January 21st, 2018
In today’s gospel we hear of Jesus calling other people to join him in his work of proclaiming the good news of God’s love for all of us. He calls these men, Peter and Andrew, James and John while they were in the midst of their daily work, Peter and Andrew were casting out nets while James and John were mending their nets – they were all fishermen. Jesus offers them a greater challenge – from now on they would be fishers of people, they would be catching people for God. Jesus began the work of networking, organizing others to help him in his work of proclaiming the good news.
Jesus networked with each one of us when we were baptised. In baptism we became members of the body of Christ, the church. In his letter to the Corinthians Paul compares the union of the human body to the unity of the church. Each member of the body has its own role to play in the life of the body and no one part can do without the other. Each member of the body of the community of the church, of the community of this parish, has his or hers own gifts that are to be used for the good of the whole body, the church, this parish.
I’m sure you heard the words, ‘I have no hands but yours’. These words are meant for every member of the body of Christ, the church. And they are spoken to each of us as we go about the daily tasks of our lives just as they were spoken in a different way to Peter and Andrew, James and John in the midst of casting nets and mending lives.
Christ says to you and to me, as we go about our daily living our ordinary lives, I have no hands but yours, I have no voice but yours, I have no eyes but yours, I have no ears but yours, I have no heart but yours, no feet but yours to continue my work on earth. These words challenge each of us to live no longer for ourselves but for Christ, to complete his work on earth and bring us to the fullness of grace.
Pope Francis say we share our faith by the way we live our lives and you’ve heard that saying of St. Francis ‘ preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words.
So when we speak we say only the good things people need to hear, word that will really help them. So in our conversations, at home or at work, we speak words of encourage and support and avoid gossip and criticism.
We listen to other people’s problems, knowing they don’t expect us to solve their problems; they just want to be heard. We look at others and see in them their dignity and worth as human beings and as brothers and sisters in Christ. We reach out to others and help them in and through the different ways the parish outreach programs offer us.
Jesus called Peter and Andrew, James and John as they went about their daily work. He calls each of us to be attentive, aware of the possibilities offered in our daily contact with others, at work, at the supermarket, on the street – whenever and where ever we are in contact with other people – there is our chance to be the hands and the ears and eyes of Jesus. This is our opportunity to bring the life and love and healing of Jesus to others.
As baptized Christian Catholics we have to know that Christ’s work of bringing the people to the Father must truly be our own.
| Posted in Homily |
January 20th, 2018
We are looking for several individuals who may consider acting as Ministers of Hospitality at the Saturday and Sunday Masses. Duties would include greeting parishioners before Mass starts, taking the collections, taking our gifts to the priest at the altar and distributing our bulletin at the end of Mass. If interested, please leave your name and phone number with staff in the parish office. One of the hospitality ministers will contact you.
January 22nd – January 27th, 2018
MONDAY – RODOLFO ROSALES SR. – Requested by Teresa Marchie TUESDAY – SPECIAL INTENTION – Requested by the Burke Family WEDNESDAY – ETHEL & MARLENE MAGEE – Requested by Janet Candido THURSDAY – FILOMENA DA SILVA – Requested by Maria DaSilva FRIDAY – BOB MACINTOSH – Requested by Mary Anne Barnes SATURDAY – MARIA JULIA DACOSTA MARTINS – Requested by Helen, Mercedes & Nancy
Sunday, January 28th at 3:00 P.M.
Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen Street
An ecumenical prayer service will be held at Metropolitan United Church on Sunday, January 28th at 3:00 PM with His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Anglican Archbishop Colin Johnson, and Coptic Orthodox Bishop Anba Mina, accompanied by other city-wide religious leaders. The homilist will be His Eminence Cardinal Thomas Collins. Refreshments will follow in the parish hall. Parking is available. For further information, please contact the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs at 416-934-3400, Ext. 344 or Ext. 527 or email vkwok@archtoronto.org.
