May 14th, 2017
A couple of years ago I was having supper with friends. They invited other guests to supper. I sat next to a woman from Texas and surprise, surprise she wanted to talk about Jesus and the importance Jesus had in her life. She felt sorry for all the people in the world who did not know Jesus. She was quite convinced they were lost. Didn’t Jesus say,’ no one comes to the Father except through me.’
I asked her, what happens to all those good, devoted men and women of other faiths who have never been exposed to our Christian faith? What happens to them? She answered,’ well I didn’t say this Jesus did. That’s true Jesus did say, I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.
Might we understand these words of Jesus in this way; it is through the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus that the human family is reconciled to God. The passion, death and resurrection of Jesus destroyed the barrier between the human family and God. Jesus told the disciples that he is the way, the truth and the life. He is the way to the father. That way might be seen as the crowded streets of Jerusalem Jesus struggled along and fell on as he made his way to Calvary. Jesus’ way of living and loving and forgiving is to be the norm of our lives. Jesus is the truth. The crucified Christ bears witness to the truth of God’s unconditional love for every human being. Jesus is the life, the eternal life offered to all of us, the life purchased for all of us, not by silver or gold but by his precious blood.
No one comes to God except through Jesus our Christ who died for all humanity. How men and women of other faiths come to God is their fidelity to the teachings of their own beliefs. The fanaticism of some people of some faiths is a distortion of their faiths, just as the fanaticism of some Christians is a distortion of our faith, a betrayal of the commandment, ‘love one another as I have loved you’.
In the Acts of the Apostles we read of Peter’s visit to the home of the pagan soldier Cornelius. Cornelius sent friends to Joppa where Peter was staying to ask Peter to visit him in his home. Peter accepted the invitation but when he came to Cornelius’ home Peter let it be known, ‘it is unlawful for Jews to associate or visit Gentiles but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean. He accepted the hospitality of Cornelius and was gifted with this insight, ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, that in every nation anyone who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to God.’
God’s life and love and forgiveness are for every person of any faith community and all this comes to all of us through the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus our Christ in ways known only to God.
May we be blessed to see God’s grace and love working in the faith life of good men and women of all faiths.
| Posted in Homily |
May 13th, 2017
To all the Mothers, Grandmothers and Stepmothers, we wish you a very happy Mother’s Day. May you be blessed with the graces you need, with courage, compassion, patience and peace to tend to all those in your care.
Congratulations to the following children from our parish attending the Children’s Faith Program, Private and other Catholic Schools who received their First Communion as a group on Sunday, May 7th, 2017.
Daniel Albornoz Jude Black Avery Chang Alicia Jooyoung Chung Darren Coelho Anthony Cormier JinGyu Ella Lee Gavin Manabat Lucas Tuzi
It was a beautiful celebration. Let us promise to support these young people with our prayers as they continue on their journey of faith.
Saturday, May 13th & Sunday, May 14th
This weekend, May 13th and 14th, the St. Gabriel’s Youth Group will be selling flowers and rosaries for Mother’s Day. These can be given as gifts to mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and sisters. The money raised will go towards the youth’s funds for attending the Steubenville Conference. Please help and support our youth!
The Building Maintenance Committee is currently working with a landscape designer on a new vision for our gardens. If you are interested in participating in the planting and maintenance of the new gardens as well as learning about the plants and their care, please call or email Heather Bennett at 647-774-9742 or heathermjb@gmail.com.
Saturday, May 27th Sunday, May 28th
St. Gabriel’s Church has been selected and will participate in this year’s DOORS OPEN TORONTO 2017. The event, produced by City of Toronto in partnership with the broader community, will celebrate “15 Decades of Canadian Architecture”. This will take place Saturday, May 27th from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Sunday, May 28th from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
We will require volunteers, working in shifts, to welcome visitors to our Church. If you would like to be a part of this wonderful event, please leave your name with the Parish Office at 416-221-8866.
May 15th – May 20th 2017
MONDAY – LOUISE MUSCAT – Requested by Lina Abela-Pulis TUESDAY – LEWIS ROYES – Requested by Helene Royes WEDNESDAY – ALL SOULS IN PURGATORY – Requested by The Tsang Family THURSDAY – ANA NASCIMENTO – Requested by the Nascimento Family FRIDAY – GERRY & EDNA HATCH – Requested by their Family SATURDAY – STEPHEN HOU YU TSAO – Requested by the Au Family
The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday, June 4th at 3:00 PM at St. Gabriel’s Church. In preparation for this Sacrament, a Confirmation Retreat will be held on Saturday, June 3rd from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at St. Gabriel’s Church. All candidates must attend. Candidates are reminded to bring a signed letter from the service coordinator or a parent stating the completion or anticipated date of completion of volunteer service hours.
