February 19th, 2018
Scholars are divided as to when or if there was such a flood as described in our first reading. Was the flood a universal reality of a local flood of such dimensions that its memory was passed on through oral traditions and found its way into the Hebrew Scriptures?
In the Hebrew Scriptures there are two important covenants; the Noah covenant and God’s covenant with Abraham and Abraham’s descendants. The covenant with Noah was between God was with Noah’s descendants and with every living creature that shares the earth with the human family. The sign of the agreement that earth would never again be destroyed by a flood was the rainbow we often see after a rain storm.
That doesn’t mean the earth can’t be destroyed by other means, such as nuclear war of by the destruction of the life systems that sustain life of earth – wind, soil and water.
Because of the political blustering between the U.S. and North Korea those responsible for the Doomsday Clock moved the minute has within three seconds of midnight. Governments around the world have finally accepted the reality of climate change and it impact, not just of humans but all life forms on earth and all life systems on earth, especially the oceans.
This has been a recording breaking year for wildfires, hurricanes, and tornados, floods and mudslides.
You’ve heard me say many times; ‘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.’ It’s another way of saying, ‘what goes around comes around.’
In Pope Francis’ letter on the environment titled ‘On Care for Our Common Home’ he tells us something we’ve forgotten or ignored for a long, long time. The Holy Father writes; ‘When we speak of the environment what we really mean is the relationship existing between nature and the society that lives in it. Nature cannot be that of as something separate from us. We are immersed in nature.’ As St. Francis would say, ‘we are kin, we are family with all the life systems on earth.’
The Holy Father tells us something we really don’t want to hear; the pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planets capacity that our contemporary lifestyle is unsustainable as it can only precipitate catastrophes such as those which even now periodically occur in different areas of the world.
I’ve quoted this before, ‘Planet earth is not a collection of objects, it is a community of life in its variety of forms.
We belong to this family of live but we humans have because autistic members of the family, we are in a state of disconnect, we’ve lost of sense of belonging. The human family has made great advancements in the past couple of hundred years but we’ve lost our sense of belonging to the family life that sustains the earth. We’ve come to imagine that we are at the summit of all things, they are for our use. We’ve forgotten that in the scheme of things we humans are a point in the circle of that sustains all life.
As many of you know our parish church was designed to connect our worship, our faith with nature. Our garden reminds of this and the colors of the sun that comes down our walls at certain times of the day do the same.
Our praise and worship or God calls us love and care for all of creation. Our praise and worship of God calls us to a sense of wonder and awe of the world we live in. Our praise and worship of God calls us to live lightly on Earth, to share its resources with all others, to work toward Earth’s healing, to live simply that others may simply live.
Lent calls us to fast from consumerism, to give alms by sharing our abundance with those who have less and through our prayer and reflections come to a sense of awe and wonder of the blessings of creation that surround us.
As we continue to celebrate this Mass we pray for the grace to live in the covenant of the rainbow and do what we can for the healing of Earth and thank God for the gift of God’s good creation.
| Posted in Homily |
February 17th, 2018
Saturday, March 3rd from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church
The Lenten season will soon be upon us, calling us to look deeply into our lives, and to return to the Gospel.
Our Lenten retreat this year will be held on Saturday, March 3rd from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM. The theme of the retreat is “Turning Tables: Our Walking and Working with Jesus.”
Our preacher will be Father Jim O’Shea, an inspiring and engaging Passionist working in New York City. Along with pastoral work, Father Jim focuses also on community development, paying particular attention to the housing and education needs of the community, especially those who are marginalized. In 2010, he founded Reconnect Brooklyn with the mission of engaging young people through entrepreneurship, education and service. The project operates Reconnect Café and Reconnect Graphics, and has employed over 150 young people.
Using stories from the Gospel and his neighbourhood work in Brooklyn, NY, Father Jim will invite us to embrace the liberating and creative spirit of Jesus in changing the world and ourselves.
For more information on the retreat, please call the Parish Office at (416) 221-8866, or email Fatima Lee at fatimalee@bellnet.ca.
Monday, February 19th
Monday February 19th is Family Day, a day to celebrate our families. The Parish Office will be closed and there will be no 9:00 AM Mass on that day.
Sunday, February 25th after 12:30 PM Mass
Friday, February 16th marked the beginning of Lunar New Year. This year is the Year of the Dog. For many years, the Asian community in our parish has gifted our parish community with a wonderful Lunar New Year Party.
Our Lunar New Year Celebration will take place on Sunday, February 25th after the 12:30 PM Mass in the Gathering Space. All are welcome.