Sunday, January 28th, at 3:00 PM.
St. Paul’s Basilica, 83 Power St., Toronto
On Friday, February 2nd, the Church celebrates the World Day for Consecrated Life.
In the Archdiocese of Toronto we are blessed to have living and serving among us more than 900 religious men and women of 100 different religious congregations. This World Day for Consecrated Life is a wonderful opportunity for us to thank God for the gifts of these religious sisters, brothers and priests and to pray for God’s blessing upon them in their efforts to faithfully live the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Bishop Wayne Kirkpatrick will preside at a special Mass on Sunday, January 28th, at 3:00 PM. at St. Paul’s Basilica, 83 Power St., Toronto in celebration of the vocation and witness of these special men and women religious who are such a vital and important part of the life and ministry of the Church in our Archdiocese. All are welcome to attend.
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 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.
Each month food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.
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 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. Thank you for your generous support.
The ShareLife Office has released a Report to Donors sharing the results of the 2017 campaign and demonstrating how our support has made a difference. Copies of the report are available at the parish, or can be downloaded from the ShareLife website at www.sharelife.org.
Sunday, January 28th is World Leprosy Day. When leprosy is diagnosed and treated early, the healing time is much faster and permanent disabilities are prevented. The average person can be diagnosed and cured for just $99.
Please bring us your used postage stamps. These are passed on to Effect Hope helping them work towards the day when leprosy is eradicated. They are happy to accept any and all trimmed stamps, leaving no less than ¼ inch and no more than ½ inch paper border. Stamps may be deposited in the basket on the cabinet just outside the Parish Office. For more information please see posters on the bulletin board or go to www.worldleprosyday.ca.
Catholic Family Services of Toronto offers walk-In counseling services at two locations. The single-session consultation is aimed at helping individuals, couples, or family clients address their concerns. No appointment is required. Counseling is available at Central office, 1155 Yonge St. Suite 100, Toronto every Tuesday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. To contact, phone 416 921-1163. Counseling is also available at North office, 5799 Yonge Street, Suite 300, North York every Thursday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Contact 416 222-0048 or email: info@cfstoronto.com for more information.
On behalf of the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, thank you so much for the generosity and support that you provided to our Hope For Children Christmas Program. . We’re overcome by the kindness of your church community to come together to support our clients the way you have, many of whom would not have had a gift to open without your generous support. Please know how much your efforts are appreciated. Wishing you and your loved ones a healthy and happy 2018.
Kara Spedding, Manager, Hope for Children
The Toronto Catholic District School Board is now welcoming families with kindergarten-aged children to register for the September 2018 school year. Your local Catholic school will offer one evening of extended registration hours during the month of January. Please contact your local school for this date. Parents may also complete an application at http://soar.tcdsb.org. The TCDSB is proud to provide a wide range of programs and services to students in 201 publicly-funded Catholic schools from kindergarten to Grade 12. For registration information, please call 416-222-8282, ext. 5314.
January 21st, February 4th, February 18th
Gabriel Room
Our Organic Horticulturalist, Robert Cordy, will be holding a series of workshops entitled Organic Garden Design 1, 2 and 3, on the following dates: this Sunday, January 21st, Sunday, February.4th and Sunday, February. 18th.
All parishioners are welcome. Workshops will be held in the Gabriel Room after the 12:30 Mass.
Tuesdays – January 23rd & 30th, February 20th & 27th
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.
January 23rd – Dementia & Alzheimer’s January 30th – Creating Circles of Care February 20th – Advanced Care Planning February 27th – Understanding Islam – Being in Dialogue with your Neighbors
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.
Mary Ward Centre, 70 St. Mary’s Street Wednesday, February 7th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Professor Heather Eaton, professor at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, will hold a public lecture on Wednesday, February 7th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM at the Mary Ward Centre. She will speak on “Flourishing of Life for All: How are we called to be a prophetic voice for action on climate change?” All are welcome.