Julie and her younger sister arrived in Canada through the help of the Office for Refugees to meet a resettlement group that welcomed them with a home and open arms. As orphans from a Refugee Camp in Ghana, they now have a safe place to call home in a country where their lives are not threatened. Julie is interested in studying and becoming a nurse in the maternity ward. She feels it is a passion she wants to pursue after watching her mother become ill and pass away after her sister’s birth. They now have hope for a better future and are no longer alone because of the work done through ShareLife-supported Office for Refugees. Last year, the ShareLife-supported Office for Refugees assisted 6,000 people with their resettlement needs.
Next ShareLife Sunday is June 14th 2017 Please give generously.
Each month the 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.
Your food donations are more important than ever as the numbers of needy people continue to increase. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your generous support.
Did you know that Development and Peace (D&P) responded to the call of Pope Francis in his encyclical ’Laudato Si: On the Care For Our Common Home’ by launching a campaign on climate change and its impact on the poor? As a result the Canadian Government signed the 2015 Paris agreement, and thousands of Canadians pledged to reduce their Carbon footprint.
To find out more about the work of D&P or to become a member or donor, visit the website at http://www.devp.org/en/get-involved.
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.
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.
Your kindness and compassion are felt by the friends and staff of Effect Hope and by the many people they serve. They look forward to your continued partnership with this mission of healing and hope.
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.
Monday, May 15th at 7:00 PM.
Catholic Pastoral Centre, 4th Floor 1155 Yonge St., Toronto.
New Beginnings is presenting a talk entitled “On Marriage and Annulments”, at the Catholic Pastoral Centre on May 15th at 7:00 PM.
Fr. Alexander Laschuk from the Catholic Marriage Tribunal in the Archdiocese of Toronto will discuss the Church’s teaching on the Sacrament of Marriage and why in some cases a declaration of nullity (annulment) is granted.
May 24th at 7:00 PM
St. Bonaventure Church, 1300 Leslie Street
If you are intrigued by St. Francis of Assisi; his love of humanity, nature and peace, which has inspired thousands through the ages even to today, you are invited to the “Bonaventure Room” in the Parish Hall at St. Bonaventure Church. Join them and discover his way of life can be lived as a Secular Franciscan even today.
Monday, May 29, 2017 — 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Duke of York Pub, 39 Prince Arthur Ave, Toronto
Faith Connections invites young adults, ages 19-39, to join them for an evening of thought-provoking theological discussion in a comfortable and relaxed setting, with special guests: Bruce Rivers, Executive Director of Covenant House.
Munchies will be provided. There is a cash bar. Come and bring a friend! For more information call Kataryna Kuzar at 416-467-2645 or visit www.faithconnections.ca — a ministry of Fontbonne Ministries, Sisters of St. Joseph, Toronto.
Catholic Parents of Lesbian Daughters and Gay Sons Saturday, June 3rd from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre, Pickering, Ontario A day of Reflection will be held on Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre in Pickering. Sr. Mary Rowell, who teaches theology at Regis and St. Michael’s Colleges will facilitate. Jesuit Fr. Robert Foliot will assist.
The cost is $40.00 which includes lunch.
For questions and information call John Montague at 416-523-6449.
Weekend of September 22nd, 23rd and 24th 2017
St. Gabriel’s Parish
A Marriage Preparation course will be offered here at St.Gabriel’s the weekend of September 22nd to 24th 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.
| Posted in Bulletin |
May 7th, 2017
Today is the World Day of Prayer for vocations. We often hear of or read about the vocational crisis. There is a great shortage of priests, especially in Northern Europe and here in North America. Years ago Toronto would have as many as 40 priests being ordained. This year Cardinal Collins will ordain 4 men.
It is the same for religious communities. Our Passionist Communities in the States haven’t had an ordination in the past five years. Luckily we belong to an international community and so we are able to call on other Passionist communities for help to sustain the different ministries in which we are involved. The Passionists in the Philippines and in Kenya were willing to share their wealth with us by sending us Brando and John. After a lot of vetting Cardinal Collins invites priests from other dioceses to come and minister here.
