June 23rd, 2018
This is the last bulletin until the Labour Day Weekend in September. We wish you all a happy and safe summer!
Sunday, July 1st is Canada Day. There will be Mass as usual at 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM.
The office will be closed on Monday, July 2nd for the holiday. There will be no 9:00 AM Mass on July 2nd.
Save Summer Jobs and Reach Out to Your Member of Parliament.
Thousands of charitable organizations are being denied funding through the Canadian Summer Jobs Program. The federal government has introduced a litmus test. To qualify for funding, organizations must agree with the Liberal Government on issues such as abortion and gender expression. This has impacted more than 150 jobs and more than $1 million in funding in the Archdiocese of Toronto alone. Across Canada 1,500 groups had their applications rejected this year vs. 126 in 2017.
Cardinal Collins invites you to write to your federal Member of Parliament to respectfully express your concerns. Visit www.savesummerjobs.ca to send a message to your MP, a process that will take less than 3 minutes. You can also donate at the same time to support those organizations impacted by the new application guidelines.
Sunday, July 8th after the 12:30 Mass
The Parish BBQ Picnic will be held on Sunday, July 8th after the 12:30 Mass in the parking lot. There will be hot dogs, games, face painting, lucky draws, music and more. Tickets are $2 each.
Please bring your families, friends and neighbours to enjoy a summer afternoon with your parishioners.
We need more young volunteers to help and make this event happen. Please sign up by putting your name and phone number on the sheets at the back of church. For more information, you may call Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
Several members of our St. Gabriel’s Youth Group will be attending the Steubenville Youth Conference from July 13th to July 15th. Our prayers go with them for a successful conference and a wonderful experience.
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome: Hassan Stephen Aziz Aldonza Audrey Claire Raneses Cadavez Alessia Cortese Matthew Medrano Micah Huntley Gerald Murray-Quesnel Anabella Carina Spooner Hannah Turchanikova
These children received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, June 17th. Congratulations!
June 25th to June 30th, 2018
MONDAY – DECEASED MEMBERS OF F.O.S.S. – Requested by Agnes Wong TUESDAY – KENG OWYONG – Requested by Helen Owyong WEDNESDAY – EN ZO BRUNO – Requested by Fran Moscall THURSDAY – ERLINDA SALON CAUCHON – Requested by Rizalde & Mila Cauchon & Kevin Malinao FRIDAY – DOROTHY SULLIVAN – Requested by Anne Mohan SATURDAY – SAUL MONROY – Requested by Gloria Monroy
Please see the bulletin board for announced Masses during the summer months. The notices on the bulletin boards will be updated each week.
Thank you to our faithful choir members for their ministry! They will be taking a break, returning in September. New members are welcome to join them.
The senior choir practices on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 9:00 PM and sings at the 10:30 AM Mass.
The junior choir practices Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 PM and sings at the 12:30 PM Mass.
For more information, please call Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041.
Registration forms for the Children’s Faith Program are now available in the parish office. This program is for children of the Parish who attend other Catholic schools, public or private schools. Classes are held at St. Gabriel’s School every second Sunday beginning September 9th, 2018.
Please note that a separate Sacramental registration form is required if your child will receive the sacraments of First Communion, Reconciliation or Confirmation during the 2018/2019 year. These forms are also available in the Parish Office.
Summer Collection: July 28th/29th, August 25th/26th
Thank you to all who prepared casseroles for the Good Shepherd Centre for the month of June.
During the summer, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekends of July 28th/29th and August 25th/26th.
More volunteers are needed, especially during the summer months, to help feed the hungry in our city. We encourage you to pick up 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 please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
July 7th and 8th
On July 7th and 8th, Fr. Martín Alejandro Feliciosi, a member of the Institute of the Incarnate Word will be preaching at all the Masses. This congregation, presently serving in 38 countries, is involved in a variety of apostolic works and activities, including door-to-door missions, caring for the disabled, the sick, and the elderly, providing homes for orphans and abandoned children, offering pastoral formation of missionaries, building and managing schools and educational institutions, and sustaining cultural activities for human integral development, all among the world’s most neglected population in the poorest countries and conflict zones.
There will be a second collection on the weekend of July 7th/8th for the Mission Coop at all the Masses. The funds collected will be used for the day-to-day support, to supply material goods, to finish projects, and to meet the basic needs (food, medicines) in areas where they work. Thank you for your generous support!