Wednesday, February 7th at 7:00 PM
Charbonnel Lounge, Elmsley Hall, St. Michael’s College, Can one write as a Catholic today? Does it matter? As part of its Seeing More… lecture series, Mary, Mother of God School, in collaboration with St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, has invited: Prof. Randy Boyagoda, Prof. Janine Langan, Alexandra Newman, and Prof. Stephen Tardif to explore these questions. Please join the discussion! Donations welcome. Wednesday, February 7th at 7:00 PM, Charbonnel Lounge, Elmsley Hall, St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, 81 St. Mary’s Street. Call 416-531-7897 for more information.
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 on 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.
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.
The 2018 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the hallway near the Gabriel Room. Please pick yours up as soon as possible.
Please do not use envelopes from previous years since the number may have been reassigned to another parishioner. If you do not have envelopes but wish to have them, please contact the Parish Office.
| Posted in Bulletin |
January 14th, 2018
Imagine you are a Christian living in Syria or Iraq or Iran or Lebanon or Egypt or in any country that is caught up in civil or religious strife. Because you are in a minority you are subjected to suspicion and hostility. You can’t find work; you can’t feed your family. You live in an overcrowded, unhealthy refugee camp. You are trapped, wrapped around with the red tape of bureaucrats as you seek refuge in a new country.
Your paper work keeps getting lost. You are unaware of the fact that in the country you seek to enter there are many people who don’t want you. You are seen as a tax burden or a stealer of jobs. They want you to stay where you are.
You are an educated person, an engineer, a dentist, a doctor. You want to bring our skills to a new land. But you are made to feel like a beggar sitting on a street with your hand out grateful to any pittance thrown your way.
Around the world there are millions of migrant and refugee families who live in hopeless situations such as we’ve just imagined.
Today the Catholic Church around the world focuses it thoughts and prayers on these refugee and migrant people. These good and desperate people are our brothers and sisters. Pope Francis wrote a letter to us Catholics on the occasion of this day, it is titled, ‘Child Migrants, the Vulnerable and the Voiceless.’
Francis calls the nations of the world to be open and welcoming to the refugees and migrants who are desperate for a new beginning in a new land. In no way dismissing the challenge the nations of the world face in trying to be open to the millions of refugees and migrants Pope Francis exposes the hypocrisy of national leaders who for political reasons, foment fear of migrants instead of building peace. Such national leaders sow violence, racial discrimination and xenophobia among their people in the name of national security. We had example of such rhetoric this past week from south of the border.
Francis quotes Pope John Paul who wrote; if the dream of a peaceful world is shared by all, if the refugees and migrants’ contributions to the countries that make them welcome are properly evaluated, then humanity can become more and more a universal family and the earth a common home. Throughout history many have believed in this dream, it must be ours too.’
Child migrants, the vulnerable and the voiceless.
We’ve ended our Christmas season and celebrations. But who was at the center of our celebrations. Wasn’t Jesus the reason for the season? I’m quoting from an article I read recently;
“The real Christ is forever seeking a home in a world within which there’s no room for him.
So who best fits that description today? I suggest the following: Millions of refugee children. The Christ-Child can be seen most clearly today in the countless refugee children who, with their families, are being driven from their homes by violence, war, starvation, ethnic cleansing, poverty, tribalism, racism, and religious persecution. They, and their families, best fit the picture of Joseph and Mary, searching for a room, outsiders, powerless, uninvited, no home, no one to take them in, on the periphery, strangers, labeled as “aliens.” But they are the present-day Holy Family and their children are the Christ-Child for us and our world.
Where is the crib of Bethlehem today? Where might we find the infant Christ to worship? In many places, but “preferentially” in refugee camps; in boats making perilous journeys across the Mediterranean; in migrants trekking endless miles in hunger, thirst, and dangerous conditions; in people waiting in endless lines to be processed in hope of being accepted somewhere, in persons arriving at various borders after a long journey only to be sent back; in mothers in detention centers, holding their young and hoping; and most especially, preferentially, in the faces of countless refugee children.
