“LEANING INTO THE LIGHT” ADVENT RETREAT
Preacher: Fr. Bob Joerger CP
Saturday, December 10th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church
In a few weeks, we will begin the season of Advent, a time to prepare ourselves for the celebration of Christmas. In Advent, we are called to stay awake as we keep vigil, with our eyes set on the light, and not let ourselves be too carried away by the unnecessary care and concerns of the Christmas Season. Please consider joining us for a few hours of quietude in prayer and reflection.
The preacher for our Advent Retreat this year will be Father Robert Joerger, CP. Father Bob is the Provincial of the Passionists of the St. Paul of the Cross Province. Many of you have met him when he last visited St. Gabriel’s. He has touched many hearts with his preaching.
The topic of our Advent Retreat is “Leaning into the Light”. It will be held on Saturday, December 10th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at St. Gabriel’s Parish. Come and be prepared to be inspired and be challenged to a deeper relationship with God.
All are welcome. There is no cost to attend. However, donations will be gratefully accepted. For more information, please call the parish office at 416-221-8866, or email fatimalee@bellnet.ca
The retreat will begin at 1:00 PM sharp. Please plan on arriving a little earlier.
“A CONVERSATION WITH FATHER BOB ON THE PASSIONIST CHARISM”
Saturday, December 10th from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
Gabriel Room
We as a parish have been blessed with the ministry of the Passionists priests for over six decades. Have you ever wondered what the Passionists are about? Do you want to find out more about their spirituality and their work?
If you are interested, please join us for a conversation with Father Bob, the Provincial Superior of the St. Paul of the Cross Province of the Passionists. (The Province covers Canada, Eastern USA, Jamaica, W.I. and Haiti.) The meeting will be held on Saturday, December 10th from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM, in the Gabriel Room.
This is an opportunity not to be missed. Please mark your calendars.
YOUTH GROUP WREATH RAFFLE
November 19th/20th
The youth group will be raffling off advent wreaths after all the Masses this weekend. They have been crafted by our very own youth group members. Raffle tickets are being sold in the gathering space.
CHOIR NEWS!
Tuesday, November 22nd from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
On Tuesday, November 22nd from 7:30 to 9:00 PM the choir will be hosting a hymn sing. We will be focusing on new hymns for Advent and Christmas. Please join us for a good ol’ sing-a-long!
ANNOUNCED MASSES
November 21st to November 26th, 2016
MONDAY – ALBINO GERARDI – Requested by Stella & Isabel Luke
TUESDAY – FR. DON SANVIDO – Requested by Jeanne Robinson
WEDNESDAY – TULIO RAMIREZ – Requested by the Family
THURSDAY – PHILIP BRADLEY – Requested by Moira McCarthy & Bob Torpey
FRIDAY – DAVID SHELDRICK – Requested by Teresa Sheldrick
SATURDAY – DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE CHUCHRA & WROBEL FAMILIES – Requested by Jack & Wanda
CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
Your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses next weekend for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are needed to help feed the hungry in our city. Please get a copy of a casserole recipe and a pan and give it a try. Three recipes are available on St. Gabriel’s web site. Printed copies of the recipes are also available in the Parish Office.
Please remember to mark the label on the pan lid with the name of the casserole. For more information, you may contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.
THE GIVING TREE
During Advent, the Society of St Vincent de Paul will have 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 to 18 months.
Unwrapped Items with the original stocking tag attached can be left in the box provided near the “mitten” tree no later than December 10th. Toys for these little ones would also be appreciated.
For the Moms, we are suggesting gift cards from Tim Hortons, 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, November 26th to Sunday, December 10th
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 to 12 years old.
Containers will be set up at the doors of the Church from Saturday, November 26th until Sunday, December 10th
ATTENTION KNITTERS
Winter is coming and many Out of the Cold Shelters will open their doors at night during the winter months. Scarves for their clients will be most welcome.
I use a very simple pattern, knitting while I watch TV. If you are interested, I can meet with you at your convenience and show you the pattern. Please leave your name and phone number with the Parish Office and I’ll arrange a meeting. Mary Landry
MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE
St. Gabriel’s Parish
Weekend of April 21st, 22nd and 23rd, 2017
A Marriage Preparation course will be offered here at St. Gabriel’s the weekend of April 21st to 23rd, 2017. 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.
THEOLOGY ON TAP
Grief – What’s Love Got to Do With It?
Monday, November 21st at 7:00 PM
Duke of York Pub, 39 Prince Arthur Ave, Toronto
Want to discuss faith and justice topics relevant to your life? Want to meet other young adults who share these interests? Faith Connections invites young adults 19-39 to join us for evenings of thought-provoking theological discussions and presentations in a comfortable and relaxed setting.
Munchies will be provided. There is a cash bar. Come and bring a friend! The special guest will be Florence Loh, Manager of Programs and Services, Catholic Family Services of Toronto.
SERAPHIM AND CHERUBIM CHORUS CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Friday, December 9th at 7:30 PM
St. Bonaventure Parish, 1300 Leslie Street
Christmas, Christmas time is near! Come join the Seraphim and Cherubim Chorus’ singing the Christmas songs you love as part of their That’s Christmas to Me! concert series. A mix of old favourites and twists on classics! Please join us at St. Bonaventure Parish on Friday, December 9th at 7:30 PM. Advanced tickets are available online at www.seraphimandcherubim.ca. Proceeds will go to the support of Camp Winston – camp for children with complex neurological disorders.
MOSAIC INTERFAITH ANNUAL PEACE MEAL
Sunday December 4th from 2:00 to 5:00 PM
Temple Har Zion, 7360 Bayview Ave.
MOSAIC Interfaith (of which St. Gabriel’s is a member) invites you to attend the annual Peace Meal on Sunday December 4th from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at Temple Har Zion.
Renu Mandhane, Chief Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission will speak on “Creed and Human Rights: an evolving approach in an evolving world.”
Inter-faith panelists will be Mary Jo Leddy, founder of Romero House for Refugees, Ihsaan Gardee, Executive Director of the National Council of Muslims and Pardeep Singh Nagra, Executive Director of the Sikh Heritage Museum & Manager Employment Equity TDSB.
Attendees are asked to bring a nut-free dish (and alcohol free) for the vegan supper – i.e. no meat, poultry, eggs, fish or dairy products. Please RSVP to Nora at 416-218-0680 by November 30th. For more information see poster on bulletin board.
VOCATION DISCERNMENT RETREAT
December 9th to 11th
Manresa Spiritual Renewal Centre, Pickering.
The Office of Vocations invites single Catholic men, 17 years and older to attend a Vocations Discernment Retreat from December 9th to 11th at Manresa Spiritual Renewal Centre, Pickering. The retreat starts on Friday at 7:00 PM. This is a good retreat for men who are at crossroads in discerning God’s desired Vocation for them. The retreat offers Guided reflections, Holy Mass, Adoration, confession and the assistance of a vocations team. The suggested donation of $150 will help cover costs. For more information, please contact Fr. Brando or call 416-968-0997 or email vocations@archtoronto.org.
FINANCE CORNER
Weekly Offertory
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for last weekend:
Envelopes 369 $ 7,212
Loose Change 1050
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 163 3,025
Total 541 $ 11,287
Shepherd’s Trust $12,582
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2017
The 2017 Offertory Boxed Envelopes will be available in the Gathering Space next weekend.
If you are new in the community and would like a box of envelopes, you may contact the Parish Office. Please print your name and address on your envelope so that your donation may be properly accredited to you. Please do not use envelopes from previous years since that envelope number may have been reassigned 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.
