URGENT APPEAL FROM THE PASSIONIST MISSION IN THE PHILIPPINES
We have just received an urgent appeal for help from Father Rey Ondap, a Passionist priest working in Mindanao of the Philippines. Because of the effects of El Niño, there was little or no rain for the whole growing season this year. Crops have failed miserably. The situation among the indigenous people there is most dire. At least 3,500 families, many children among them, are suffering from starvation and other forms of illnesses brought about by the drought.
Father Ondap is trying to raise funds to buy rice and other supplies for these affected communities in the mission areas, so that they can deal with this emergency situation. If you would like to help, you can drop off your donations in the box provided in the Gathering Space this weekend.
In order to receive appropriate tax credit, please include your offering in an envelope with your full name, address and/or envelope number.
PALLIATIVE CARE – NOT ASSISTED SUICIDE
There is a compelling need for palliative care in Ontario. Recently, Cardinal Collins mentioned in his address to all parishes that less than 30% of those needing end-of-life care can find it. Availability of palliative care is what is needed not doctor-assisted-suicide.
We are a small group of parishioners and health care professionals who have a vision to care for people needing inpatient palliative care. Our plan is to create a place where patients and their families will receive care imbued with the value of compassion and which provides total care from physical, social and spiritual care. Setting up hospices will be an effective way to achieve this objective and to this end we are engaging communities and organizations that have similar values. We need people with a diversity of backgrounds to realize this dream. If you are interested in volunteering with us please contact Bob Parke or Ron Forbe at hospiceprojects@gmail.com or call 416-577-1406.
CHILDREN’S FAITH PROGRAM
CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP
The St. Gabriel’s Children’s Faith Program is a Parish faith program for children in Grade SK to 8 who attend Public and Private schools.
We are in need of volunteers to serve as coordinator of the program and as class teachers and assistants. If you are interested please call 416-221-8866 ext 224, email francisng@bellnet.ca or leave your name and contact number with the parish office.
MILK BAG WORKSHOP
Tuesday May 17th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM
Gabriel Room
Hello fellow parishioners, I have booked the St. Gabriel’s Room for Tues. May 17 for our next weaving event. We will try to weave from 1:00 – 3:00 or 4ish as long as our energy and supplies last….
Thank you to those that took bags home to cut…. I have already received some back!! Hope to see you next month and feel free to bring a friend.
Sharon Gusz
ANNOUNCED MASSES
April 18th to April 23rd, 2016
MONDAY – LORENZO GRECH & SEBASTIANO PADOVA – Requested by the Grech Family
TUESDAY – BERNIE CABRERA – Requested by Olivia Cabrera
WEDNESDAY – ANTHONY O. B. YEUNG – Requested by Agnes Wong
THURSDAY – HUI SOU LIN – Requested by Linda Law & Family
FRIDAY – LEONARD MARCHIE – Requested by Teresa Marchie & Family
SATURDAY – THOMAS DONAGHY – Requested by Siobhan Donaghy
PLANNING TO BE A CATHOLIC TEACHER?
It is important for you to know that to be hired to teach in any Catholic School Board in Ontario, as part of your application for employment, there must be a letter of reference from your pastor. If you are planning to apply to teach in a Catholic School, a contact with the pastor is highly recommended. Please plan to have a conversation with your Pastor early in the process, well before applications are to be submitted.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL BUNDLE-UP COLLECTION
Weekend of May 7th/8th
The Society for St. Vincent de Paul will hold their annual Bundle Up Collection on the weekend of May 7th/8th. Bring your gently used clothing, household linens, shoes and small household goods to share with others. Appliances, furniture and books cannot be accepted.
A St. Vincent de Paul truck will be in the Church parking lot to receive donations. The truck will be open in the parking lot on Saturday, May 7th from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. and Sunday, May 8th until 1:00 P.M.
Volunteers will assist with the loading before and after each Mass. The Society will donate, exchange for vouchers or sell these donations to support their outreach efforts. Thank you for your continued support.
FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
Each month food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.
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
With everyone struggling at this time, your food donations are more important than ever. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your generous support.
SHARELIFE
“The ShareLife campaign provides for the needs of our social service agencies, helps our brothers and sisters in Christ across the world, and supports the education of our clergy. It is important that we continue to support the ShareLife appeal, to provide for the needs of the marginalized both here in our communities and around the world regardless of their religious beliefs or personal background. ShareLife agencies meet people where they are, treating them with the dignity and respect we all deserve.”
Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto.
ShareLife to date: $85,256
Today is ShareLife Sunday. Please give generously.
You can work wonders!
NEW BEGINNINGS – LIVING WITH LONELINESS
Monday, April 18th at 6:30 PM
Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge Street, 4th Floor
You are invited to attend an upcoming Inspirational Talk “Living With Loneliness” which will be held on Monday, April 18th at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge St., 4th Floor. The talk will begin at 6:30 PM.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN CLIMATE CHANGE?
Pope Francis and the Quest for an Integral Ecology
Tuesday, April 19th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Leaside Library, 165 McRae Drive
Join Dr. Stephen Scharper as he speaks on the above subject. Dr. Scharper is a professor of religion and the environment at the University of Toronto and a Toronto Star columnist. Author of For Earth’s Sake: Toward a Compassionate Ecology.
Refreshments will be served. Please join us for an evening of interesting conversation.
For more information contact St. Anselm’s Ecology Group at stanselmecology@gmail.com.
NEW BEGINNINGS SPRING RETREAT
Saturday, April 23rd from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
St Bonaventure’s Parish, 1300 Leslie Street
The New Beginnings Spring Retreat, entitled, “Nurturing Seeds of Hope in all the Seasons of Life” will take place on Saturday, April 23rd at St. Bonaventure’s 1300 Leslie Street from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
MEAGAN’S WALK – CREATING A CIRCLE OF HOPE
5km Fundraising Walk and Hug
Saturday, May 7th, 2016
Registration from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at Fort York
10:00 A.M. Walk to SickKids
On Saturday, May 7th, the fifteenth annual Meagan’s Walk: -Creating a Circle of Hope will take place.
Registration opens at 8:30 A.M. at Fort York, followed by family activities and entertainment. The Walk begins at 10:00 AM. and concludes at SickKids with the “Hug”.
Proceeds from this event will be shared between the Meagan Bebenek Endowment Fund and awareness, research and treatment of paediatric brain tumours at SickKids.
FAITH FINANCE & SELF-KNOWLEDGE
A Catholic Young Adult Seminar
Saturday, May 7th, from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM.
Gabriel Room, St. Gabriel’s Church
You are invited to attend a Catholic young adult seminar, “Faith, Finance and Self- Knowledge” being held here at St. Gabriel’s on Saturday May 7th from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM.
Guest speakers include Fr. Brando Recana CP, Quentin Schesnik and Rose Heron. The cost of $15 includes lunch. Space is limited. To register, please contact Pauline at pauline.susanto@gmail.com.
A DATE TO REMEMBER: CATHOLIC SPEED DATING — CELTIC EDITION
Saturday, May 14th from 6:30 PM. to 9:00 PM
Newman Centre, 89 St George St, Toronto
Faith Connections and the Newman Young Adult Ministry invite single young adults (18-39) to a Catholic Speed Dating evening! Tickets are $35. Those registered will be divided into age groups. ID will be required. This event will be followed by a Celtic Ceilidh Dance Social!
Space is limited. Registration is required by May 8th. To register, call Vanessa Nicholas-Schmidt at 416-467-2645 or visit www.faithconnections.ca — a ministry of Fontbonne Ministries, Sisters of St. Joseph, Toronto.
FREE ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR
Wednesday, May 18th at 7:00 PM
Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home & Cemetery, Thornhill
Catholic Cemeteries and the Archdiocese estate planning team will share information about:
How to protect your loved ones with a proper will
How to ensure your wishes are legally protected
Powers of Attorney
The advantage of pre-arranging funeral, burial and cremation
The cost savings of making an estate plan
Finding lawyers and estate planning advisors
Our Catholic traditions around wills, burials and funerals.
An estate planning kit will be provided at no cost. Refreshments will be provided.
RSVP to Frank Jannetta, Catholic Cemeteries at 416.733-8544 ext. 2023 or fjannetta@cc-fs.ca.
FINANCE CORNER
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for April 10th, 2016:
Envelopes 418 $ 7,894
Loose Change 817
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 165 3,034
Total 583 $ 11,745
Please inform the Parish Office if you have changed your address or are moving out of the Parish so that we may update our records.
If you have prior year’s offertory envelopes, please do not use them! Each year we go through the unused envelopes for which no donations have been received and may reassign that number to another parishioner.
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.
