March 17th, 2019
According to John’s gospel Andrew, a disciple of John the Baptist, was the first to be curious about Jesus and accepted Jesus invitation to spend some time with him. Andrew was so taken with Jesus he went to his brother Simon claiming ‘we have found the Messiah.’ He brought Simon to Jesus who named Simon, Peter. Later on Jesus called James and John to follow him.
We can imagine that one day Jesus said to Peter, James and John,’ walk with me’ Simple enough invitation. But that walk up the mountain side changed their friendship with Jesus. They saw him no longer as a man calling people to a closer friendship with God but as a man transformed, his face changed, his cloths dazzling white. Moses the lawgiver and Elijah the prophet talking with him about his future destiny in Jerusalem. Wonder of wonders God claiming Jesus to be God’s son, God’s chosen one. No wonder Peter blurted out, ‘Lord it is good for us to be here.’
Sometime after that event on the mountain Jesus again invited Peter, James and John. ’Walk with me.’ This time the walk was not up a mountain but into a garden, actually and olive grove called Gethsemane. There was no glory, there was fear, there was pleading as Jesus sweat blood and begged,’ Father if it is possible let this chalice pass. This time there was no voice from heaven, only silence.
There will be times in our lives when we are invited to ‘walk with me.’
And be given an insight into how we are blessed with good health, a happy marriage, sons and daughters who make you proud. We have a job or career that challenges us and we are blessed with good friends. We know we are blessed and a sense of thanksgiving wells up within us. We have a sense we are close to God and God is close to us. On walks like these we can say from our hearts, ‘Lord it is good to be here.’
And there can be other times when we are invited ‘walk with me’ and it is not a sunny day. Our walk is into a dark place, a worrisome place, an unknown place. Gethsemane. We may be anxiously awaiting test results, the future looks grim. We may be concerned about our jobs or how we can pay those credit cards. Maybe our Gethsemane that day is deciding to hand over the keys to the car or deciding on whether or not to go to a place of assisted living. We have to decide on whether or not to give up our mobility, our independence. Hard choices. Maybe our walk with the Lord in the time we decide on the health of a relationship we are in, or how we can seek help to deal with an addiction with which we struggle. This is not a walk in the park; it is a walk in the dark.
On the mountain Peter blurted out, ‘It is good for us to be here.’ He didn’t say that in Gethsemane. Peter was frightened and confused seeing Jesus in such a state of struggle. He really didn’t want to be there.
Every day, in one way or another or whether we hear it or not, we are invited, ‘walk with me’. Our walk might be up a mountainside on a sunny day or it might be on a gloomy day into a gloomy place. Each walk offers its own possibilities. We walk with one who knew the splendor of the mountain and the dread and struggle of the garden. But as the song reminds us, ’we never walk alone.’
| Posted in Homily |
March 16th, 2019
“Finding Increasing Light When Right Seems Wrong and Wrong Seems Right”
Saturday, April 6th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Fr. Rick Frechette will lead our Parish Lenten Retreat on Saturday, April 6th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The theme of this year’s Lenten Retreat is “Finding Increasing Light: When Right Seems Wrong and Wrong Seems Right.” Fr. Rick gave our Parish Advent Retreat in 2014 and is back with us for an afternoon of inspirational talk that will hopefully shape our Lenten experience and praxis.
Fr. Rick who is a Passionist priest is also a medical doctor who founded St. Luke Foundation for Haiti and continues to serve our impoverished brothers and sisters in Haiti. Paul Haggis, an Oscar-winning writer-director lauded Fr. Rick as “a man who does daily battle with cynicism and hatred” but that Fr. Rick’s works “threaten to make an old atheist,” like Paul Haggis himself to “believe in God.”
Please come and invite your friends and family from other parishes to attend this retreat. It is open and free to everyone.
Saturday, March 23rd and April 6th
Nativity of Our Lord Parish or St. Joseph the Worker Parish,
From 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Our parish will be starting a Bereavement Ministry (or Ministry of Consolation). We need some volunteers who would like to consider assisting us in this much needed ministry. The Office of Formation for Discipleship is offering a two-day training session for all who would like to consider assisting in this bereavement ministry. The participants are required to attend both days in order to complete the training. The Bereavement Training Ministry will be held on Saturday, March 23rd and April 6th, 2019 from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
This training will be offered at the following two locations via video conferencing:
Nativity of Our Lord Parish, 480 Rathburn Road, Etobicoke, or
St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 1100 Mary Street North, Oshawa
There is no cost to attend. Cost of optional participant workbook: $40 (Please make cheque payable to R.C.E.C.)
