May 27th, 2018
Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Trinity. This is a mystery basic to our faith as Christians – this is the mystery that separates us from the great faiths of Judaism and Islam. They too believe in the one God, the Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But we believe that the “ God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob loved us so much He sent His Son to the world – not to condemn the world – but in order that the world, that we might be saved thru him.
We call the Trinity a mystery – a mystery is not something of which we can know nothing – a mystery is something of which we cannot know everything. Even when we see God face to face we will not, we cannot completely comprehend the wonder of God – for God is beyond the limited capabilities of our human minds.
This really shouldn’t come as a surprise – there are many times we are a mystery to ourselves – why did I do this – why did I say that – we are mysteries.
What this mystery teaches us in that the inner life of God is a life of relationships – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We pray in the Mass – all life, all holiness comes from you Father, thru your son Jesus Christ our Lord, by the workings of the Holy Spirit. And thru God’s goodness we are invited into those relationships when we were baptized God’s Holy Spirit was poured into our very being and gives us the boldness to call God – Father/Mother – God’s Holy Spirit permeates our very being, molding and fashioning us into the image of God’s Son Jesus Christ. St. Paul tells us ‘The Spirit bears witness to our spirit that we are children of God.’
The creative, life giving, love giving relationship of the Trinity is to be the model of all our relationships. Our very existence springs from the creative love relationship of our mother and father. Our whole lives are lived in relationships – the life and death of each of us has its influence on others. We do not go thru life untouched or un-touching.
Instead of trying to sort out the mystery of the Trinity we can use this feast to sort out the mystery of ourselves. We can use this feast to look at the health of our personal relationships. How creative, how life giving, how healing we are in our relationships – husband/ wife – mother/ father – brother/ sister / friend or lover / neighbour/stranger.
On this feast of the Trinity we can ask the question – in my relationships am I a source of life, love, growth, healing, forgiving. Do I enrich the lives of others by my friendship – are people better people thru their friendship with me? Do I encourage, foster the gifts and abilities of others. Do I give my spouse, my sons or daughters, my friends, the freedom to be themselves, to find their own way? Is my friendship strong enough that I am willing to confront or face up to issues that are not healthy, that can weaken my relationship? In any and all of my relationships am I dependable, trustworthy, and faithful?
Forming and maintaining good healthy relationships is not easy. Friends ‘fall out ‘husbands and wives split, parents and children are alienated. That’s why it’s important to question ourselves – am I a control freak – am I a demanding person, a needy person, do I try to manipulate, dominate family or friends. Does everything have to center of me? Living in healthy, life giving relationships is a life time task. When all is said and done – our whole lives will be judged on how we lived our many relationships – with family, friends or strangers – These are the facts by which our lives will be judged – I was hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, imprisoned – and you were there for me – welcome into the eternal life giving relationship of Father, Son and Spirit – for as often as you did these things to one of these, the least of mine, you did it to me.
This past year Pope Francis issued a letter to the world on the the environmental crises facing us all but denied by many. We really have messed up our relationships with the rest of Earth’s life systems, systems that support and sustain our lives. To satisfy our need for more and more we have polluted Earth’s lakes and rivers with our wastes from pulp mills and mines. We’ve polluted Earth’s air with toxic fumes and the soil with pesticides. We’ve ignored the fact that we are not lords of creation; we are kin, we are family with all other life forms on our common home, Mother Earth. You’ve heard me say this many times, ‘the earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth and what we do to the earth we do to ourselves. We did not weave the web of life; we are a strand in the web and what we do to the web we do to ourselves. We humans have placed a great strain on our relationships with the rest of God’s good creation. The church, even common sense, calls us to live simply that others may simply live and to see that Earth’s bounty is shared equally by whole human family.
As we continue to celebrate this feast of the Blessed Trinity, this feast of relationships we pray for the ability to always live in holy, life giving, life sustaining, life healing relationships with all those who come into our lives.
| Posted in Homily |
May 26th, 2018
Congratulations to the following young people of our Parish who were confirmed on Sunday, May 20th, 2018. The Sacrament was administered by Rev. Fr. Brando Recana C.P.