What can we do about all this? We have no power, no influence, but we can keep these children and their families in our prayers. Samuel says in our first reading, ‘speak Lord you servant is listening.” Does the Lord speak to us in and through these voiceless children? We know he does. Will we answer by our mindfulness and our prayers for these migrant children, the vulnerable and the voiceless?
We are looking for several individuals who may consider acting as Ministers of Hospitality at the Saturday and Sunday Masses. Duties would include greeting parishioners before Mass starts, taking the collections, taking our gifts to the priest at the altar and distributing our bulletin at the end of Mass.
If interested, please leave your name and phone number with staff in the parish office. One of the hospitality ministers will contact you.
Through your generosity, our parish has sponsored a total of three refugee families in the last few years. Here is a quick update on them.
The Saoor family of 5 from Mosul, Iraq whom we sponsored in 2012 now have a home in Brampton. The younger son was married in the summer of 2016 and late last year welcomed the birth of his daughter. Sixteen members of the parish refugee committee attended the baptism. All family members either have or are in the process of getting their Canadian citizenship.
The Bezgian family of 4 from Aleppo, Syria whom we sponsored in 2015 are living in Scarborough. The children enjoy their school and both parents are working. They recently bought a car which has made getting to and from work much easier. They are trying to bring Christine’s mother to Canada for a visit. She has not seen the family in 6 years.
The Alkajela family of 6 from Mosul, Iraq whom we sponsored in 2016 have settled in Brampton. Ishan, the father, recently got his truck driver licence and is enjoying driving large trucks all over Ontario. The children enjoy their school and are currently all taking swimming lessons which are the highlight of their week.
Pope Francis asks us to “Welcome, Protect, Promote and Integrate Migrants and Refugees.” Our Parish has answered that call.
January 15th – January 20th, 2018
MONDAY – ANA MARIE LOPEZ – Requested by Estrella Gavietta TUESDAY – JENNY & WALTER WILCHYNSKI – Requested by Fran Moscal WEDNESDAY – ETHEL MAGEE – Requested by Janet Candido THURSDAY – MAURICE MICHAEL – Requested by Charmaine Michael FRIDAY – SPECIAL INTENTION – Requested by the Ng family SATURDAY – PAULINE WONG – Requested by Anda Li
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome Mariano Lucas Tan who received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, December 31st 2017. Congratulations!
Weekend of January 20th/21st
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
Wednesday, January 17th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Did you know that milk bags can be cut, looped and woven into sleep mats for individuals or families in developing countries? . Please drop the colourful outer bags in the bin located in the gathering space. Please make sure that the bags are clean, dry and flat.
Volunteer milk bag weavers will be meeting Wednesday afternoon, January 17th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM in the Gabriel Room. All are welcome!
Sunday January 14th at 1:00 PM
Good Shepherd Chaldean Catholic Church, 2 High Meadow Place, North York
The theme announced by His Holiness Pope Francis for the 2018 World Day of Migrants and Refugees is “Welcoming, Protecting, Promoting and Integrating Migrants and Refugees.” In his message, Pope Francis reminds us that “every stranger who knocks at our door is an opportunity for an encounter with Jesus Christ, who identifies with the welcomed and rejected strangers of every age…”
A special Mass commemorating the 104th World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be celebrated on Sunday, January 14th, 2018 at 1:00 PM at the Good Shepherd Chaldean Catholic Cathedral, located at 2 High Meadow Place in North York. Bishop Kirkpatrick will be the homilist for this liturgy. A reception will follow with a number of dignitaries in attendance. All are welcome to attend!
Beginning January 17th
The Toronto Catholic District School Board welcomes families with kindergarten-aged children to register for the September 2018 school year beginning on Wednesday, January 17th, 2018. Your local Catholic school will offer one evening of extended registration hours during the month of January. Please contact your local school for this date.