Please bring your own lunch. Refreshments and snacks will be provided.
Please contact Sr. Maria Lucia at the Parish Office by March 19th, if you would like to attend the two-day session so she can register you on-line. Make sure to inform her about the location where you would like to attend the training.
Interviews for children who are preparing to receive their First Communion are now being scheduled.
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.
Stations of the Cross will take place each Friday evening during Lent at 7:30 PM. We also encourage your attendance at our daily Mass throughout Lent.
March 18th – March 23rd, 2019
MONDAY – ARMAND OAKIE – Requested by The Family
TUESDAY – LYDIA CECILIO – Requested by her Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren
WEDNESDAY – SHELLA TANG – Requested by The Eucharistic Ministry
THURSDAY – CECILIA MANALANG – Requested by Plutarco Manalang
FRIDAY – SHELLA TANG – Requested by The Rosary Group
SATURDAY – DECEASED COUSINS – Requested by Gloria Flor
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
Living the Gospel by helping young mothers
Anika became a mother at the age of 19. Soon after, her fiancé became increasingly controlling. Feeling isolated, she reached out to a ShareLife agency called Rose of Sharon. She and her son attended almost every program offered, including one called Healthy Relationships. Anika realized she didn’t have to tolerate her partner’s behavior. Rose of Sharon helped her find an affordable apartment so she and her son could move out. “I never thought I could make it on my own,” says Anika. “But with the help of Rose of Sharon, here I am doing it.”
March 31 is ShareLife Sunday. Please give generously.
As we continue this year’s Share Lent Campaign, please take home a copy of the “Share the Journey” magazine and prayer card which can be found a the Fairtrade coffee table.
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 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.
Two Locations, Open Tuesdays or Thursdays
Catholic Family Services of Toronto in conjunction with the Archdiocese of Toronto and the Ontario Government offers walk-in counseling services for individuals, couples and families. The single-session consultation is aimed at helping clients set goals and build on their strengths and resources. No appointment or referral is required and fees are geared to income. Clients are served on a first come first serve basis
There are 2 locations:
1155Yonge Street, suite 101 open on Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
245 Fairview Mall Drive, suite 201 open on Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
For more information, contact 416-921-1163-or 416 222-0048.
Wednesday, March 20th from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Gabriel Room
Volunteer milk bag weavers will be meeting Wednesday afternoon, March 20th t from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room. All are welcome! Thank you to all who bring in milk bags clean and flattened. This is a big help to the weavers.
Women’s Lenten Retreat
Weekend of March 22nd to March 24th
On the weekend of March 22nd to 24th, the Centre team will preach a Lenten retreat on the theme “Every Gift Reveals God’s Love; But No Gift Reveals God’s Love More Than the Gifts of the Cross” For more information, or to register please call 905-278-5229.
John Paul 2 Polish Cultural Centre,
Saturday, March 23rd from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Dynamic Women of Faith will be hosting its 10th annual conference for Catholic women on Saturday March 23rd at the John Paul 2 Polish Cultural Centre, 4300 Cawthra Road. There is limited seating! Register at http://dynamicwomenfaith.com/.
There is also a special event for Mothers and daughters on Friday, March 22nd from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. For more information, please call 416-907-1042 or see the posters on the bulletin boards.
Workshop – Organic Gardening
Saturday, March 23rd from 1:00 to 3:00 PM in the Gabriel Room.
Sunday, March 24th from 1:45 to 4:00 PM in the Gathering Space.
This two part workshop will teach you everything you need to know about organic vegetable gardening, from basic garden mapping skills to planning and planting your vegetable garden. Maintenance, pest management, disease control, seed saving, processing, and composting will also be discussed. Feel free to attend both days or just one and to bring a friend.
On March 31, the children who attend the Children’s Liturgy at the 10:30 mass, will participate in a liturgy that connects scripture and their faith with the planting of seeds for our community garden: lettuce, tomato, pepper, kale and cabbage. The seed trays will then be put in locations where they, and you, can watch the germination. Parents may want to consider having the children dress in their “gardening best!”
For more information on the Garden Ministry and workshops, please 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.”
Please consider giving your offertory by picking up Envelopes, enrolling in Pre-Authorized Giving (PAG), or Donate Now (through the Archdiocese of Toronto website). lf you have any questions please come by the parish office.
| Posted in Bulletin |
March 9th, 2019
Our Parish Lenten Retreat will take place on Saturday, April 6th. It will be led by the prominent Passionist priest working in Haiti, Fr. Rick Frechette CP. Fr. Rick will also preach at all the Masses Saturday and Sunday. Stay tuned for more information.