There is a shortage of ordained priests that is world-wide but there is not a shortage of priests. All of you good people are priests because you are baptized. St. Peter wrote that because of our baptism we are all a chosen race, a royal priesthood called to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. This is called the priesthood of all the faithful, the priesthood of all believers.
You good people exercise your priesthood in so many different ways. For example a priest blesses people. Every time you show respect to another person, regardless of their sex, religion, racial origin or lifestyle you are blessing that person. A priest celebrates Mass; in thanksgiving he offers the body and blood of Christ at the altar. When your offer to God your prayers, works and sufferings of the day you are doing a priestly act. A priest preaches. When you try to live the teachings of Jesus in the way you relate to family members and friends you are doing a priestly work. A priest absolves sins in the sacrament of reconciliation. When you make peace, apologize to a person you’ve hurt and when you make up with someone who has hurt you in anyway, you are doing a priestly thing. A priest anoints the sick. When you are present to someone who is ill, house bound and lonely, you are a priest to that person. If you have a family member or a friend who is alienated from the Church for whatever reason or who live their lives as if God did not exist and you stick with that person, pray for that person and hope that by living your own religious conviction you may bring them back to God, you are doing a priestly thing. To be touched, loved, supported or forgiven by you, priest that you are, is to be touched, loved, supported and forgiven by Christ.
Can we think on this? If the members of the priesthood of all believers were living their priesthood as I’ve described it, might there be more men willing to take on the work of the ordained priesthood?
Today’s gospel is all about Jesus the Good Shepherd. Jesus calls himself a shepherd but he also calls the gatekeeper. I read a description of the Middle Eastern sheepherding practices that tie these two images together.
The sheepfold was a circular wall of stones, topped by barriers of briars and thorns.There was a small opening for the sheep to pass through. Once all the sheep were in, instead of closing a hinged gate the gatekeeper, who was probably one of the shepherds would lie across the entrance and sleep. No one could get in or out without going over his body. Christ the good shepherd laid down his life his sheep as a gatekeeper and as the one who died on the cross. So we pray on this good shepherd Sunday that Christ the Good Shepherd bless the church with shepherds after his own heart?
Pray for vocations.
May 6th, 2017
On Saturday, May 13th and Sunday May 14th, the St. Gabriel’s Youth Group will be selling flowers and rosaries for Mother’s Day. These can be given as gifts to mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and sisters. The money raised will go towards the youth’s funds for attending the Steubenville Conference. Please help and support our youth!
May 8th – May 13th 2017
MONDAY – LAU KOON TING – Requested by Linda Law & Family TUESDAY – EDITH McCARTHY – Requested by Steve Previdsa WEDNESDAY – ESTHER RODRIGUEZ – Requested by Angeles Miller THURSDAY – RICHARD CHUCHRA – Requested Wanda & Jack Wrobel FRIDAY – SHIU LING NG – Requested by Teresa Marchie & Family SATUR DAY – GUS CALDERONE – Requested by Marie Calderone
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 45 casseroles for April. For May, your prepared frozen casseroles will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of May 27th/28th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are encouraged 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.
Living the Gospel by providing for those in need…
“One of the core components of our Pastoral Plan is Catholic Outreach in Justice and Love. As a Catholic community we are called to be the hands and face of Jesus in our communities. One of the ways that we do this is through our annual ShareLife appeal, which provides resources to agencies serving the poor and marginalized not only in our archdiocese, but also around the world. ShareLife is a tangible way that we can put the Gospel value to love one another as I have loved you into action, and I invite all parishioners to support the mission work of the Catholic church by making a sacrificial gift to ShareLife.”
Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto. Next ShareLife Sunday is May 7th, 2017 Please give generously.
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
May 6th to May 13th
National Catholic Broadcasting Council
The National Catholic Broadcasting Council (NCBC) is hosting a Week of Prayer for Vocations from May 6th to May 13th. Each Mass during that week will focus on the call to religious life. You can join the Vocations Prayer Circle by visiting the NCBC website at www.dailytvmass.com, by e-mail at info@ncbc.ca, or call toll-free at 1-888-383-6277 to have your name added to the Circle.
