April 27th, 2019
At the Easter Vigil, 5 new Parishioners were welcomed to our Parish.
Taito Shibuya received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.
Beau William Shibuya and Mila Ava Shibuya received the Sacrament of Baptism.
Jean Kim and Joan Sum were received into full Communion with the Catholic Church.
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome and congratulate them.
This Weekend April 27th and April 28th
Bakers and Buyers needed
This year, St. Gabriel’s D & P committee have decided to donate all the proceeds of their 2nd annual bake sale to Fr. Rick Frechette’s Haiti Mission. We encourage all of our wonderful bakers to donate some tasty treats for this bake sale. Baked goods can be dropped off at the tables before any of the Masses this weekend. We also encourage all parishioners to support this social justice cause by indulging in your sweet tooth and making this bake sale a huge success.
As Fr. Rick has requested of us “Let’s invite those who are impoverished to the table of life”
Our St. Vincent de Paul collection boxes are in poor condition.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society is looking for a carpenter who would be able to repair them. If you can help, please call Brenda at 416-990-8892. Thank you
April 29th – May 4th, 2019
MONDAY – SHELLA TANG– Requested by the Yeung & Au Families TUESDAY – GAETANO BRANCATO– Requested by the Brancato Family WEDNESDAY – GERALD MEYER – Requested by Violet Ryckewaert THURSDAY – ANTON &MARY GOH– Requested by their Children FRIDAY – LAU KOON TING– Requested by Linda Law & Family SATURDAY – GUS & MARIE CALDERONE– Requested by their Family
There are still many children who have not been registered for their First Communion interview.
Interviews will begin on Tuesday, April 23rd and continue until Friday May 10th. They are scheduled every 15 minutes from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.
Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866-to book your appointment with Fr. Brando or Fr. John as soon as possible.
Friday, May 3rd from 9:30 AM to 12 Noon
Sunday, May 5th 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. This will be the last Eco-Sabbath until the fall.
English: Rosary – Saturday, May 4th at 3:15 PM in the Gabriel Room.
Chinese Rosary – Sunday May 5th in the Gabriel Room
For information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
Catholic Education Week 2019
Catholic Education Week 2019 begins on Sunday, May 5th. The Catholic schools in our parish will engage in a series of events to celebrate the ongoing gift of publicly funded Catholic education. You are invited to discover what celebrations are happening in your children’s school and if possible, attend. Publicly funded Catholic education has existed in Ontario since 1841 and its graduates have served Ontario and Canada very well. The current generation of students in our publicly funded Catholic schools will serve with the same spirit and generosity as their previous generations.
This year’s Catholic Education Week theme is “Living as Joyful Disciples.”
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.
Living the Gospel by welcoming newcomers to Canada
Rashida endured years of domestic abuse while living in Egypt. Fearing her husband would abuse their children, she successfully applied for refugee status in Canada. Rashida arrived in Toronto, not knowing the language, what to do, or who could help. Fortunately, she met an Arabic speaker who told her about Catholic Crosscultural Services (CCS). CCS helped her navigate the immigration process and access the resources she needed. “CCS saved my life,” Rashida says. “Today I have money of my own, an apartment, and my children are finally safe and happy.”
Next Sunday, May 5th is ShareLife Sunday. Please give generously.
ShareLife Results for Previous Campaigns 2016 $190,334.25 2017 $217,507.08 2018 $172,230.78
OUR GOAL FOR 2019 $180,000 Collection to Date: $36,455
Each month the 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 while Good Shepherd provides hot meals and shelter for the homeless in our city.
Your food donations are more important than ever as the numbers of needy people continue to increase. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your generous support.
Celebration of Faith and Solidarity Sunday, April 28th from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
MOSAIC InterFaith is holding a Celebration of Faith and Solidarity hosted by St. Luke’s Catholic Church, 39 Green Lane, Thornhill, on Sunday April 28th from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. This will be in interfaith service of peace and understanding and a celebration of life, led by leaders of MOSAIC’s faith communities. All are welcome.
Attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable item for a local foodbank. For more information see the flyer on the bulletin board or call Nora at 416-218 0680.
Leprosy Mission of Canada Stamp Collection Program
Make a difference with your mail! You can get involved by collecting, trimming and sending your used postage stamps to Effect Hope, the Leprosy Mission of Canada.
Please place stamps in the basket provided outside the Parish Office
5km Fundraising Walk and Hug Saturday, May, 11th, 2019 Registration from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at Fort York 9:30 AM Registration Closes. !0:00 AM Walk to SickKids begins.
The eighteenth annual Meagan’s Walk: – Creating a Circle of Hope will take place on Saturday, May 11th. You may register online at meaganswalk.com. Registration also opens at 8:30 AM at Fort York, followed by family activities and entertainment. Registration closes at 9:30 AM. The Walk begins at 10:00 AM. and concludes at SickKids with the “Hug”.
Over the last 18 years, proceeds of over 5 million dollars from this event have been directed toward paediatric brain tumour research, faster diagnoses, personalized treatments and improved outcomes for young people faced with brain tumours and treatment of paediatric brain tumours at SickKids
Weekend of May 31st to June 2nd.
“Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough.” 1 Corinthians 5
Do you need to rest your burden? Project Rachel can help.
St. Mary’s Refuge is holding a weekend retreat for women whose hearts have been broken by abortion. Project Rachel is private and confidential. The retreat will be held on the weekend of May 31st to June 2nd. If you are interested, please e-mail ProjectRachel@stmarysrefuge.org or call 416-629-8264.
You may have noticed the first frames of St. Gabriel’s community garden on the small patio south of the window in the Gathering Space. These were built last weekend by a team from the Garden Ministry, who also mixed the soil and filled the boxes. In the next weeks, spinach and radish seeds will be planted, and on the weekend of May 18th , the seedlings will be transplanted to the boxes and additional seeds will be planted.
For more information on the Garden Ministry, contact Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.
| Posted in Bulletin |
April 21st, 2019
Easter is a feast that speaks for itself. Ours is an Easter religion. In fact our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior rests on this feast of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. We believe that life has the final word, not death. As Paul the Apostle tells us, ‘if Christ has not been raised then we are still in our sins.’ If Christ be not raised the shame and pain of our crucified Christ was for nothing. If Christ be not raised the chief priests and the mob that followed them won the day on Calvary. If Christ be not risen then the forces of hatred, bigotry, racism, sexism, exclusion, fear of the stranger, greed and power that are part of our lives today will win the day. If Christ be not risen then the evils of the peoples of this world in which we live; the wars, the genocides, the hunger that kills millions, all the realities we cannot deny, these harsh facts of life, we will not surrender to the evils of their reality because of our faith in the risen Christ – the Lord of life, the conqueror of death.
In the end it is the goodness of so many men and women, a goodness that confronts the lies of racism and bigotry and white supremacy, the goodness that reaches out to the poor, the hungry, the man of woman out of work, the families that cannot afford adequate housing that in the end will show the power of justice and love, the power of Christ and his resurrection.
Seek the things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. So we are ever mindful of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ, we are faithful at being present at the Eucharist, we try to be a person of prayer. Seeking the things that are above we try to be present to the people around us, sensitive to their needs. Seeking the things that are above we try to bring peace to our own families and be reconciled with people with whom you are estranged. Seeking the things that are above us we pray for our wounded and shamed church. Seeking the things that are above us we support our parish family in its works of charity and try to be instruments of peace with all those men and women who come into our lives.
Today and every day let us feast with joy in the Lord.” Just as Christ passed through death to resurrection, so too will we pass through this world and its suffering to the glory of a new life.
God bless us all with a holy and happy Easter.
| Posted in Homily |
April 20th, 2019
Thank You!