Parents may also complete an application at http://soar.tcdsb.org. The TCDSB is proud to provide a wide range of programs and services to students in 201 publicly-funded Catholic schools from kindergarten to Grade 12.
For registration information, please call 416-222-8282, ext. 5314
Saturday, January 20th from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
St. Augustine’s Seminary, 2661 Kingston Rd., Scarborough
Join them for a day to learn about “The Faces of Christ in the Book of Revelation.” This seminar will be held in the Ambrozic Room, St. Augustine’s Seminary from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Mass will be celebrated in the seminary chapel followed by lunch.
Please contact St. Augustine’s Seminary of Toronto by phone at 416-261-7207 or by email at ioft@sastoronto.org or visit www.tcdsb.org.
Bishop Wayne Kirkpatrick will preside at a special Mass on Sunday, January 28th, at 3:00 PM. at St. Paul’s Basilica,
83 Power St., Toronto in celebration of the vocation and witness of these special men and women religious who are such a vital and important part of the life and ministry of the Church in our Archdiocese. All are welcome to attend.
Wednesday, February 7th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Mary Ward Centre, 70 St. Mary’s Street
Professor Heather Eaton, professor at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, will hold a public lecture on Wednesday, February 7th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM at the Mary Ward Centre. She will speak on “Flourishing of Life for All: How are we called to be a prophetic voice for action on climate change?”
January 7th, 2018
The Epiphany of Christ is a shining light set at the turning of the year to illuminate all that has gone before and to guide us through the year ahead.
Fr. Brando will be away this month spending time with his family. We wish him a safe trip and a relaxing visit.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Thank you, good people, for your overwhelming generosity this Christmas season. Thanks to you, St. Gabriel’s was able to provide toys, food and gifts to Rosalie Hall, the Catholic Children’s Aid, the Good Shepherd Centre and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
A special thank you to our neighbours the St. Gabriel’s Village Condos for their generous support of our food and toy drives. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated!
January 8th – January 13th 2018
MONDAY – RENATO BELLISARI – Requested by Chiara & Tina Intini TUESDAY – ESTHER RODRIGUEZ – Requested by the Family WEDNESDAY – SALLY BEN – Requested by Stephen Previdsa THURSDAY – DELPHINE OAKIE – Requested by the Oakie Family FRIDAY – SHIRLEY ROSALES – Requested by Her Family SATURDAY – GEORGE OLDEN – Requested by Kathleen Olden Powell
Catholic Family Services of Toronto offers walk-in counseling services at two locations. The single-session consultation is aimed at helping individuals, couples, or family clients address their concerns. No appointment is required. For more information, contact 416 222-0048 or email: info@cfstoronto.com
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 41 casseroles for December. For January, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of January 27th/28th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are urgently needed to help feed the hungry in our city. You may pick up a copy of a casserole recipe and a pan from the Parish Office. Three recipes are also available on St. Gabriel’s web site. 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.
Temple Har Zion, 7360 Bayview Avenue Sunday January 14th from 2:00 PM to- 4:00 PM
MOSAIC Interfaith invites you to attend their annual program in honour of Martin Luther King’s birthday at Temple Har Zion, 7360 Bayview Avenue on Sunday January 14th, 2018 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The program will include a presentation “ A Caring Village” by Clovis Grant, CEO of 360 Kids and will focus on how we as a caring community work together to wrap our arms around young people particularly the most vulnerable to help them achieve their full potential. To RSVP or for more information contact Nora at 416 218 0680 by Jan 12th. See also the posters on the bulletin boards.
Parents may also complete an application at http://soar.tcdsb.org. The TCDSB is proud to provide a wide range of programs and services to students in 201 publicly-funded Catholic schools from kindergarten to Grade 12. For registration information, please call 416-222-8282, ext. 5314 or visit www.tcdsb.org.
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
