Christmas Schedule 2017
INDIVIDUAL ADVENT CONFESSIONS
Wednesday, December 13th:
10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
MASSES
CHRISTMAS EVE – Sunday, December 24th
Regular Sunday Masses 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM
5:00 PM Family Mass – Carol Singing
9:00 PM Adult Choir – Carol Singing
12:00 AM Midnight Mass – Contemporary Group
Office Open – 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM
CHRISTMAS DAY – Monday, December 25th
10:30 AM
12:30 PM
Office Open – 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM
BOXING DAY – Tuesday, December 26th
Office Closed
No 9:00 AM Mass
NEW YEAR’S EVE – Sunday, December 31st
Regular Masses 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 5:00 PM Mass
Vigil for Feast of Mary the Mother of God
Office Open – 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM
NEW YEAR’S DAY – Monday, January 1st
Feast of Mary the Mother of God
10:30 AM
12:30 PM
Office open – 9:30 to 2:00 PM
Parking
While parking at ground level is limited to 51 spaces, there is plenty of space in the underground parking lot. Please follow the instructions of the attendants. Do not park in front of the Church since this is a fire route and must be kept clear.
Additional parking is available on the east side of Elkhorn Public School and in the bus loop. Again, please follow the instructions of the attendant. The school requests that we do not park on the grass. Many thanks to Holly Richards, the Principal of Elkhorn Public School, for allowing us the use of the school property.
ANNOUNCED MASSES
December 11th to December 16th 2017
MONDAY – SOULS IN PURGATORY – Requested by Mary & Ravi
TUESDAY – BERNIE O’ROURKE – Requested by the Mary & Anne
WEDNESDAY – SOULS IN PURGATORY – Requested by Mary & Ravi
THURSDAY – ANA CAROLINA CAETANO-MACDONELL – Requested by her Family
FRIDAY – HARRY LEUNG – Requested by Mary Leung
SATURDAY – GUS CALDERONE – Requested by Marie Calderone
DAY OF CONFESSION
Wednesday, December 13th
On Wednesday, December 13th, we will all have the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Confessions will be heard from, 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM.
CHILDREN’S CHOIR FAMILY MASS – CHRISTMAS EVE AT 5:00 PM
Rehearsal: Sunday, December 17th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Each year, young people, Grade 3 and up, form a special choir for the Family Mass on Christmas Eve. Children must be at the Church by 4:00 PM. One rehearsal, which is mandatory, will be held on Sunday, December 17th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.
For more information call Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041.
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT DRESS REHEARSAL
Sunday, December 17th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM
Each year a Nativity pageant takes place at the 5:00 PM Family Mass. S.K. to Grade 5 children are invited to participate in the pageant. The rehearsal will be held on Sunday, December 17th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM in the Church.
GIFTS OF NEW BIRTH – ANNUAL ADVENT-SOLSTICE
Thursday, December 21st at 7:30 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church
Advent’s preparations culminate in a radical new beginning – the birth of the Christ child – not just for humanity but for all of creation. The winter solstice marks a transition toward brighter times. Together, the Advent-Solstice reminds us of our profound connection with all of God’s creation and wakens us to the opportunity for a new beginning in that relationship. We will explore the surprising gifts that result when we make choices that foster such relationships.
VOCATION SEEDS
John the Baptist is sent by God to prepare the way for His Son. In our present time God sends priests, religious and deacons to prepare the people to receive His Son. If you think God is calling you to a Church vocation, contact Fr. Chris Lemieux, Vocation Director, Archdiocese of Toronto AT 416-968-0997 or by email at vocations@archtoronto.org or go to www.vocationstoronto.ca.
FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
Each month the food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. The good people of St. Gabriel’s have been extremely generous in their support of these two important centres.
Rosalie Hall assists young parents and their children to realize their potential through the provision of a wide range of child development, community, residential and educational services.
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.
Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your tremendous support!
THE GIVING TREE
Saturday December 2nd to Sunday, December 17th
During Advent, the Society of St Vincent de Paul has set up a Giving Tree in the Gathering Space.
The tree will be decorated with gift tags. Each tag will have the gender and age of a child. We invite you to take a tag, buy a gift or a gift card of about $25.00 for that child and return the unwrapped gift, with the tag attached, to the box provided in the Gathering Space. If you are a knitter, there will be mitten tags.
Please take one and return mitts to the box in the Gathering Space.
At this time of the year, we are also thinking of the young mothers and babies of Rosalie Hall. If you wish to help, you may choose a “Christmas Stocking” from the tree to purchase pyjamas or undershirts for babies ages 6 months to 4 years.
Unwrapped Items with the original stocking tag attached can be left in the box provided near the “mitten” tree no later than December 17th. Toys for these little ones would also be appreciated.
For the Moms, we are suggesting gift cards from Tim Horton’s, Walmart or MacDonald’s. These can be placed in the envelopes provided and brought to the Parish Office. Thank you for your generous support.
CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE
Saturday December 2nd to Sunday December 17th
We are having a Christmas Toy Drive again this year for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society. You can help by dropping off an unwrapped new toy for a child newborn to12 years old. Containers have been set up at the doors of the Church and will remain there until Sunday, December 17th.
JUST COFFEE
Weekend of December 16th/17th
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
EFFECT HOPE – LEPROSY MISSION OF CANADA
Collecting Stamps
This is a wonderful time of year to collect stamps from your Christmas cards and letters to give to Effect Hope, the Leprosy Mission of Canada. If you wish to help, your stamps may be left in the basket outside of the office.
THE FELLOWSHIP OF ST. JOSEPH
Tuesday, December 12th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Blessed Trinity Church, 3220 Bayview Avenue
The Association for Hebrew Catholics is presenting Fr. Russell Asch, Assistant Chaplain – Extraordinary Rite of the Latin Mass on Tuesday, December 12th at 7:00 PM at Blessed Trinity Church.
Come and hear Fr. Russell’s amazing testimony of faith. You will be blessed to share in his journey! Come out as we celebrate Advent and Hanukkah with friends and family.
All are welcome. Donation baskets are at the door to help with expenses and a small gift for the guest speakers. Goodies to share always deeply appreciated.
FRIARS’ STUDENT WRITING AWARD 2018
Win great prizes! Deadline for submissions January 8th 2018
Students aged 14 to 18 are invited to write a 500-word essay on the theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, celebrated January 18th to January 25th, 2018. The Theme is “Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power” (cf. Exodus 15:6). Students should read the Scripture passage from Exodus 15: 1-21 and respond to the following question in the essay:
Just as the Israelites sought deliverance from enslavement, in contemporary society the dignity of all people is threatened by new enslavements to poverty, violence, injustice and addictions. In what ways can Christians of all denominations work together to stave off these assaults to human dignity? Explain.
First Prize. Winning essays will be edited and published in The Catholic Register. Deadline for entries is January 8th, 2018. For entry details, please visit http://bit.ly/studentwritingawarddetails.
HODIE CHRISTUS NATUS EST!
Wednesday, December 13th 7:30 PM- 9:00 PM
Regis College Toronto
Join Toronto’s new professional-level chamber choir, Incontra Vocal Ensemble,as they perform Advent and Christmas-themed music inspired by joy, expectation and wonderment. Works by Palestrina, Lauridsen, Sixten, Gjeilo, Rutter, Sirett, Abu-Khader and a new composition by Toronto composer J. Scott Brubacher.
Tickets are $35. Call 416- 922-5474 ext. 266 or go to
https://regiscollege.ca/event/christmas-concert-hodie-christus-natus-est/ or wilma.scherloski@utoronto.ca for more details.
Sponsored by the Regis College Alumni Association.
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.
