a workshop on Seed-Saving. Topics covered will be identifying plants that have set seed and are ready for harvest, collecting and storing seeds as well as cold stratification and mimicking natural processes to promote germination.
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.
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.
