PARISH FINANCE ANNOUNCEMENT
At all of last week’s Masses members of the Finance Council briefly reported on the Parish finances for calendar year 2017 and thanked parishioners for their ongoing generosity and support.
The comparative figures are as follows: From 2016 to 2017, collections were 4% lower ($37,000), Special collections were 14% lower ($35,000), and expenses increased by 2% ($19,000).
The Finance Council highlighted that our church building is 12 years old and recommended to our Pastor, Fr. Brando to creating a sinking fund for church repairs. They also encouraged parishioners to marginally increase their contributions towards the quarterly maintenance fund or their weekly offering.
The Parish financial statements for 2017 are available from the Parish office after masses this week as well.
VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION
St. Gabriel’s salutes its over 100 volunteers who work in 22 active ministries. You may observe some of them serving at Mass as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, choir members, altar servers and ministers of hospitality. However, others are supporting our children and youth in developing a deeper understanding of their faith. Youth volunteers reach out to those in need. Others have supported our refugees and our work with the Good Shepherd Centre. Some do outreach to shut-ins and those in hospital. Volunteers look after our altar linens, our gardens and others act as collection counters.
All of this to say, volunteers assist in providing a comfortable environment for all of us to celebrate our Christian Faith. Volunteers do receive satisfaction in providing our parishioners with a safe environment in which to deepen our understanding of our faith and celebrate our Christianity.
This is National Volunteer Recognition Week. Take a look around and when you see a volunteer, stop and give her or him a smile and thank them.
WORLD YOUTH DAY
Our parish Youth Group is very excited to share that we will be taking part in next year’s World Youth Day (WYD). World Youth Day is a worldwide encounter with the Pope which is celebrated every 3 years. The next World Youth Day is taking place in Panama City, Panama from January 22nd to 27th, 2019.
“WYD is open to young people who want to take part in a festive encounter with their contemporaries centered on Jesus Christ. This event is an opportunity to experience in first person the universality of the Church. WYD is a unique way to deepenyour faith and grow closer to Christ, by means of prayer and the sacraments, together with thousands of other young people around the world who share your interests and ambitions.”
This event is open to young adults in the parish ages 18-30.
If you are interested in attending, please contact sgpyouthgroup@gmail.com for more information.
LOOKING FOR A BOOKKEEPER
Fr. Bernard is looking for a bookkeeper at the Passionist Mission Office. If interested, please contact Fr. Bernard at the Mission Office at 416-743-3500.
Join the team and work for the missions in Haiti, Jamaica and Honduras!
MOSAIC INTERFATH
Sunday April 22nd from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church
MOSAIC Interfaith has been invited by St. Gabriel’s Parish for a talk on our “green” church on Sunday, April 22nd from 2:30 to 4:30 PM. Fr. Stephen Dunn, Passionist priest and retired Professor of Moral Theology at St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto and Roberto Chiotti, architect, with a degree in Master of Theological Studies from St. Michael’s College will speak about the vision behind the building of the church and its realisation. The talk will be followed by group tours of the church which is fully accessible.
Please email fatimalee@bellnet.ca if you wish to attend.
ANNOUNCED MASSES
April 23rd – April 28th, 2018
MONDAY – HUI SOU LIN – Requested by Linda Law & Family
TUESDAY – TSUN YAN HO – Requested by Agnes Wong
WEDNESDAY – ANTHONY YOUNG – Requested by Agnes Wong
THURSDAY – MARCELINO FERNANDES – Requested by Tita Fernandes & Family
FRIDAY – SOULS IN PURGATORY – Requested by Teresa Marchie
SATURDAY – ALFREDO GERALDO – Requested by Katiuska Ramirez
FIRST COMMUNION INTERVIEWS
First Communion interview dates are now being booked
Interviews Dates
April 23rd, April 24th, April 25th, April 26th, April 27th, April 30th, May 1st, May 2nd, May 3rd and May 4th.
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 or Fr. John as soon as possible.