Thank you one and all who made our Holy week and Easter such a beautiful and uplifting time: those in the Music Ministry, our Lectors and Altar servers, our Ministers of the Eucharist, our Ministers of Hospitality, those responsible for decorating the Church and the members of our Pastoral Team.
The office is closed on Easter Monday, April 22nd
There is no 9:00 AM Mass
APRIL 27TH AND APRIL 28TH
This year, St. Gabriel’s D & P committee have decided to donate all the proceeds of their 2nd annual bake sale to Fr. Rick Frechette’s Haiti Mission. We encourage all of our wonderful bakers to donate some tasty treats for this bake sale. Baked goods can be dropped off at the tables before any of the Masses for that weekend. We also encourage all parishioners to support this social justice cause by indulging in your sweet tooth and making this bake sale a huge success.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society is looking for a carpenter who would be able to repair them. If you can help, please call Brenda at 416-990-8892. Thank you.
April 22nd – April 27th, 2019
MONDAY – EASTER MONDAY – No 9:00 AM Mass TUESDAY – HIU SOU LIN – Requested by Linda Law & Family WEDNESDAY – ARTURO & LAURA BONILLA – Requested by Olga Bonilla THURSDAY – THOMAS SUH – Requested by Cecelia Park FRIDAY – FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY – Requested by the Nguyen Family SATURDAY – SAUL MONROY – Requested by Gloria Monroy
Living the Gospel through immediate mental health services
Mental health problems can escalate if not addressed quickly. That’s why the five Catholic Family Services agencies in the Archdiocese of Toronto now offer walk-in counseling. This initiative can often meet clients’ need without requiring longer term counseling. Clients report a clinically signifcant increase in confidence that they can tackle their problems. For some agencies, ShareLife is the sole funder of this important program. By supporting ShareLife, you’re helping restore hope to those in crisis.
May 5th is ShareLife Sunday. Please give generously.
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 54 casseroles for the Good Shepherd Centre in March. For April, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of April 27th/28th.
Please consider helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. Three different recipes are available in the Parish Office or online at the Church website. You may pick up casserole pans at the Parish Office.
If you require more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
Saturday, April 27th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Studio on the Hill, 967 O’Connor Dr., Toronto
Join the Sisters of St. Joseph for a day of prayer, reflection and pottery as they reflect on Scripture related to Christ’s resurrection. The cost is $25 which includes pottery supplies and lunch. If cost is a problem, please contact them. Space is limited.
Please contact: Faith Connections at faithconnections@csj-to.ca or by phone at 416-467-2645.
Wednesday, April 24th to June 5th from 1:00 to 2:30 PM
St. Bonaventure’s Parish
The Ministry with Maturing Adults of St. Bonaventure’s Parish is sponsoring a program entitled Creating Harmony and Hope Through Forgiveness on Wednesday afternoons beginning on April 24th at 1:30 PM. It will be lead by Ginny Doty, an experienced facilitator and councilor. Space is limited.
For more information and to register please contact Ginny at 416-447-5571, Ext. 560.
Weekend of May 31st to June 2nd
The outdoor planting of seeds and seedlings will soon be upon us. If you would like to find a home for any of the following items that you no longer need, please drop them by the church office: rain barrel, trowels, children’s sharp-pointed scissors, 8 – 2″x6″ lumber, 4 – 4’x4′ sheets of 3/4″ plywood, 4 – 4’x4′ sheets of landscape fabric, lathe to create 1′ grids on each of 4 – 4’x4′ boxes, pencils, 16’x16′ tarp, 2 -18.9 litre buckets, wheelbarrow, small watering cans, 2 saw horses.
If you are planning to drop off the larger items, please make the necessary arrangements.
For more information on the Garden Ministry, contact Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com
The Finance Council wishes to share this with all who come together as our worshipping community …
“The financial burden of the Parish is the responsibility of each and all parishioners to the extent that your means allow.” Our operating payments average $17,000 per week”.