Nativity of Our Lord Parish or St. Joseph the Worker Parish,From 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Our parish will be starting a Bereavement Ministry (or Ministry of Consolation). We need some volunteers who would like to consider assisting us in this much needed ministry. The Office of Formation for Discipleship is offering a two-day training session for all who would like to consider assisting in this bereavement ministry. The participants are required to attend both days in order to complete the training. The Bereavement Training Ministry will be held on Saturday, March 23rd and April 6th, 2019 from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. This training will be offered at the following two locations via video conferencing:
Nativity of Our Lord Parish, 480 Rathburn Road, Etobicoke, or St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 1100 Mary Street North, Oshawa
The program will include live presentations and video-conferencing between St. Joseph the Worker (Oshawa) and Nativity of Our Lord Parish (Etobicoke).
Please contact Sr. Maria Lucia at the Parish Office if you would like to attend the two-day session so she can register you on-line. Make sure to inform her about the location where you would like to attend the training.
March 11th – March 16th, 2019
MONDAY – JOSEPHINE BADALI – Requested by John, Sal & Patsy
TUESDAY – PATRICIA CLYDESDALE – Requested by the Mulhall Family
WEDNESDAY – FOR THE INTENTIONS OF RUBIN DIMOSKI – Requested by the Parish Staff
THURSDAY – IN THANKSGIVING – Requested by Agnes Siron
FRIDAY – ALICE MICHAEL – Requested by Charmaine Michaels
SATURDAY – GIUSEPPE & CLEMENTINA INTINI – Requested by Chiara & Tina Intini
Stations of the Cross will take place each Friday evening during Lent at 7:30 PM.
We also encourage your attendance at our daily Mass throughout Lent.
Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, March 6th Mass – 12:00 Noon Mass – 7:30 PM No 9:00 AM Mass
Share Lent Solidarity Calendar
This year’s Share Lent Campaign is again “Share the Journey” No one should be forced to flee their home.
Experience solidarity on a daily basis in your home throughout the Lenten period with our Solidarity Calendar.
Please pick up your copy at the back of the Church.
Living the Gospel by supporting ShareLife agencies “
As we begin our ShareLife campaign, we are encouraged to live the Gospel in all we do. How do we demonstrate that in our community?
Living the Gospel may mean helping single mothers to care for their newborn children, or being available to families facing difficulties, or welcoming refugee families to our community.
For 43 years, countless individuals have experienced the compassionate care offered by our agencies. Please support our annual archdiocesan appeal during this Lenten season!” — Cardinal Thomas Collins
March 31st is ShareLife Sunday. Please give generously.
There are 2 locations: 1155 Yonge Street, suite 101 is open on Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
245 Fairview Mall Drive, suite 201 is open on Thursdays from9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Weekend of March 16th/17th
Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend.
Regular ground coffee: $5.50 Decaffeinated: $6.00 Whole Beans: $5.50 Chocolate Bars: $4.50 incl. Taxes Hot Chocolate and Cocoa: $6.00 Teas: $4.25
On the weekend of March 22nd to 24th, the Centre team will preach a Lenten retreat on the theme “Every Gift Reveals God’s Love; But No Gift Reveals God’s Love More Than the Gifts of the Cross” For more information, or to register please call 905 278 5229.
Meeting
The next meeting of the Garden Ministry will be on Sunday, March 10th at 1:30 PM in the Library. Everyone is welcome.
“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
March 3rd, 2019
Today’s scriptures contain many short sayings that are rich in meaning and a challenge to all of us. The blind can’t lead the blind. We should face our own failings before we give advice to others about their failings. Good trees bear good fruit and bad trees will bear bad fruit.
In our first reading from the book of Sirach we hear these words of wisdom, ‘The test of a person is in tribulation.’
Most evenings the NBC news ends with a ‘feel good’ feature’, a story about a person, usually a young person who bravely copes with a tragedy that has changed his or her life forever. With determination and hard work they move beyond their limitations and are an inspiration to others. The test of a person is in tribulation.
You’ve heard of the book, ‘When bad things happen to good people.’ That’s the way it seems to go, bad things always happen to good people.’ Usually these good people ask why, why me, why now? There is no adequate answer to ‘why’. The question we might ask ourselves is, ‘what am I going to do with this setback, this crisis? Will I let this sour me on life, give up on hope, give up on friends maybe even give up on God or the church. Will we choose to be bitter and resentful? Or will we face this set-back, this deep disappointment this hurt and with the help of friends and God’s grace work our way through whatever our new circumstances are?
Think of the tribulations that can come into our lives; a sudden illness that limits our mobility, our ability to communicate. What about the loss of our independence, our ability to live on our own; our ability to drive our car? How do we get over, though we never do, the death of a spouse, the death of a child or a dear friend? How do cope with loss of a job, or the frustration of looking for work? How do we cope with an addiction? How handle a family break-up? These and many more sudden possibilities are life changing events. They are our tribulations that put us to the test, show us what we are made of.
In his missionary work and travels St. Paul tells of being stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked, run out of towns, publicly whipped. Any and all of these things would tempt most of us to give up, certainly make us bitter, resentful. The test of a person is in tribulation. Paul faced these tribulations by joining all his sufferings and humiliations to the sufferings of Jesus crucified for the wellbeing of the church thus transforming them into blessings.
The test of a person is in tribulation. Christ’s pray in his tribulation in the Garden of Gethsemane was a difficult prayer, ‘not my will but you will be done.’ May each of us be given the grace to say such a prayer whenever a tribulation comes into our lives.
March 2nd, 2019
Daylight Savings Time begins next weekend. Please remember to set your clocks forward 1 hour on Saturday evening, March 10th.
Saturday, April 6th from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Our Parish Lenten Retreat will take place on Saturday, April 6th. It will be led by the prominent Passionist priest working in Haiti, Fr. Rick Frechette CP. Fr. Rick will also preach at all the Masses Saturday and Sunday.
From 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Our parish will be starting a Bereavement Ministry (or Ministry of Consolation). We need some volunteers who would like to consider assisting us in this much needed ministry. The Office of Formation for Discipleship is offering a two-day training session for all who would like to consider assisting in this bereavement ministry. The participants are required to attend both days in order to complete the training. The Bereavement Training Ministry will be held on Saturday, March 23rd and April 6th, 2019 from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Wednesday, March 6th, 2019
March 6th is Ash Wednesday. Special Masses will be celebrated at 12:00 Noon and 7:30 PM. Ashes will be distributed. There will be no 9:00 AM Mass.
March 4th – March 9th, 2019
MONDAY – PETER & BRIDGET PEREIRA – Requested by Sophie & Candida Pereira
TUESDAY – JOHN McDONOUGH – Requested by the Mulhall Family
WEDNESDAY – ASH WEDNESDAY – No 9:00 AM Mass
THURSDAY –
FRIDAY – GUILLERMO CABRERA – Requested by Olivia Cabrera
SATURDAY – GORDON OATWAY – Requested by Pat Oatway & Family
Catholic Family Services of Toronto in conjunction with the Archdiocese of Toronto and the Ontario Government, offers walk-in counseling services for individuals, couples and families.. The single-session consultation is aimed at helping clients set goals and build on their strengths and resources. No appointment or referral is required and fees are geared to income. Clients are served on a first come first serve basis
1155 Yonge Street, suite 101 open on Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
245 Fairview Mall Drive, suite 201 open on Thursdays from
9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 45 casseroles for February. For March, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of March 30th/ 31st 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. You may pick up casserole pans at the Parish Office.
If you require more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, 65 Bond Street
Saturday March 16th at 10:00 AM
The Annual Mass of St. Patrick will be held at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica on Saturday, March 16th at 10:00 AM. The presider and homilist will be Fr. Edward J. Curtis, Rector. All are welcome.
March 15th to March 17th
St. Augustine’s Seminary
Young Catholic men ages 17 and older are invited to cultivate a deeper prayer life and relationship with Jesus Christ, leading to a better discernment of God’s call for their lives. Registrants age 17 will require a parental consent.
There will be time for prayer, reflection and information on the process of becoming one of Christ’s disciples as a Catholic priest. Please register online at https://www.vocationstoronto.ca/.
For more information, please contact the Office of Vocations at 416-968-0997 or email vocations@archtoronto.org.
Thank you to everyone who donated supplies and funds to the indoor planting phase of the Community Garden project and to those of you praying for a bountiful harvest! Donations are still being gratefully accepted and can be dropped off at the office. The indoor planting of seeds will take place on March 31st. More details will follow.
For more information on the Garden Ministry, please contact Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com
“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 be as generous as your means allow.
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