Living the Gospel by providing for those in need
“Without you, ShareLife could not fulfill its mission to Live the Gospel by providing for those in need. Together we are making a real difference! My prayer is that we may continue to respond to God’s love by going forth from ourselves to seek the good of others.” Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto.
Total Collected to June 18th, 2018 – $118,027 Please make a sacrificial gift to ShareLife through your parish or sharelife.org.
Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre Your food donations are very much appreciated.
During July and August, food donations tend to drop off. Your donations of canned foods, cereal rice and other non perishables are more important than ever as families struggle to make ends meet. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.
The Milk Bag Workshops, led by Sharon Gusz this year were very successful. Thank you to Sharon and all the milk bag weavers for their excellent work.
Thank you also to all the parishioners who are recycling their clean milk bags at the church. Please remember to flatten them before putting them into the box. This would be a great help to the weavers.
Workshops will begin again in the fall. For further information about this program please visit www.milkbagsunlimited.ca or contact Sharon Gusz at sharongusz@gmail.com.
Liturgical Publications will be setting up the advertisements for our church bulletin. The advertising will begin in September 2018 and supports the bulletin service. Please support the bulletin and advertise your product or service. Call Liturgical Publications at 905-624-4422.
St. Gabriel’s Parish Weekend of September 21st, 22nd and 23rd, 2018
A Marriage Preparation course will be offered here atSt. Gabriel’s the weekend of September 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, 2018. 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.
Saturday July 14th beginning at 9:00AM Shrine of Our Lady of Grace at Marylake
The 6th annual celebration in honour of Señor Santa Niño will be celebrated on Saturday, July 14th at the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace at Marylake. The festivities begin at 9:00 AM with confession followed by a rosary procession, Open Air Mass and Benediction. There is ample space for fellowship and picnic following the Mass and Benediction.
Please join them for this great Augustinian and Filipino Feast. For more information, please call 416-787-4547.
Wednesday, August 15th, 2018 at 7:00 PM
Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Services, Archdiocese of Toronto wishes to invite all families within the Archdiocese of Toronto to participate in the Annual Mass for the Faithful Departed on Wednesday, August 15th, at 7:00 PM.
Mass at Mount Hope Cemetery will be celebrated by Rev. Michael Busch. In the event of rain, Mass will be celebrated at St. Monica’s Church, 44 Broadway Avenue.
Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Robert Kasun at Holy Cross Cemetery in Thornhill. In the event of rain, Mass will be celebrated in the Mausoleum.
A series of seasonal permaculture garden workshops will be offered by Robert’s team over the summer and early fall.
All will begin after the 12:30 mass and everyone is welcome.
July 15th: Weed identification, prevention and value; Bloom calendars July 29th: Medicinals & Tea/Beverage Plants August 5th: Cover Crops Part 2 August 26th: Solar Dehydrators September 23rd: Building Bathouses, Birdhouses and Bee hotels September 30th: Cultivating Mushrooms (Oyster)
For more information on the workshops or the Garden Ministry, please email Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.
| Posted in Bulletin |
June 17th, 2018
To all the Fathers, Grandfathers, Stepfathers, Single Fathers and Great Grandfathers we wish you a very happy Father’s Day.
May you be blessed with the graces you need to be good and loving role models to your children.
May God give you courage, compassion, patience and peace.
Cardinal Collins invites you to write to your federal Member of Parliament to respectfully express your concerns. Visit https://www.savesummerjobs.ca/ to send a message to your MP, a process that will take less than 3 minutes. You can also donate at the same time to support those organizations impacted by the new application guidelines.
The Parish BBQ Picnic will be held on Sunday,
July 8th after the 12:30 Mass in the parking lot. There will be hot dogs, games, face painting, lucky draws, music and more. Tickets are $2 each.
June 18th to June 23rd, 2018
MONDAY – JOHN & CHRISTOPHER DI LALLO – Requested by Val Palazzo
TUESDAY – BERNIE CABRERA – Requested by Olivia Pereira
WEDNESDAY – PRIVATE INTENTION – Requested by the Cordi, d’Orano-Macri & Radomski Family
THURSDAY – TSANG SHEK BOR – Requested by Paul, Wai Chin, Irene, Pauline & the Hwang Family
FRIDAY – FRANK COLANTONIO – Requested by Angela Colantonio
SATURDAY – FRANCIS PEREIRA – Requested by Sophie & Candida Pereira
Living the Gospel by helping isolated seniors
In partnership with Catholic Family Service agencies and six parishes in Peel Region and Simcoe County, ShareLife is funding a pilot project that connects trained volunteers with isolated and lonely seniors. Volunteers cultivate relationships by conducting home visits, making phone calls, and linking seniors with community resources. Through your generosity, ShareLife is connecting these seniors with the support they need.