Ella Alvarado de Catleugh Nicolas Albornoz Luna Avila John Avila Toby Avila Sophia Avila Tony Jinwoo Baek Jessica Black James Black Sylla Cabrias David Calaco Mary Loraine Calasagsag Ethan Chialtas Ugonna Chukwukere Adrien D’Silva Anthony Echeverry Lauren Eddy Julie Fung Marisol Giron Manolo Giron Nicole Gonzalez Kiera Hui Amanda Jepson Alvin Lee Caitlin Leung Andre Panganiban Peter Paolitto Gabriela Sooyeon Park Gabriel Sungjin Park Caillin Regalado Natalie Roccatani Jubic Rocha Jr. Caroline Saha Mostafapour Nevaeh Supan Kristopher Ta Regina Ta Matthew Tansingco-Marneris Lei-Anne-Jin Tupaz
Holy Spirit, be with them and help them. Work with them and teach them what is right. Guide them to be prudent in all their undertakings, and protect them by your glory.
Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, recently issued a call to action in advance of the June 7th provincial election to promote palliative care, conscience rights and the protection of faith-based facilities. His Eminence has asked Catholics to visit canadiansforconscience.ca/ontario to send a letter directly to all candidates in their riding for the June 7th election. A pre-written letter is provided which people can amend as they choose. If you did not receive Cardinal Collins’ emailed letter and you would like to receive them in the future, please visit bit.ly/archtosignup Thank you for advocating on these important issues!
English: Rosary – Saturday, June 2nd at 3:15 PM in the Gabriel Room. Chinese Rosary – Sunday June 3rd in the Gabriel Room For information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
Friday, June 1st from 9:30 AM to 12 Noon
May 28th to June 2nd, 2018
MONDAY – KARL LAUBER – Requested by Fran TUESDAY – WEDNESDAY – SPECIAL INTENTION – Requested by John Badali THURSDAY – EDMOND AKLEH – Requested by Giries Akleh & Family FRIDAY – MARCELINO FERNANDES – Requested by Tita Fernandes & Family SATURDAY – GUS CALDERONE – Requested by Marie Calderone
There will be no Eco-Sabbath in June, July or August. Eco-Sabbath will resume on September 9th, 2018.
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.
Living the Gospel by helping young families succeed
Camila was attending programs at Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers when she and her daughter were kicked out of the family home. As counselors helped her search for an affordable apartment, she became pregnant a second time. Despite these challenges, Camila attended every program available to her at Rose of Sharon. At the end of the year, she walked out a stronger woman with a plan to achieve the life she wants for herself and her daughters. Last year, at ShareLife-funded agencies that assist young mothers, over 1,000 clients like Camila received support for their new families.
Total Collected to May 20th: $93,421 Today is ShareLife Sunday. Thank you for your generosity.
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.
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
With everyone struggling at this time, your food donations are more important than ever. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.
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.
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.
Monday, May 28, 2018 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Duke of York Pub, 39 Prince Arthur Ave, Toronto All young adults (ages19 to 39) are invited to join us for an evening of thought-provoking conversation on theological topics! The special guest will be Rachel Ball. Munchies will be provided and a cash bar is available. Come and bring a friend!
Catholic Parents of Lesbian Daughters and Gay Sons Saturday, June 2nd from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre, Pickering, Ontario
The sixteenth Canadian Seeing with the Heart Day of Reflection will be held on Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre in Pickering.
Fr. Roger Brennan of the Scarboro Foreign Mission will facilitate. John Montague from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish will assist.
The Cost is $40.00 which includes lunch. For questions and information call John Montague at 416-523-6449.
Sunday June 10th from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Please join Robert Cordy on Sunday, June 10th, in the Gabriel Room and subsequently in the garden, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM for an afternoon of Permaculture with Garden Jane. As spaces are limited, please register in advance at the office or email Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.
Garden Jane is a permaculture designer, gardener, community developer, educator and coach. She has spent 20+ years co-developing healthy food programs with municipalities, non-profits and socially responsible businesses. Please visit her website for more information about her work: www.gardenjane.com
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.
| Posted in Bulletin |
May 20th, 2018
Pentecost is a feast of power and energy and activity. The apostles were seized by the living spirit of God and driven from their hiding place out in the city streets to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. We can imagine the Spirit taking the apostles by the cuff of their necks and dragging them out into the streets. All this is imaged by the violent wind.
In the early church and maybe even in today’s church the Spirit worked and works in such forceful but not normal ways. Today can we imagine the Spirit not pushing us but nudging us to act with compassion, patience and understanding of the needs of the people who are in our lives? The actions of the Holy Spirit bears different fruits in us that enrich our lives; fruits such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness and gentleness.
By the Spirit’s gentle nudging we may be moved to be more patient and understanding of an aging parent or spouse who keeps misplacing things or who asks the same question over and over again.
Watching young children at play or a mother pushing a stroller may nudge us to be more grateful for the gift of our own families.
