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.
| Posted in Homily |
June 9th, 2018
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 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.
St. Gabriel’s Parish Weekend of September 21st, 22nd and 23rd, 2018
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 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.
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.
| Posted in Bulletin |
June 2nd, 2018
Congratulations to the children from St. Gabriel’s School who received the Eucharist as a group on Sunday, May 27th, 2018.
Tony Jinwoo Baek Andrea Cordova Guillermo Andrei Philip Dizon Andrei Mariee Ganon Aidan Hu Leah Kim Lucas Layagan Vanessa Lazzaro Emma Yun Sue Lee Brayden Marchak Maya Olivia McCallum Jonathan Muzhani Charlene Erika Naz Jackson Sparkman Miranda Tirado-Farias
We wish these young people every blessing and promise to support them with our prayers as they continue on their journey of faith.
We would like to wish the 15 members of St Gabriel’s Parish who are travelling to Kenya and Tanzania on June 8th safe travels. While in East Africa, they will be visiting various Passionist Communities in both countries, witnessing the work of the local church. Blessings on your journey!
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!
June 4th to June 9th, 2018\
MONDAY – BRYAN MICHAEL HOPPER – Requested by Mary Anne Barnes TUESDAY – FELIX CHAN – Requested by John Chan WEDNESDAY – FR. JOHN MUTHENGI – Requested by the Parish Staff THURSDAY – ANTHONY OSBORNE – Requested by Ursula Holt & Family FRIDAY – ANN TSUN YAN HO – Requested by Roshin, Lorraine & Minh SATURDAY – JULIA FERNANDO MARTINS – Requested by Maria
Friday, June 1st from 9:30 AM to 12 Noon
Sunday June 3rd at3:30 PM St. Gabriel’s Church, Gabriel Room
The Chinese Section of Salt and Light TV will come to visit our Chinese Rosary Group this Sunday, June 3rd at 3:30 PM. They will introduce their works and mission for evangelize in the Chinese Community. All are welcome to join.
There will be no Eco-Sabbath in June, July or August. Eco-Sabbath will resume on September 9th
Gabriel Room English: Saturday, June 2nd at 3:15 PM Chinese: Sunday, June 3rd at 3:30 PM For further information, please contact Linda Law at 416 -918-8029.
Living the Gospel by the promoting mental health of kids Jake wrote a story in his grade 7 class that made his principal worry he might harm himself. The principal called his mother and recommended she take him to see a counselor at Catholic Community Services of York Region, a ShareLife-funded agency. While the boy was very quiet during the first session, he eventually revealed his sadness and confusion about his parents’ divorce. As the counselor helped Jake learn how other kids respond to a family breakup, he was relieved to find out his grieving was normal. Jake started to feel much better. By donating to ShareLife, you’re helping kids like Jake find healing and happiness.
Total Collected to May 28th: $112,792 Please make a sacrificial gift to ShareLife through your parish or sharelife.org
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 44 casseroles for May. For June, your prepared frozen casseroles will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of June 23rd/24th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are needed 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. Casserole pans are also available in the Parish Office. If you require more information please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
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.
Sunday, June 3rd at 6:45 PM Blessed Trinity Parish
All are welcome to come to Blessed Trinity Parish Hall for Vespers and Lectio Divina on Sunday, June 3rd. Cardinal Collins will speak on the theme “Death and Immortality” (Wisdom 2:17 – 3:9). Lectio Divina is the reading of a sacred text, which is then reflected upon and prayed with.
This event will be live streamed on the large screen in the Blessed Trinity parish hall from St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica. Prayer pamphlets will be provided.
Cathedral Vespers Choir will begin at 6:45 PM Vespers with Cardinal Collins begin at 7:00 PM. Lectio Divina begins at 7:30 PM.
The parish hall will be open from 6:00 PM. Coffee, juice and water will be provided before the event. There is no charge. All are welcome.
Monday, June 25th to Wednesday, June 27th at 7:00 PM St. Patrick’s Church, 131 McCaul Street
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