WELCOME! BAPTISM
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome:
Santiago Andres Leon Ayala
Audrey Phyllis Eleanora Peck
Kiara Latorraca Valentim
These children received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, April 15th, 2018. Congratulations!
CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK
May 6th to 11th, 2018
We invite all parishioners to join in celebrating Catholic Education Week 2018, which runs from May 6th to May 11th. For more than 165 years, Ontario’s publicly funded schools have been integrating our faith into all aspects of school life, nurturing the gifts and talents of every student. We celebrate the distinctive contribution that Catholic schools provide, giving thanks and offering our prayers for all those who faithfully journey with our young people each day. To affirm your support of Catholic Education and sign up for email updates visit www.togetherinfaith.ca.
SHARELIFE
Living the Gospel by providing for those in need.
“One of the core components of our Pastoral Plan is Catholic Outreach in Justice and Love. As a Catholic community we are called to be the hands and face of Jesus in our communities. ShareLife is a tangible way we can put the Gospel value to ‘love one another as I have loved you’ into action. I invite all parishioners to support the mission work of the church by making a sacrifcial gift to ShareLife.” -Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto.
Total Collected to April 16th, 2018 – $63,690
Today is ShareLife Sunday.
Thank you for your generosity.
JUST COFFEE
Weekend of April 21st and 22nd
Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend.
Regular ground coffee: $5.50
Decaffeinated: $6.00
Whole Beans: $5.50
Chocolate Bars: $4.50 incl. Taxes
Hot Chocolate and Cocoa: $6.00
Teas: $4.25
FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
Each month the food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall
Your food donations are more important than ever as the numbers of needy people continue to increase. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your generous support.
MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE
Weekend of September 21st, 22nd and 23rd, 2018
St. Gabriel’s Parish
A Marriage Preparation course will be offered here at St. Gabriel’s the weekend of September 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, 2018. The course will be held Friday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM. For a registration package please email Marie Deans at deansm@sympatico.ca.
ST. CLARE INN – ANNUAL FUNDRAISER
Saturday, April 28th
The Donalda Club
St. Clare Inn’s Annual Fundraiser is back…. Saturday, April 28th at the Donalda Club.
Throw on something black or white, mingle with friends, listen to the smooth voice of Frank Sinatra or simply get your picture taken with him. Enjoy the always delicious food of the Donalda Club and get caught up in the bidding at our live and silent auction … all for a great cause! This year will be hosted by CTV Toronto’s Michelle Dubé. Tickets are $85/each.
Call 416-690-0330 or go online to buy yours today at www.stclareinn.org.
BUNDLE UP WEEKEND COMING UP!
May 5th and 6th
It’s Spring Cleaning Time!
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is collecting gently used clothing, shoes, linens and household goods to support our neighbors in need or to be sold to help support their special works in the community.
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 is open Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM and Sunday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Volunteers will be there to assist with loading before and after each Mass.
MEAGAN’S WALK – CREATING A CIRCLE OF HOPE
Saturday, May, 12th 2018
5km Fundraising Walk and Hug
Registration from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at Fort York
9:30 AM Registration Closes
10:00 AM Walk to SickKids
The seventeenth annual Meagan’s Walk: – Creating a Circle of Hope will take place on Saturday, May 12th. You may register online at meaganswalk.com. Registration also opens at 8:30 AM at Fort York, followed by family activities and entertainment. Registration closes at 9:30 AM. The Walk begins at 10:00 AM. and concludes at SickKids with the “Hug”.
Over the last 17 years, proceeds of 5 million dollars from this event have been directed toward paediatric brain tumour research, faster diagnoses, personalized treatments and improved outcomes for young people faced with brain tumours and treatment of paediatric brain tumours at SickKids.
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES
If you are contributing cash to the Offertory Collection without any identification, you will not receive credit for your contribution. If you wish to have a box issued for 2018, please contact the parish office and we will prepare a box for you. This is the most effective way to keep track of your donations.
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.
