LUNAR NEW YEAR PARTY
Sunday, February 21st after 12:30 PM Mass
Monday, February 8th marks the beginning of Lunar New Year. For many years, the Asian community in our parish has gifted our parish community with a wonderful Lunar New Year Party. This year is the Year of the Monkey.
Our Lunar New Year Party will take place on Sunday, February 21st after the 12:30 PM Mass in the Gathering Space. All are welcome. Don’t forget to mark your calendar!
Volunteers and donations are also welcome.
Please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
FIRST COMMUNION INTERVIEWS
Interviews for children who wish to receive their First Communion are now being scheduled. Those children attending the Children’s Faith Program, private schools or others are asked to choose one of the following dates: April 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, 14th , 19th, 20th .21st. 26th, 27th or 28th.
Children from St. Gabriel’s School are asked to choose one of the following dates: May 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 17th, 18th, 19th or 20th.
Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 to book your appointment with Fr. Brando.
FIRST RECONCILIATION
Saturday, February 27th at 10:30 AM
St. Gabriel’s Church
First Reconciliation for children attending St. Gabriel’s School and those in the Children’s Faith Program and children attending Private Schools will be held at
St. Gabriel’s Church on Saturday, February 27th at 10:30 AM.
LENTEN EVENING OF REFLECTION
Wednesday, March 2nd at 7:30 PM
This year’s parish Lenten Evening of Reflection will be preached by Father Nicholas Obiero, C.P. Father Nicholas is a Passionist from Kenya. He is working towards his doctorate in Pastoral Theology at St. Michael’s College of the University of Toronto. Occasionally Father Nicholas helps out at our parish as well – many of you might have already met him.
Please mark your calendar. Details about the Evening will follow once they become available.
ANNOUNCED MASSES
February 8th to February 13th, 2016
MONDAY – PAUL SAI BUN CHAN – Requested by the Family
TUESDAY – LYN EGSGARD – Requested by Gerry, Molly, Helen & Kathi
WEDNESDAY – ASH WEDNESDAY – No 9:00 AM Mass
THURSDAY – MARION DES ROCHES – Requested by the Des Roches Family
FRIDAY – JOVITA PINO – Requested by Josie Pino
SATURDAY – GUS CALDERONE – Requested by Marie Calderone
ASH WEDNESDAY
February 10th 2016
February 10th is Ash Wednesday. Special Masses will be celebrated at 12:00 Noon and 7:30 PM with the distribution of ashes. There will be no 9:00 AM Mass that day.
VOCATION SEEDS
Do not be afraid. If the Lord is calling you to the ordained or consecrated life, do not be afraid. Jesus calls and will give you the grace to respond wholeheartedly. If you think God is calling you to be a priest, religious or deacon, please contact Fr. Chris Lemieux, Vocations Director, Archdiocese of Toronto at 416-968-0997 or email vocations@archtoronto.org.
DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE
Development and Peace is proud to be a partner of ShareLIfe. Through our theme this year, Create a Climate of Change, we invite you to experience “the opening of our hearts to those living on the outermost fringes of society.” (Pope Francis)
Lent is a time to look within ourselves and reflect on our relationship with God and with each other. It is the opportune moment to open our hearts towards compassion and love and take action on the multiple crises that are affecting humanity.
This weekend, members of Development and Peace will distribute Lenten materials that highlight the difference that we can make in creating a Climate of Change.
IMMIGRATION LAWYER NEEDED
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Conference often meet Neighbours in Need who require professional help, but have no resources.
We are asking any of our parishioners who are Lawyers or who know Lawyers, specializing in immigration who would be willing to donate their time to contact the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Gabriel’s. Please call Brenda D’Souza 416-990-8892. Thank you very much for remembering the poor and for all your support in this mission of charity to our Neighbours in Need.
GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE CASSEROLES
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 80 casseroles for January. For February, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of February 27th/28th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are encouraged 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 Church website.