Please consider giving your offertory by picking up Envelopes, enrolling in Pre-Authorized Giving (PAG), or Donate Now (through the Archdiocese of Toronto website). Please come by the parish office if you have any questions.
April 13th, 2019
St. Gabriel’s salutes its over 100 volunteers who work in 22 active ministries. They serve at Mass as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, choir members, altar servers and ministers of hospitality. Others support our children and youth in developing a deeper understanding of their faith. Youth volunteers reach out to those in need. Others have supported our refugees and our work with the Good Shepherd Centre. Some do outreach to shut-ins and those in hospital. Volunteers look after our altar linens, our gardens and act as collection counters while others help organize and prepare for Parish events. Some work on our volunteer screening committee, our building management committee and our finance council. Still others help to prepare offertory envelopes and complete other time consuming jobs in the office.
Volunteers assist in providing a comfortable environment for all of us to celebrate our Christian Faith. Volunteers receive satisfaction in providing our parishioners with a safe environment in which to deepen our understanding of our faith and celebrate our Christianity.
This is National Volunteer Recognition Week. Take a look around and when you see a volunteer, stop and give her or him a smile and thank them.
Thank you for your tremendous support of Fr. Rick Frechette’s ministry in Haiti!
Stations of the Cross: Friday Evenings at 7:30 PM
Parish Lenten Retreat: Saturday, April 6th From 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Reconciliation Service: Wednesday, April 10th at 7:30 PM
Individual Confessions: Wednesday, April 17th From 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Palm Sunday, April 14th: Masses Sat., 4:30 PM Sun., 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM
Holy Thursday, April 18th: No 9:00 A.M. Mass 7:30 PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper Followed by Adoration until 10:00 PM
Good Friday, April 19th: 10:00 AM – Morning Prayer 3:00 PM – Solemn Passion of Our Lord 7:30 PM – Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday, April 20th: No 4:30 PM Mass 8:00 PM Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday, April 21st: Masses 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM
Easter Monday, April 22nd: No 9:00 AM Mass Office Closed
EXTRA PARKING AT ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOL
This year St. Gabriel’s D & P committee have decided to donate all the proceeds of their 2nd annual bake sale to Fr. Rick Frechette’s Haiti Mission. We encourage all of our wonderful bakers to donate some tasty treats for this bake sale. Baked goods can be dropped off at the tables before any of the Masses for that weekend. We also encourage all parishioners to support this social justice cause by indulging in your sweet tooth and making this bake sale a huge success.
April 15th – April 20th, 2019
MONDAY – JOHN FRANK RUSIECKI – Requested by the Rusiecki Family TUESDAY – PAUL KIM – Requested by Suzanne Kim WEDNESDAY – EDGARDO RECANA – Requested by his Family THURSDAY – HOLY THURSDAY – Mass of the Last Supper, 7:30 PM FRIDAY – GOOD FRIDAY – No Mass – See Lenten schedule SATURDAY – HOLY SATURDAY – Easter Vigil, 8:00 PM
Interviews for children who are preparing to receive their First Communion are now being scheduled.
We have already begun the preparation for the greatest feast of all: The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. During this time of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting, the Church endeavors to remind parishioners of the gift of Reconciliation, as a loving act through which the Father restores us to the fullness of life and to call them to full participation in the Holy Week and Easter liturgies.
Our Day of Confession will be April 17th from 3:00 PM to 6:00PM.
Living the Gospel by supporting vocations
Martin Dicuangco had a life-changing encounter when he visited Serra House, a residence run by St. Augustine’s Seminary for those discerning a priestly vocation. He is now a third-year theology student at St. Augustine’s.
I thank ShareLife for supporting St. Augustine’s Seminary,” says Martin, “where young men like myself, after experiencing the love of Christ, are joyfully preparing for ordination to the priesthood.”
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.
Your food donations are more important than ever as the winter continues and numbers of needy people continue to increase. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your generous support.