February 19th – February 24th, 2018
MONDAY – FAMILY DAY – No 9:00 AM Mass TUESDAY – ARMANDO & WALTER DINARDO – Requested by Pasqua Dinardo & Family WEDNESDAY – CHIU FAMILYLIVING & DECEASED – Requested by the Chiu Family THURSDAY – ZOFIA & WANDA WLADYSLAW – Requested by their Children & Grandchildren FRIDAY – MADALENA NASCIMENTO – Requested by the Nascimento Family SATURDAY – DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE CHUCHRA & WROBEL FAMILIES – Requested by Jack & Wanda
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.
Sign-Up Sundays! February 24th/25th and March 3rd/4th.
We Need Your Help!
Cardinal Collins and bishops across Ontario are asking for an email address from every Catholic family in their community, with a goal of 100,000 email addresses collected by the end of February 2018. This information will be used locally by Cardinal Collins and trusted faith partners to communicate periodically (approximately 6-8 times each year) on issues of particular importance for the Catholic community.
The first campaign of 2018 is the Call for Conscience, inviting our elected Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) and those seeking office this June to increase funding/access to palliative care, to protect health care workers wishing to abstain from any involvement in euthanasia/assisted suicide and to protect faith-based facilities from participation in euthanasia/assisted suicide. The work builds on a similar campaign in 2017.
Please visit http://bit.ly/SignUpSundayRegistration to register for this initiative. Thank you for living a faith that acts!
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul – St. Gabriel Conference, is appealing for donations for first and last month’s rent of $3,150 for a government sponsored Syrian refugee family. Government support has ended for this single mother and her two sons. They need to move as she cannot afford the current rent.
For further information, please contact Brenda D’Souza at 416-990-8892.
Be Informed & Reach Out to Your MP
The federal government has introduced new requirements for employers applying for the Canada Summer Jobs grant. To be eligible for funding, employers must attest that both the job and the organization’s core mandate respect certain “values” as determined by the federal government including the government’s position on abortion, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Organizations unable or unwilling to make this attestation in whole or in part will be deemed ineligible for the grant.
This requirement is clearly unjust. Many Catholic organizations throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto and many other faiths involved in charitable activity at soup kitchens, shelters, refugee welcome centres or summer camps are impacted by this decision.
Please take a moment to visit www.archtoronto.org/summerjobs for more information and to find a template letter to send to your MP and the Minister responsible for this portfolio.
Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Your food donations are very much appreciated.
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
With so many people 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.
This Sunday, February 18th
Gabriel Room
Our Organic Horticulturalist, Robert Cordy, will continue to hold workshops in the series entitled Organic Garden Design 1, 2 and 3, this Sunday, February. 18th. All parishioners are welcome. Workshop will be held in the Gabriel Room after the 12:30 Mass.
Tuesdays – until April 24th, 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
St. Bonaventure’s Parish – Francis Room
St. Bonaventure’s Ministry with Maturing Adults is offering several programs on Tuesday Mornings from 9:30 to 11:30.
February 20th – Advanced Care Planning February 27th – Understanding Islam – Being in Dialogue with your Neighbors March 13th – Homeless in Toronto March 20th – The Wisdom of Teresa of Avila April 24th – Special Event with Luncheon
There is no cost for this program. For more information, please go to Maureen@st-bonaventure.ca or call her at 416 447 5571 Ext. 550 or check the flyer on the bulletin board.
Wednesday, February 21st from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Volunteer milk bag weavers will be meeting Wednesday afternoon, February 22nd from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room. All are welcome!
Friday, March 2nd at 1:30 PM
St John’s York Mills Anglican Church 19 Don Ridge Drive
You are cordially invited to the annual ecumenical World Day of Prayer Service which will be held at St. John’s York Mills Anglican Church on Friday March 2nd at 1:30 PM. The theme this year, “All God’s Creation is Very Good” was written by the women of Suriname. St. Gabriel’s is one of three Catholic churches involved but has very little representation at the service. Please join us, along with our neighbouring Christian churches, in prayer and reflection. A reception will follow.
March 2nd to March 4th, 2018
Four Points by Sheraton, Argentia Rd., Mississauga
Celebrate your love and take a fresh look at your marriage! Spend a very special weekend together. A Weekend of discovery…a lifetime of love! Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a weekend getaway that helps married couples rediscover themselves as individuals and as a couple. The Weekend format helps couples communicate openly and honestly without group sharing, therapy or marriage counseling.
For more information and application, please go to www.wwme.org or contact: Gerard & Marge McCauley at gerard.marge@rogers.com or (905) 792-1925.
Friday, March 23rd, 6:30 PM to Sunday, March 25th, 1:30 PM
St. Augustine’s Seminary:
The Office of Vocations invites single Catholic men 17 years and older, to a Come and See Weekend at St. Augustine’s Seminary from Friday, March 23rd to Sunday, March 25th. Come and cultivate a deeper prayer life and relationship with Jesus Christ; leading to a better discernment of God’s call for their lives. There will be time for prayer, reflection and information on the process of becoming one of Christ’s disciples as a Catholic priest.