If you require more information or would like to get a copy of a recipe and a casserole pan, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
EFFECT HOPE
Leprosy Mission of Canada Stamp Collection Program
Make a difference with your mail! You can get involved by collecting, trimming and sending them used postage stamps. They fill bags of stamps and sell them to stamp dealers by the kilogram. By donating your time or stamps, you can bring hope to people with leprosy. Stamps can be trimmed leaving no less than ¼ inch and no more than ½ inch paper border Your kindness and compassion are felt by the friends and staff of Effect Hope and by the many people we serve. We look forward to your continued partnership with this mission of healing and hope. Please place stamps in the basket provided outside the Parish Office.
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 community, residential, educational and child development 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.
HEARTS BROKEN OPEN
Monday, February 8th from 6:30 to 8:30
Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge Street, 4th Floor
New Beginnings and Catholic Family Services of Toronto present an inspirational talk by Susan Morgan, M.Div. entitled “Hearts Broken Open” for anyone who has experienced a loss in life and who desires to move forward.
The talk will be held at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge St. (Shaftesbury Ave.) 4th Floor, located at Summerhill Subway on Monday, February 8th from 6:30 PM. to 8:30 PM. Limited underground parking is available.
A CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE
Saturday February 13th at 4:30 PM
St. Andrew Kim Parish, 849 Don Mills Road
Cardinal Collins has designated this weekend as Marriage Sunday in the Archdiocese of Toronto. The event provides an opportunity to honour husband and wife while saluting the faithfulness, sacrifice and joy that comes with the marriage covenant.
To those preparing for marriage, newlyweds and those that have been companions on the journey for decades, we offer our prayers and best wishes in a special way this weekend.
On Saturday, February 13th, at 4:30 PM couples from across the archdiocese will gather for A Celebration of Marriage with Cardinal Thomas Collins at St. Andrew Kim Parish,
849 Don Mills Road, North York. A reception will follow Mass. All are welcome! For more information please visit www.archtoronto.org/marriage or call 416-964-8695.
CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE DAY OF RECOLLECTION
Tuesday, February 16, 2016 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Blessed Trinity Parish Church, 3220 Bayview Ave.
The Catholic Women’s League of Blessed Trinity Parish is hosting a Day of Recollection on Tuesday, February 16th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Blessed Trinity Parish Hall. Tickets which include a hot lunch, are $20 each.
All women are invited. For tickets or more info, please call Louise 416-733-3946 or Gisele 416-223-7826
WOMEN’S LENTEN RETREAT WEEKEND
Beginning Friday, February 19th at 8:00 PM
Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre, Mississauga.
There will be a Women’s Lenten Retreat at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre on the weekend of February 19th to 21st. The retreat begins at 8:00 PM on Friday and concludes with Mass at noon on Sunday, followed by lunch. It will be preached by the Centre Team. Please call 905-278-5229 for further information or to register.
A LENTEN RETREAT – JESUS IN THE DESERT
St. Augustine’s Lay Spiritual Formation Program
Saturday, February 20th from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM
St. Augustine’s Seminary, 2661 Kingston Road
St. Augustine’s Lay Spiritual Formation Program presents a Lenten Retreat, Jesus in the Desert with Fr. Charles Anang on Saturday, February 20th from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. The cost is $40 which includes lunch. To register go to www.staugustines.on.ca or call 416-261-7207.
FINANCE CORNER
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for January 31st, 2016:
Envelopes 398 $ 6,976
Loose Change 963
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 166 3,160
Total 564 $ 11,099
Maintenance Fund $ 6,923
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2016
Please pick up your 2016 envelopes from the Parish Office as soon as possible if you have not already done so.
If you are contributing cash to the Offertory Collection without any identification, you will not receive credit for your contribution. If you are not currently using parish envelopes and wish to have a set issued for 2016, 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.
Please inform the Parish Office if you have recently moved, so that we may keep our parish records up to date.
TAX RECEIPTS FOR 2015
Tax receipts for 2015 were mailed last week. Tax receipts for the Family of Faith Campaign or for any donations made by credit card through the Archdiocese will be receipted by the Archdiocese.
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.