Seeing a man or woman using a walker nudges us to be grateful for the gift of our own mobility. Certainly a visit to a hospital should cause us to be grateful for our own good health.
Celebrating this Mass as a member of our parish family might move us to be grateful for out gift of faith and for our freedom to practice our faith openly.
As we enjoy this spring season and see the beginnings of new life in trees and plants may the Spirit move us to be grateful for the gifts and the wonder of God’s good creation. When we see the liter that lines our streets and highways or the tons of plastic polluting the oceans, destroying its marine life may the spirit move us to be ashamed of the many ways we diminish the beauty and health of God’s good creation.
Hopefully the Spirit may bring us to a sense of shame when we hear of so much food thrown out or wasted and know of the hunger that is the normal part of the lives of countless of our brothers and sisters.
When we see or hear of the ruins of bombed out cities and the lives of innocent men, women and children the innocent victims of civil strife – may the Holy spirit stir us to pray for peace and rid our own lives of racism and prejudice of any kind.
When we see the courageous work of doctors without borders, or of first responders or of United Nations aid workers who put their lives on line for total strangers may the Holy Spirit move us to admiration and gratitude for such brave men and women.
For all the lack of love we see around in acts of bigotry and prejudice, for all the exploitation of helpless men and women, for all the injustices that victimize our brothers and sisters, the Holy Spirit still nudges, inspires and embolden generous and loving men and women to bring the love and mercy and healing power of God to our troubled world.
The Holy Spirit is still gifting us with the Spirit’s transforming power not so much in the heavy winds and tongues of fire of times past but in the nudges and pushes that inspire little people to do brave and generous things in our lives and world today.
As we continue to celebrate this feast of transforming power and love we pray for ourselves and for each other that each of us responds with open hearts to whenever it may be the Holy Spirit nudges or pushes us to say or do that we may, in some small way, bring God’s love, mercy and justice to the world.
May 19th, 2018
Monday, May 21st is Victoria Day. The Parish Office will be closed. There will be no 9:00 AM Mass that day.
Congratulations to the children from our parish attending our Children’s Faith Program and other Catholic schools who received their First Communion as a group on Sunday, May 13th, 2018 at the 12:30 Mass.
Kate Commendador Vivienne Confraria Kai Contway Chand Manuel Francis Gamalinda Isabel Ha Chloe How Evan Kroetsch Xavier Daniel Brummel Nascimento Alison Park Charlotte Quattrocicchi Carlos Regalado Eric Saavedra-Ikonomi Ethan So Isabella Viloria Toni Viterbo Matthew Wang (Bird)
We wish these young people every blessing and promise to support them with our prayers as they continue on their journey of faith.
The St. Gabriel’s Youth Group would like to give a special thank you to all who supported their Mother’s Day Fundraiser last weekend.
We raised over $1000! We appreciate your donations and purchases of flowers and rosaries to help the youth attend the Steubenville Conference this July and World Youth Day in January 2019.
We would also like to give a special thank you to Linda Law, Laura Cheung, and the members of the Chinese Rosary Group for helping provide flowers and rosaries, as well as Leslie Tan-Man and Chris McKee for providing the gift tags, signs, and decor for our sale.
Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, recently issued a call to action in advance of the June 7th provincial election to promote palliative care, conscience rights and the protection of faith-based facilities.
His Eminence has asked Catholics to visit canadiansforconscience.ca/ontario to send a letter directly to all candidates in their riding for the June 7th election. A pre-written letter is provided which people can amend as they choose.
If you did not receive Cardinal Collins’ emailed letter and you would like to receive them in the future, please visit bit.ly/archtosignup Thank you for advocating on these important issues!
Our parish Youth Group is very excited to share that we will be taking part in next year’s World Youth Day (WYD). World Youth Day is a worldwide encounter with the Pope which is celebrated every 3 years. The next World Youth Day is taking place in Panama City, Panama from January 22nd to 27th, 2019.
“WYD is open to young people who want to take part in a festive encounter with their contemporaries centered on Jesus Christ. This event is an opportunity to experience in first person the universality of the Church. WYD is a unique way to deepen your faith and grow closer to Christ, by means of prayer and the sacraments, together with thousands of other young people around the world who share your interests and ambitions.”
This event is open to young adults in the parish ages 18-30.
If you are interested in attending, please contact sgpyouthgroup@gmail.com for more information.