Register online at www.vocationstoronto.ca. Registrants 17 years old require parental consent.
For more information, please contact (the Parish Priest) or the Office of Vocations at: 416 968 0997 or you may email vocations@archtoronto.org.
Saturday, March 24th from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
John Paul 2 Polish Cultural Centre, 4300 Cawthra Road
Dynamic Women of Faith will be hosting its 9th annual conference for Catholic women on Saturday March 24th at the John Paul 2 Polish Cultural Centre. There is limited seating!
Register at http://dynamicwomenfaith.com/
Early Bird $ 55.00 (before Feb 20) Regular Registration $ 60.00
Light Breakfast, lunch and free parking are all included.
There is also a special event for Mothers and daughters on Friday, March 23rd, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Offertory Envelopes for 2018 The 2018 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the hallway near the Gabriel Room. Please pick yours up as soon as possible.
Tax Receipts for 2017 Tax receipts for 2017 have been mailed. Tax receipts for the Family of Faith Campaign or for any donations made by credit card through the Archdiocese will be receipted by the Archdiocese.
| Posted in Bulletin |
February 11th, 2018
Today’s short gospel tells the story of the cure of the man afflicted with the dread disease of leprosy. The exchange between the leper and Jesus is very simple; if you want to, you can make me clean.. And Jesus responds, ‘of course I want to, be clean, and Jesus touched him and he was made clean. To touch a leper made the toucher ‘unclean’. Jesus made himself one with the man he cleansed.
Our first readings tells us how men and women where to be treated. They were to live away from any human contact lest they infect the whole community. In touching this leper Jesus restored him to his family and his community. Jesus told the cured man to keep this to himself but of course that was a waste of time, he couldn’t keep himself from telling family and friends the wonderful news that he was cured, he was free to come home to family and friends.
This Sunday is the World Day of the Sick. Every Sunday in our prayer of the faithful we pray for the sick and those who care for them. We pray for the sick, all those who are ill in any way; people suffering from lingering illness, and those who are going or have gone through surgery. We pray for those who suffer in mind of body. We pray for those who care for them, their doctors and the nurses and nurse’s aide in our hospitals.
Those who care for them; so often these good people are the forgotten ones, the daughters and sons caring for parents still living at home. Family members who want to keep the family together as long as possible, patiently working with forgetful and frustrated mothers of fathers. Parents who still resent having their car keys taken away, frustrated at needing help. We pray for the many wonderful live-in caregivers who are so faithful and loving to those in their care.
Years ago on my Friday rounds at North General Hospital the chaplain’s secretary told me that before I saw anyone else I was to go to the 8th floor to Mr. Bernstein’s room. He’s Jewish and he’s dying. But his care-giver is Philippino and Catholic and she needs help. I found out she had been his care giver for over ten years and they were close friends and she was grieving his dying. I spent some time with her but the truth of the matter was that after he died she’d have to start looking for a new job. That’s the reality of many of these wonderful women.
We are all sick, wounded in one way or another. We struggle with our weaknesses, our unwillingness to forgive and forget the bigotry and prejudices of our narrowmindedness, our coping with personal issues, whatever they may be. In our own way we say, ‘if you want to you can make me clean’.
It is good to remember that this Mass makes Calvary present – this is my body, this is my blood given for you. It is good to remember that it is by his wounds we are healed, we are made whole. That healing will come to us in Christ’s time and Christ’s ways.
February 10th, 2018
The Lenten season will soon be upon us, calling us to look deeply into our lives, and to return to the Gospel. Our Lenten retreat this year will be held on Saturday, March 3rd from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM. The theme of the retreat is “Turning Tables: Our Walking and Working with Jesus.”
Friday, February 16th marks the beginning of Lunar New Year. This year is the Year of the Dog. For many years, the Asian community in our parish has gifted our parish community with a wonderful Lunar New Year Party.
February 12th – February 17th, 2018
MONDAY – IN THANKSGIVING FOR CLAIRE – Requested by the Burke Family TUESDAY – TONINO DI DIODATO – Requested by the Oakie Family WEDNESDAY – ASH WEDNESDAY – No 9:00 AM Mass THURSDAY – IN THANKSGIVING – Requested by John Chan FRIDAY – NIKOLA VUKOVIC – Requested by the Family SATURDAY – VIOLET PREVIDSA – Requested by Steve Previdsa
Wednesday, February 14th, 2018
February 14th is Ash Wednesday. Special Masses will be celebrated at 12:00 Noon and 7:30 PM. There will be no 9:00 AM Mass.