Total Collected to June 11th, 2018 – $117,537
Please make a sacrificial gift to ShareLife through your parish or sharelife.org
Your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses next weekend. Each month, the casseroles are picked up early on Monday morning for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are needed to help feed the hungry in our city. We encourage you to pick up 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.
Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Your food donations are very much appreciated.
Rosalie Hall provides a wide range of child development, community, residential and educational services for young parents and their children.
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.
During July and August, food donations tend to drop off.
Your donations of canned foods, cereal rice and other non perishables are more important than ever as families struggle to make ends meet.
Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.
Furniture Bank is a registered charity that provides quality furniture to people in need, including the formerly homeless, women and children fleeing violence, and newcomers and refugees. Furniture Bank is currently seeking donations of gently used furniture and housewares to help combat the growing issue of furniture poverty in Toronto.
Do you have unwanted furniture and housewares to give? Change the life of a family in the process?
Please call 416-934-1229 to book your drop off or hire Furniture Bank’s pick-up team to help transfer your unwanted furniture and housewares to its warehouse. All donations of gently-used furniture and housewares are eligible for a tax receipt. Visit furniturebank.org to learn more.
Weekend of September 21st, 22nd and 23rd, 2018
St. Gabriel’s Parish
A Marriage Preparation course will be offered here at St. Gabriel’s the weekend of September 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, 2018. 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.
Attention high school graduates: Are you moving on to post-secondary education in the fall? Check out Campus Ministry! Connect to campus ministry by visiting www.chaplaincyconnect.ca and find your Catholic home on campus.
For information about the campus ministries in our archdiocese, please view the poster on our bulletin board or at http://bit.ly/PostSecondaryCampusMinistry.
Monday, June 25th to Wednesday, June 27th at 7:00 PM
St. Patrick’s Church, 131 McCaul Street
The Parish of St. Patrick invites you to join them at the annual Novena Triduum at the Shrine of our Mother of Perpetual Help, as they welcome Bishop Bob Kasun CSB and Fr. Mark Miller CSsR as the presiders and preachers. Each evening will begin at 7:00 PM and consist of Novena Prayers, Mass and Mission Homily. The first evening will focus on Family with a special family blessing at the end of Mass. The second evening will focus on Healing with the Sacrament of the Sick for those in need. The third evening will focus on the feast day to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. An international social will follow in the Parish Hall. For more information, please visit www.stpatrickstoronto.ca.
A series of seasonal permaculture garden workshops will be offered by Robert’s team over the summer and early fall. All will begin after the 12:30 PM Mass and everyone is welcome.
June 17 Cover Crops Part 1
July 15 Weed identification, prevention and value; Bloom calendars
July 29 Medicinals & Tea/Beverage Plants
August 5 Cover Crops Part 2
August 26 Solar Dehydrators
September 23 Building Bathouses, Birdhouses and Bee hotels
September 30 Cultivating Mushrooms (Oyster)
On June 24th, Robert has arranged a tour of Fiddlehead Nursery, near Collingwood. Meet up at the nursery at 2:00 PM. More information on the nursery can be found on their website: http://fiddleheadnursery.ca.
For more information, please email Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.
This is the planting season. People are planting seeds or plants in their gardens and in the front of their homes. Planting can be an act of faith. We trust the seeds will grow, we trust the plants will take root, but we don’t know. There is a lot at stake. Will the coming months be too hot or too rainy? Will we use too much or too little fertilizer? Are we planting in good soil?
In today’s gospel Jesus tells two parables in which he describes the kingdom of God, the reign or the action of God in our lives. In the first parable Jesus tells us the farmer can do nothing to hasten to produce of hasten the process of grow of the plant; the seed will sprout and grow on its own. It doesn’t need the farmer. In the second parable he tells about small beginnings, the smallest of all seeds ending up as the greatest of all shrubs.
Both are about growth.