May 21st – May 26th, 2018
MONDAY – VICTORIA DAY – No 9:00 AM Mass TUESDAY – CECILIA MANALANG – Requested by Plutarco Manalang WEDNESDAY – UNA BOYLAN – Requested by Nora Kerr THURSDAY – PRUDENCIO CLEOFE – Requested by his Family FRIDAY – FR. BRANDO – Requested by the Parish Team SATURDAY – RICHARD GARDIAN – Requested by Sally Gardian & Family
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
Living the Gospel by maximizing the impact of your donation
Administered by St. Elizabeth HealthCare, the Shared Services Initiative is supporting other ShareLife-funded agencies in the areas of human resources, financial services and information technology. Participating agencies report they are able to improve the quality, competency and accuracy of their work. Through this initiative, ShareLife-funded agencies are ensuring the maximum amount received is directed to the front-line service they provide.
Total Collected to May 14th, 2018 – $91,366 Next Sunday, May 27th, is ShareLife Sunday. Please give generously.
Your prepared frozen casseroles 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. Three recipes are available on St. Gabriel’s website. 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 the Parish Office at 416-221-8866.
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.
Duke of York Pub, 39 Prince Arthur Ave, Toronto
All young adults (ages19 to 39) are invited to join us for an evening of thought-provoking conversation on theological topics! The special guest will be Rachel Ball. Munchies will be provided and a cash bar is available. Come and bring a friend!
Saturday, June 2nd from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Catholic Parents of Lesbian Daughters and Gay Sons
Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre, Pickering, Ontario
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 please email Marie Deans at deansm@sympatico.ca. PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM. For a registration package
Robert Cordy, Organic Horticulturalist, will be giving a workshop Sunday, May 20th, after the 12:30 Mass on Hugelkultur, the gardening method he is employing in the north garden.
On Saturday, May 26th, at 2:00, he will provide a workshop on vegetable gardening. All are welcome.
If you are interested in helping to care for the gardens, please leave your name, email address and phone number with the office, or email Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.
Weekly Offertory Collection for Last Weekend Envelopes 389 $ 8,121 Loose Change 1,302 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 166 3,070 Total 555 $ 12,493
A bequest is a beautiful way to express your faith and your gratitude for a lifetime of blessings! A gift to the parish or any of our diocesan charities in your Will creates a lasting legacy that will help the Church continue its heritage of service and pastoral care to the faith community. When making your Will, please consider a bequest to St. Gabriel’s Passionist Parish. To learn more about making a bequest, please call the parish office or the Development Office of the Archdiocese at 416-934-3411 ext. 519 or visit www.archtoronto.org/development.
May 13th, 2018
Two American presidents have made outlandish statements that proved to be totally untrue; they claimed a mission accomplished when in reality it was from being so.
Today we celebrate that moment in time when the risen Christ truly claimed, mission accomplished. Jesus returns to the Father, his mission is finished. Through his passion, death and resurrection Jesus reconciled the human family and God, making peace through the blood of the cross.
Before Jesus returned to his Father he gave the apostles their mission, a mission which is also our mission; ‘go into the entire world and proclaim the good news to all creation.’ Our mission is still a work in progress.
Ours has begun. Jesus told the apostles they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit and they were to his witness to the very ends of the earth. Their mission, our mission is still a work in progress.
Someone once wrote that our primary task, our primary mission, is not to do good works but to believe, to trust in God’s love for us revealed in suffering Jesus Christ. Once we embrace this wonder, Christ loved me and gave his life for me, then we are empowered and sent to love others.
Our unaccomplished mission is to live this Mass outside these walls in the lives we live, the work we do, the service we give and in the prayers we pray. We pray the words of mission every Sunday. The question we have to ask ourselves is, ’do we leave them here like the hymn books we use, or do we take these prayers with home us and try to live them, outside these walls?
Do we say only the good things people need to hear, things that will really help them? Do we talk to others with respect and encouragement? Do we challenge racial or social slurs? Do we defend men and women when we hear them stereotyped by people who diminish their dignity? Are we there for someone in need, family members or friends or total strangers?
Do we reach out to family members or friends who have wronged us, let us down, or do we wish them gone from our lives? Are we thoughtful about the damage our lifestyles, our consumerism, our wastefulness has on the health and wellbeing on the planet earth, our home? Do we give a thought to the homeless men and women in Toronto, or the men and women looking for work, or the men and women who are cheated out of a living wage? How do support families who come from away seeking freedom and security from persecution or civil strife?
As we celebrate this feast of the Ascension, the return of Jesus to the glory of the Father – mission accomplished – we pray for the strength and generosity to accept our mission – to preach the gospel as we live our ordinary lives in our ordinary way – and when necessary may we use words.
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