Thursday, February 15th from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
On Thursday, February 15th at 7:30 PM. there will be Faith Renewal meeting for all parents of those children receiving the sacrament of First Reconciliation this year.
Weekend of February 17th /18th
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
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.
A big thank you to all who baked and purchased goodies at our D & P bake sale. It was huge success and the proceeds will be put towards future D & P education and endeavors.
Sunday, February 18th
Our Organic Horticulturalist, Robert Cordy, will continue to hold workshops in the series entitled Organic Garden Design 1, 2 and 3, on Sunday, February. 18th. All parishioners are welcome. Workshop will be held in the Gabriel Room after the 12:30 Mass.
Tuesdays – until April 24th 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
St. Bonaventure’s Ministry with Maturing Adults is offering several programs on Tuesday Mornings from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
February 20th – Advanced Care Planning February 27th – Understanding Islam – Being in Dialogue with your Neighbors March 13th – Homeless in Toronto March 20th -The Wisdom of Teresa of Avila April 24th – Special Event with Luncheon
This Sunday, February 11th at 3:00 PM
Blessed Trinity Church, 3220 Bayview Avenue
The Office of Formation for Discipleship at the Archdiocese of Toronto is happy to announce the Celebration of Marriage Mass at Blessed Trinity Church this Sunday, February 11th at 3:00 PM. Cardinal Thomas Collins will preside over this special Mass where couples celebrating their milestone 25th, 40th, 50th and 60+ wedding anniversary will be honoured.
February 13th to April 3rd from 4:30 to 6:30
Central Office, 1155 Yonge Street
Catholic Family Services of Toronto is offering a psycho-educational program for those dealing with the stress of the ending of a relationship.
The sessions facilitated by a clinical social worker will be held February 13th to April 3rd, 2018 from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. at 1155 Yonge St. There is a $30 fee per session.
Please contact Alpana Das at 416-921-1163 x2232 or email adas@cfstoronto.com for more information.
Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre in Mississauga Friday February 16th to Sunday February 18th
A Women’s Lenten Retreat will be held at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre on the weekend of February 16th to 18th. The retreat will be preached by the Centre team – Oblate Father Pawel Ratajczak and Mrs. Anne Hales. This is a beautiful way to begin the season of Lent. For information or registration please call 905-278-5229.
Agatha Christie’s “Appointment with Death”. Thursday, February 22nd & Friday, February 23rd at 7:30 PM 1515A Queen Street West
The Francis de Sales Centre Drama Club’s will present Agatha Christie’s “Appointment with Death”. Find out “whodunit” on February 22nd & 23rd at 7:30 PM! Mary Mother of God School is at 1515A Queen Street West. Admission is by donation. For more detail go to www.marymotherofgodschool.org.
February 4th, 2018
We all know the story of Job – a man who was so blessed by God. He was wealthy beyond imagining, he owned thousands of sheep and goats. He had vineyards and plentiful crops. Job and his wife were blessed with beautiful daughters and hard workings sons. God said of Job,’ There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil.’ But Satan had other ideas about Job. He’s good because God is good to him but let him know hard times and see how upright and faithful he his. To prove Job would be faithful and true in any circumstance in his life God brought Job low – his sons and daughters died, his crops failed, his cattle and sheep died – Job was totally reduced, he was covered with open sores, his friends avoided him. They tried to convince Job he was being punished by God. Job believed God was testing him and he would not speak against God.
How often have felt like Job felt? Life can seem so unfair. Maybe you feel life is nothing but hard service, you get no positive feedback for all you hard work. You have your sleepless nights as you worry about job security, unpaid bills. You may be facing health issues and the possibility of having to give up your independence and go a retirement home.
You can understand Job’s discouragement, his depression. If there is a light at the end of the tunnel, it’s probably a train heading right for you. Each one of us at this Mass is struggling with one or another issue, be it a health or financial issue, or an inter-personal problem, or a personal struggle. None of us is worry free. And hopefully none of us is alone, though some may be.
In today’s short gospel we hear of Jesus, at the end of a long day is besieged by people burdened by with various diseases and demons. At dawn Jesus slipped away for some peace and quiet and prayer. The apostles found him and wanted him to get back to work, maybe not so much preaching but certainly healing the wounds of the people. But Jesus insisted he had to move on to other towns and villages preaching the good news of God’s special love for the downtrodden and healing the sick.
This is the same Jesus who is with us at the Mass, the same Jesus who is one with us as we receive his body at communion time. Like the men and women and probably children who crowded around the house of Peter at Capernaum bringing Jesus their wounds and worries, in faith, trust, we bring Jesus our wounds and our worries trusting he will give us the grace and strength to face and cope with our issues never doubting the love and the care he has for each one of us.
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