When we were baptized the reign of God began in our lives, the mustard seed was planted. Through our Catholic up bring, our reception of our First Holy Communion, our first Confession, our Confirmation, our religious instruction, our presence at Mass and our receiving Holy Communion, the example of family and friends plus our involvement in the life of the parish that seed, the smallest of all seeds, was meant to take root and grow. Unlike the farmer who has no control over whether or not the seed will fructify, we have a lot to do with the growth of the reign of God in our lives. God’s reign isn’t a place. It’s a condition, it’s a mindset of God’s love inspiring and guiding our lives; opening our hearts to all those who come into our lives.
We can ask ourselves these challenging questions; has the mustard seed planted in me at baptism grown in such a way that my branches are strong enough and wide enough to welcome all those men, women and children who have come into my life, regardless of where they come from, what they believe or what their life style. Are my branches strong enough to support those who need my help and understanding? Do they offer shade of comfort and relief to all who need my compassion and understanding?
These two parables are about growth, the growth of the reign of God, the love of God in our lives. Part of that growth is our willingness to be sowers of faith, kindness and social awareness ourselves. Like sowers, we scatter our activities, our tiny acts of faith and service flung out far and wide. Our acts of random kindness are taken by the wind, all landing somewhere. We sleep our nights and do our days, and the growth takes place. We may not even be conscious of the flowering but we continue the good work.
St. Paul challenged his listener to grow, grow to full maturity in Christ. That’s still our challenge, to be more Christ-like in our service to and acceptance of anyone and everyone who comes into our lives.
As we continue to celebrate our Mass we prayer for ourselves and for each other that we grow stronger in our love of God and in our love and service to one another.
| Posted in Homily |
June 10th, 2018
Today’s first reading is from the book of Genesis, the book of beginnings. Every religion and culture has stories that attempt to explain our beginnings. The Indigenous people of Canada have several such stories. Our Judeo Christian faiths have the story we read about today. It was an attempt to explain the pain and mix-ups of life. It couldn’t be God’s fault, humans must have messed things us. So the story goes that from the dust of the earth God created man and from man God created woman. There was an intimacy between God and his creatures. God walked with them in the cool of the day. Adam and Eve lived in a lush garden, plants and flowers and fruit bearing trees. Everything was theirs to use. But there were limits. They were not to eat the fruit of the tree of good and evil.
Along comes the tempter, the spoiler, the trouble maker. They were shown the fruit of the tree and it was pleasing to the eye and it offered great possibilities. Anyone who ate the fruit would become like God, knowing good and evil. The allurement was too much. Both Adam and Eve tasted the fruit and it’s been downhill ever since.
They broke their closeness, the intimacy with God. Things would never be the same. The garden was off limits. Adam would earn his bread by the sweat of his brow; Eve would suffer the pains of bearing children.
Our Christian faith tells us that Adams act of disobedience was undone by the obedience of Jesus, an obedience that brought him to his painful and shameful death on the cross, an obedience that was recognized by the Father’s raising Jesus from the dead. By the death of Jesus we were reconciled to God – Jesus made peace by shedding his blood on the cross.
The consequences of that primal act of disobedience are still with us. We could say the snake still slithers into our lives. St. Paul expresses that reality when he says of himself, ‘ the good that I would that I do not and the evil I would not do, that I do.’
The snake strikes when are tempted to anger or resentment toward family members of friends. The snake strikes when all we’re concerned about is satisfying our needs for sensual pleasure. The snake strikes when all we’re concerned about is amassing things. The snake strikes when we give up being concerned about poor people, homeless people and the working poor. The snake strikes when resent the presence of refugees and immigrants in our neighbourhoods. The snake strikes when we belittle the faith or cultures of other people. The snake strikes when we fail to see other people as sons of daughters of our loving God, who are our brothers and sisters in the eyes of God.
We are good people but at the same time we are mistake making beings. The good that we would do, we do not and the evil we would not do, that we do.
What’s saves us is the grace, the goodness of Jesus Christ. Christ in our victor. His life and death, his example and teachings all tell us that in the conflict between good and evil that we face every day of life, in the end love conquers hate, goodness puts an end to evil, and justice prevails over injustice. God’s love for each on us is the antidote to the serpents bite.
One author expressed it this way:
What the Genesis story tells us is that in the conflict between evil and humanity, humanity will finally win. Our victory comes from the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. The roots of evil are healed by the grace of God drawing those who seek to do God’s will into a community that serves one another and reaches beyond its own interests. Such people know the power of God and rightly call one another sister and brother, no matter what their natural genealogy. The “family values” of Jesus stretch us beyond the private interests of our immediate family to a much larger world. God grant that we be members of that greater world.
June 9th, 2018
This Weekend, June 9th/10th
There will be a second collection for Marygrove Camp for Girls this weekend, June 9th/10th at all the Masses. Marygrove Camp is a residential camp situated on 39 acres of beautifully treed grounds and a quarter mile of Georgian Bay waterfront near Penetang, Ontario. This summer, 1,100 girls from less fortunate families will be attending camp.
Please support this important work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Each and every child’s camping experience is fully subsidized through this collection. Thank you for your support! Envelopes are in the pews.
The Parish BBQ Picnic will be held on Sunday, July 8th after the 12:30 Mass in the parking lot. There will be hot dogs, games, face painting, lucky draws, music and more. Tickets are $2 each. Please bring your families, friends and neighbours to enjoy a summer afternoon with your parishioners.
June 11th to June 16th, 2018
MONDAY – FR. JOSEPH PAUL – Requested by Sophie TUESDAY – ANTHONY OSBORNE – Requested by Frank & Rose Sulatycki WEDNESDAY – MICHAEL LEO DEVINE – Requested by Mary Anne Barnes THURSDAY – FR. PAUL CUSACK – Requested by Mark DesRoches FRIDAY – LEONARD MARCHIE – Requested by Teresa Marchie SATURDAY – MARIA ROSARIO CALIMBAS – Requested by Estrella Gavieta, Rachel Luke & Family
LIVING THE GOSPEL BY HELPING YOUTH REBUILD THEIR LIVES
Sarah couldn’t get along with her mother, so she tried living on the streets at age 14. She hitchhiked to Toronto to move in with her cousin, who soon kicked her out. Having no place to go, Sarah decided to try Sancta Maria House. She initially hated the structure and rules. However, the supportive staff won her trust and helped her return to school. At the end of her stay, she restored her relationship with her mother. ShareLife-funded agencies like Sancta Maria House are helping at-risk youth turn their lives around
Total Collected to June 4th, 2018 – $114,802 Please make a sacrificial gift to ShareLife through your parish or sharelife.org
With so many struggling to provide for their families and themselves, your food donations are more important than ever. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.
Weekend of June 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
Furniture Bank is a registered charity that provides quality furniture to people in need, including the formerly homeless, women and children fleeing violence, and newcomers and refugees. Furniture Bank is currently seeking donations of gently used furniture and housewares to help combat the growing issue of furniture poverty in Toronto. Do you have unwanted furniture and housewares to give? Change the life of a family in the process?
Please call 416-934-1229 to book your drop off or hire Furniture Bank’s pick-up team to help transfer your unwanted furniture and housewares to its warehouse.
All donations of gently-used furniture and housewares are eligible for a tax receipt. Visit furniturebank.org to learn more.
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
We are continuing to collect eyeglasses for the Lions Club. Throughout the year, the Lion’s Club volunteers collect used eyeglasses and deliver them to regional Lions Recycling Centres.
There volunteers clean, sort by prescription strength and package the glasses. Recycled glasses are distributed to people in need in low and middle income communities where they will have the greatest impact. Please place them in the baskets provided outside the office.
For information about the campus ministries in our archdiocese, please view the poster at http://bit.ly/PostSecondaryCampusMinistry.
Sunday June 10th from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Please join Robert Cordy this Sunday, June 10th from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM for an afternoon of Permaculture with Garden Jane. Please visit Garden Jane’s website for more information about her work: www.gardenjane.com . As spaces are limited, please register in advance at the office or email Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.
A series of seasonal permaculture garden workshops will be offered by Robert’s team over the summer and early fall: June 17th; July 29th; August 5th and 26th; September 30th.
All will begin after the 12:30 Mass. They will cover topics like weed management, wild foraging, mapmaking, composting, mushroom growing, preserving the harvest and more. Please drop in and learn with us as the season changes.
On June 24th, Robert has arranged a tour of Fiddlehead Nursery, near Collingwood. We will meet at the nursery at 2:00 PM. More information on the nursery can be found on their website http://fiddleheadnursery.ca.
If you are interested in joining the Garden Ministry, please leave your email address and phone number with the office, or email Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.
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