Monday, April 15th & Tuesday, April 16th
Vision TV
This year, Cardinal Collins will lead the National Catholic Mission during Holy Week. The Mission 2019, “Sin, Forgiveness and Reconciliation” will be broadcast on the following days:
On Vision TV, Part 1 will be aired on Monday, April 15th at 8:00 PM. Part 2 will be shown on Tuesday, April 16th at 8:00 PM
On Salt & Light TV Part 1 will be aired on Tuesday, April 16th and Part 2 will be shown on Wednesday, April 17th at 8:00 PM.
The mission will be rebroadcast during regular Daily Mass times.
Part 1 will be rebroadcast on Good Friday and Part 2 will be shown on Holy Saturday.
The Ministry with Maturing Adults of St. Bonaventure’s Parish is sponsoring a program entitled Creating Harmony and Hope Through Forgiveness on Wednesday afternoons beginning on April 24th at 1:30 PM. It will be lead by Ginny Doty, an experienced facilitator and councilor.
Early Registration is encouraged since space is limited. For more information and to register please contact Ginny at 416-447-5571, Ext. 560.
Thursday, April 25th from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Venetian Banquet Hall, 219 Romina Drive, Concord
Aid to Women is hosting the 30th Anniversary Gala Fundraising Event on Thursday April 25th from 6:00 to 10:00 PM. The Keynote speaker will be renowned conscience rights defence attorney, Albertos Polizogopoulos.
Your ticket includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, open deluxe bar, and a six course dinner. Live music, and live painting, a silent auction, raffles and draws will be featured.
Tickets are $100 per person and are available at www.aidtowomen.ca/events. Please reserve by April 18th.
The next meeting of the Garden Ministry will be on Sunday, April 14th at 1:30 PM in the Gabriel Room. Everyone is welcome.
The outdoor planting of seeds and seedlings will soon be upon us. If you would like to find a home for any of the following items that you no longer need, please drop them by the church office:
rain barrel, trowels, children’s sharp-pointed scissors, 8 – 2″x6″ lumber, 4 – 4’x4′ sheets of 3/4″ plywood, 4 – 4’x4′ sheets of landscape fabric, lathe to create 1′ grids on each of 4 – 4’x4′ boxes, pencils, 16’x16′ tarp, 2 -18.9 litre buckets, wheelbarrow, small watering cans, 2 saw horses.
If you are bringing any of the larger items, please call the office at 416-221-8866 before coming. Thank you.
April 7th, 2019
There is a song that sings, ‘No one knows what goes on behind closed doors.’ In other words we have no idea of what goes on in another person’s life. We have no idea of the stress they are under, or their struggles. We all deal with different worries, we have our anxieties, we all have our conflicts with other people and we all have our own joys and the support of family members and friends.
Jesus looked into the life, behind the closed doors, of this embarrassed, humiliated woman who was thrown down before him by her accusers. She was caught in adultery and the law said she was to be stoned to death. Behind the closed door of her life Jesus saw she had no choice of the man she married. It was arranged by her parents. Maybe Jesus saw that hers was a loveless marriage. He husband never saw her as a person of value. She was to do her duty as his wife.
One day a man came into her life and saw her as a woman, a person, maybe a beautiful person and showed her respect. Things went on from there and now here she is surrounded by angry, righteous men ready to beat to the ground with their stones of outraged anger.
We can imagine Jesus looked behind the closed doors of each of their lives and knew what went on behind them. Jesus saw the shallowness of the outrage and ignored it and offered them the challenge, ‘let him who is without sin throw the first stone.’ No one dared and one by one they slinked away.
‘Woman, is there no one here to condemn you? Neither do I condemn you because I know what goes on behind the closed door of your sad life. Go and sin no more.
No one knows what goes on behind closed doors. None of us knows what another person is struggling with. None of us sees the total picture. Judge not and you will not be judged but by the same severity by which you judge others will you be judged.
Heavy stuff!
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.
Learn about Passionists and our insignia »
Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk
