December 30th, 2018
“The most beautiful thing that God made was the family. …All of the love that God has in Himself, all of the beauty that God has in Himself, all of the truth that God has in Himself, He gives to the family.” Pope Francis
Heavenly Father, you have given us the model of life in the Holy Family of Nazareth. Help us, O Loving Father, to make our family another Nazareth where love, peace and joy reign. Mother Teresa
January 2nd – January 5th 2019
WEDNESDAY – STEPHEN HANDSON – Requested by Nina Coscarella THURSDAY – SHEILA SULLIVAN – Requested by Marietta & Larry Carriere FRIDAY – SR. MALOU SERRANO RSM – Requested by the Parish Staff SATURDAY – GUS CALDERONE – Requested by Marie Calderone
Saturday December 29th, Vigil Mass 4:30 PM Sunday, December 30th, Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM Office Open – 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM
No 9:00 AM Mass 5:00 PM Mass Vigil for Feast of Mary the Holy Mother of God Office Open – 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Feast of Mary the Holy Mother of God 10:30 AM 12:30 PM Office Open – 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM
While parking at ground level is limited to 51 spaces, there is plenty of space in the underground parking lot. Please follow the instructions of the attendants. Do not park in front of the Church since this is a fire route and must be kept clear.
Additional parking is available on the east side of Elkhorn Public School and in the bus loop. Again, please follow the instructions of the attendant. The school requests that we do not park on the grass. Many thanks to Holly Richards, the Principal of Elkhorn Public School, for allowing us the use of the school property.
Sunday, January 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. The guided reflection brings an ecological perspective to the readings. All are welcome.
Friday, January 4th from 9:30 AM to 12 Noon
English: Saturday, January 5th at 3:15 PM in the Library Chinese: Sunday, January 6th at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room. For further information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
Weekend of December 29th/30th
Your prepared frozen casseroles will be collected at the Masses this weekend, December 29th/30th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. Although this is a very busy time, there are still many hungry people who are counting on us to make a difference. Good Shepherd Ministries serves more than 1,100 meals a day, every day of the year.
More volunteers are urgently 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. Recipes are available in the parish office or on our website. 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.
At our next meeting the Garden Ministry will be reviewing Robert Cordy’s design options for the installation of the south garden next spring. Everyone is welcome. Please join us on January 6th at 1:30 PM.
If you would like more information about the garden ministry, please email Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.
“When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves.” David Orr
Please note: All donations for 2018 must be received in the Parish Office by tomorrow, Monday, December 31st, 2018 to be included in your 2018 Tax Receipt.
Our operating payments average $17,000 per week. 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). Please come by the parish office if you have any questions.
The 2019 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the Gathering Space. Please pick yours up as soon as possible.
If you are contributing cash to the Offertory Collection without any identification, you will not receive credit for your contribution. You must provide your full name and address.
| Posted in Bulletin |
December 28th, 2018
| Posted in Events |
December 25th, 2018
The scriptures tell us that when all things were in quiet silence and the night was in the midst of its course God’s almighty word leapt down from heaven, from his royal throne.
This night is filled with magic. Mary gives birth to Jesus and the heavens are filled with songs of peace and good will. Startled shepherds are called to see the new born king of the Jews. We never grow tired of hearing Luke’s gospel of tidings of great joys for all people. We never grow tired of hearing the good news that a savior is born for us – Christ the Lord.
This is the season for giving gifts and a common question asked at this feast of Christ’s birth is, what did you get for Christmas? A more important question might be, ’what gifts do you already have?
Would you ever consider that that greatest gift is yourself? Do you ever stop and think about whom you are, your personality, your uniqueness. Do you know that before the world began God chose you to be God’s son or daughter? Such was his will and pleasure. We had nothing to do with it. That’s the truth, the wonder Christmas celebrates; God sent his Son into the world, into our lives; not to condemn us, not to get us, but to embrace us as his adopted sons and daughters. This is a gift we will possess and hopefully cherish all our lives. Sure we have our faults and failing, sure we’ve disappointed ourselves and others by decisions we’ve made. They are only a part of us, our shadow side. We may be mistake making people but we are good people, good people who do good things, loving things, generous things in our lives and they are more part of us than our shadows.
What did you get for Christmas? The gift of your life, the gift of health, the gift of seeing and hearing and movement. What did you get for Christmas? Look at the person next to you, your spouse and your children, your friend. What did you get for Christmas, the gift of faith that makes you a member of this parish, that helps you hear and believe the scriptures, that enables you to say ‘Amen’ I believe, as you receive the body of Christ at Communion. We are surrounded with gifts, gifts we too often take for granted, but still gifts.
We find our gifts, not under the Christmas tree but under the tree of life, the cross of Christ, who by dying restored the bond we have with the living God and enriches us with all these gifts. What did we get for Christmas, Emmanuel – God with us and us with God. So un-wrap the gift you are and share yourself with family and friends and all who come into your life every day of life. May we be blessed with a holy and grateful Christmas.
| Posted in Homily |
December 23rd, 2018
News didn’t travel fast in those days but when Mary heard the astounding news of her cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy she went in haste to be with her to help her in any way she could. There were bound to be complications, Elizabeth was up in years, she was as old as Mary was young and both were involved in God’s great plan.
The trip from Nazareth in Galilee where Mary lived to a village in Judea where Elizabeth lived would take days. Since travel alone was not safe, people commonly joined a caravan. Headed to wherever they wanted to go. We can just imagine the young Mary hastening on foot over dirt and rough roads, probably under a hot sun. Mary doesn’t give a thought to the difficulty of the journey. She wanted to help Elizabeth, that’s all that mattered.
There can be many ways of looking at this gospel. Both Mary’s and Elizabeth’s pregnancies were out of the ordinary. Elizabeth was well beyond child bearing but she was important in God’s plan. Her son John would prepare the way for Mary’s son Jesus. Elizabeth sensed something special in her niece and wondered, ‘who am I that the mother of my Lord comes to me, declaring ‘blessed are you and blessed is the fruit of your womb.’ Both share the wonders of their pregnancy. Both their sons would suffer painful deaths, John beheaded, Jesus crucified.
Our gospel is from the Feast of the Visitation, a feast on which we remember Mary’s act of concern and kindness toward her cousin, Elizabeth. What we learn from today’s gospel. To what does it challenges us?
There was a song out years ago and the refrain was, ‘where were you when I needed you, where were you? Young Mary was right there when her cousin Elizabeth needed her. In today’s gospel Mary answers the question of the song, ‘where were you when I needed you? I’m right here, I’m with you.
Is there someone in our lives, a spouse, a son or daughter, an in-law, a relative, a neighbour who might be asking us – where were you – I need you. Do we ever wonder about what a phone call, an e-mail, a visit can mean to such a person? What a gift we can be.
Pope Paul VI referred to Mary as ‘she whose life was available to God. In the gospel we hear that both Mary’s life and Elizabeth’s life were available to God. Each in her own way said, ‘be it done to me according to your word.’
Think on this. Our lives are available to God to the extent that we are available, when we find the time and make the time to be available to those who need us; need us to listen, need us to understand, need us to help them in any way we can. Where were you when I needed you? Can we say –I’m right here, I’m with you.
Friday, December 21st from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Saturday December 22nd Vigil Mass 4:30 PM Office Open – 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Sunday, December 23rd 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM Office Open – 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM
No 9:00 AM Mass 5:00 PM Family Mass – Carol Singing 9:00 PM Adult Choir – Carol Singing 12:00 AM Midnight Mass – Contemporary Group Office Open – 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM
10:30 AM 12:30 PM Office Open – 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Office Closed No 9:00 AM Mass
December 27th – December 29th, 2018
THURSDAY – ERNEST RICKETTS – Requested by his Family FRIDAY – FRANCISCO CALIMBAS – Requested by Estrella C. Gavieta, Rachel Luke & Family SATURDAY – VINCENZA GRECH – Requested by the Grech Family
Rehearsal: Sunday, December 23rd from 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Each year, young people, Grade 3 and up, form a special choir for the Family Mass on Christmas Eve. Children must be at the Church by 4:00 PM. One rehearsal, which is mandatory, will be held on Sunday, December 23rd from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.
For more information call Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041.
Sunday, December 23rd from 4:00 to 6:00 PM
Each year a Nativity pageant takes place at the 5:00 PM Family Mass. S.K. to Grade 5 children are invited to participate in the pageant. The rehearsal will be held on Sunday, December 23rd from 4:00 to 6:00 PM in the Church.
Your prepared frozen casseroles will be collected at the Masses the weekend of December 29th/30th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
Although this is a very busy time, there are still many hungry people who are counting on us to make a difference. Good Shepherd Ministries serves more than 1,100 meals a day, every day of the year.
“I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day.” – F. Frankfort Moore
Please note: All donations for 2018 must be received in the Parish Office by Sunday, December 31st, 2018 to be included in your 2018 Tax Receipt.
“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), orDonate Now (through the Archdiocese of Toronto website). Please come by the parish office if you have any questions.
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
