LENTEN EVENING OF REFLECTION
Encountering Christ, the King of Mercy, in the time of Lent
Father Nicholas Obiero, CP
Wednesday March 2nd from 7:30 to 9:00 PM
St. Gabriel’s Parish
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Father Nicholas is a Passionist from Kenya. He is working towards a doctorate in Pastoral Theology at St. Michael’s College of the University of Toronto.
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. The program is run by volunteers. This program is an important ministry to the families that come to our parish. Many of our children were and are still part of the program and we know how valuable this ministry is to our parish life.
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 francis.ng@bellnet.ca or leave your name and contact number with the parish office.
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.
ECO – SABBATH
Sunday, March 6th at 11:30 AM in the Gabriel Room
On the first Sunday of each month, the Passionist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality facilitates a 30 minute reflection and discussion prompted by the readings for that Sunday’s liturgy. All are welcome to attend.
ROSARY GROUPS
Gabriel Room
English: Saturday, March 5th at 3:15 PM
Chinese: Sunday, March 6th at 3:30 PM
For information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
ANNOUNCED MASSES
February 29th to March 5th, 2016
MONDAY – KING LUEN LAM – Requested by Michelle Wong
TUESDAY – FERNANDO LASA – Requested by Ana Maria Lasa
WEDNESDAY – CHIU SZE GONG – Requested by the Chiu family
THURSDAY – JAMES WONG TING KEE – Requested by the Chiu Family
FRIDAY – PANG YUEN – Requested by the Chiu Family
SATURDAY – GORDON OATWAY – Requested by Patricia Oatway
LENTEN AND EASTER SCHEDULE
Stations of the Cross
Every Friday
7:30 PM
Lenten Evening of Reflection
Wednesday, March 2nd
7:30 PM
Tenebrae Service
Saturday, March 12th
7:30 PM
Day of Confession,
Wednesday, March 16th:
Individual Confession – 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Reconciliation Service – 7:30 PM
Palm Sunday March 20th
Masses Saturday 4:30 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM.
Holy Thursday March 24th
No 9:00 AM Mass
7:30 PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Followed by Adoration until 10:00 PM.
Good Friday March 25th
10:00 AM Morning Prayer
3:00 PM Solemn Passion of Our Lord
7:30 PM Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday March 26th
No 4:30 PM Mass
8:00 PM Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday March 27th
Masses 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM
Easter Monday March 28th
No 9:00 AM Mass
Office closed
EXTRA PARKING AT ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOL
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION – FIRST FRIDAY
There will be no Eucharistic Adoration on March 4th since there will be a funeral Mass that morning.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
Friday, March 4th at 2:00 PM
Trinity Presbyterian Church
The annual ecumenical World Day of Prayer Service, entitled “Receive Children, Receive Me” will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church on Friday March 4th at 2:00 PM. The Church is located on the east side of Bayview Avenue just south of the 401.
Please join us, along with our neighbour Christian churches, in prayer and reflection. All are welcome to attend.
THE SERVICE OF TENEBRAE
March 12th at 7:30 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church
On Saturday, March 12th at 7:30 PM, we will be celebrating the ancient service of Tenebrae at St. Gabriel’s. Historically, this tradition was held the evening before the start of the Easter Triduum. Shrouded in shadow, Tenebrae evokes a sense of wonder and mystery as the Passion of Jesus is told through a series of readings, songs, and hymns. Fifteen 15 candles are extinguished one by one, marking the progression to our Lord’s crucifixion. The last candle, the Christ Candle, is not extinguished but rather removed from the view of the congregation. This signifies hope in the resurrection as the rest of the church is blanketed in utter darkness.
Please join us for Tenebrae held at St. Gabriel’s Parish. It will be a remarkable experience for this community to share. The gentlemen of the Seraphim Men’s Chorus will be present to provide musical settings of the readings composed by Msgr. Ronan, founder of St. Michael’s Choir School. A voluntary donation will be taken up as a collection in support of the Choir School. This tradition is a wonderful way to prepare ourselves to celebrate the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
SHARELIFE
Working wonders for those in our community…
“At Mary Centre, the residents of our homes have developed friendships, yet they maintain their own individuality,” says Denise Tremblett, Program Manager, “Although some of their relatives may have passed on, they love to remain active with healthy recreational activities and visiting regularly with the rest of their friends and family members. We enjoy cooking and providing for them so they can remain at home here and enjoy their lives. We are extremely grateful that ShareLife donors have helped to make a difference for these very special people!” Last year, over 1,500 people with special needs received outreach services from ShareLife-supported agencies.
Sunday March 13, 2016 is ShareLife Sunday
Please give generously. You can work wonders!
FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
Each month food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.
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.
CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON MERCY
Tuesday, March 8th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Scarboro Missions, 2685 Kingston Road
To encourage ongoing dialogue, Scarboro Missions is presenting a series of Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives on Mercy. Join Dr. Murray Watson, Roman Catholic professor at Huron University College for the first in the series “Christian Perspective on Mercy” to be held on Tuesday, March 8th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Scarboro Missions.
There is no registration or admission fee. A voluntary offering is appreciated. For more information contact Sr. Lucy Thorson at 416-261-7135, Ext. 244.
YOUNG MEN’S HIGH SCHOOL DAY RETREAT
Saturday March 12th
St Augustine’s Seminary
The Office of Vocations is hosting a Young Men’s High School Day Retreat at St. Augustine’s Seminary on Saturday March 12th. The retreat provides a time to pray, to interact and socialize. Priests and Seminarians will deliver talks on practical aspects of faith. There will be opportunities for Prayer, Mass, Adoration & Confession.
For more information call 416-968-0997 or email: vocations@archtoronto.org.
CARDINAL PETER TURKSON
LAUDATO SI’: LET’S REDEFINE “PROGRESS”
Monday, March 14th at 7:00 PM
St. Basil’s Church, 50 St. Joseph Street, Toronto
Cardinal Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, is a passionate supporter of Laudato Si’: On Care for our Common Home, Pope Francis’ recent encyclical on the environment. He told attendees at last year’s UN Summit on Climate Change that we “cannot remain blind to the grave damage done to the planet, nor can we remain indifferent to the plight of the millions of people who most bear the burden of such destruction.
Free admission For tickets and more information go to events.usmctheology@utoronto.ca.
FINANCE CORNER
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for February 21st, 2016:
Envelopes 435 $ 8,303
Loose Change 998
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 166 3,160
Total 601 $ 12,461
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, you may 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.
Please do not use any envelopes from any prior year as the number on it may have been reassigned.
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.