May 6th /7th
The Blessed Trinity CWL will be taking orders for geraniums on the weekend of May 6th/7th.
4″ pots are $3.00 each or $25 for a flat of 10; 10″ hanging baskets are $17 each.
To place a phone or e-mail order, contact Deborah Orchard at 416-497-8083 or deborahorchard@rogers.com.
Orders will be available for pickup Friday, May 12th from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Saturday, May 13th from noon to 6:00 PM in the Blessed Trinity Parish Hall, 3220 Bayview Ave.
5km Fundraising Walk and Hug Saturday, May, 13th 2017
Registration from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at Fort York 9:30 AM Registration Closes 10:00 AM Walk to SickKids
On Saturday, May 13th, the sixteenth annual Meagan’s Walk: -Creating a Circle of Hope will take place. Registration opens at 8:30 AM at Fort York, followed by family activities and entertainment. Registration closes at 9:30 AM. The Walk begins at 10:00 AM. and concludes at SickKids with the “Hug”.
Proceeds from this event will be shared between the Meagan Bebenek Endowment Fund and awareness, research and treatment of paediatric brain tumours at SickKids.
New Beginnings is presenting a talk entitled “On Marriage and Annulments”, at the Catholic Pastoral Centre on May 15th at 7:00 PM. Fr. Alexander Laschuk from the Catholic Marriage Tribunal in the Archdiocese of Toronto will discuss the Church’s teaching on the Sacrament of Marriage and why in some cases a declaration of nullity (annulment) is granted.
Munchies will be provided. There is a cash bar. Come and bring a friend!
For more information call Kataryna Kuzar at 416-467-2645 or visit www.faithconnections.ca — a ministry of Fontbonne Ministries, Sisters of St. Joseph, Toronto.
Weekend of September 22nd, 23rd and 24th 2017 St. Gabriel’s Parish
Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM. For a registration package please email Marie Deans at deansm@sympatico.ca
Saturday, June 3rd from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Catholic Parents of Lesbian Daughters and Gay Sons
Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre, Pickering, Ontario
A day of Reflection will be held on Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre in Pickering. Sr. Mary Rowell, who teaches theology at Regis and St. Michael’s Colleges will facilitate. Jesuit Fr. Robert Foliot will assist.
The Cost is $40.00 which includes lunch.
April 30th, 2017
We can hear the disappointment in the voices of the two men going home to Emmaus after their Passover celebration in Jerusalem. They are telling their stranger companion about what happened in Jerusalem during the past days. Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet mighty in deed and word was brought down by the power people in the city, the temple priests. They had Jesus condemned and crucified.
Then they spoke of the own disappointment. They’d hope that Jesus would be the one to redeem Israel. They hoped Jesus would be the one who would turn things around, bring about the end of Roman control over their lives and bring them freedom. Their dreams went up in smoke. Some hysterical women were claiming Jesus was alive, but that was nonsense.
As Jesus carried his cross thru the streets of Jerusalem he was mocked and tormented by people along the way. How many of them had that same hope that Jesus, the teacher and wonder worker from Nazareth would be the one to redeem Israel shattered. They were frustrated and angry with Jesus whom they now saw as a fraud, a preacher who built them up only to let them down. They vent their anger at him as he struggled under the burden of the cross he carried.
In our time how many good men and woman have had their faith shattered if not destroyed when a bishop or a priest or a famous Evangelical preacher brought shame and embarrassment on their faith community by their sinful behavior. Their leader, their ideal let them down and like the men from Emmaus these good people walk away from it all. They’ve lost trust.
In the gospel these two despondent men are blessed by this stranger catching up with them and walking with them. He was a man who knew his scriptures and shared his knowledge with them. He tried to help them see that through the ages the prophets taught that the Christ, the Messiah was bound to suffer a fate like Jesus and so enter into his glory.
This stranger accepted their hospitality and shared a meal with them. He took the bread from the table blessed it, broke it and offered it to his hosts and with a graced insight they recognized the risen Jesus in that ordinary ritual of breaking and sharing bread.
Can we imagine that this resurrection story is a metaphor of how God deals with a man or a woman struggling with their faith, with their relationship with the church? Christ comes to us in and through other people and surprises us with acts of kindness and words of understanding and support. We experience the ‘breaking of the bread’ in and through the words and actions of loving and supporting people. We are all on a journey, a journey of faith, a journey that can lead us to deepening of our relationship with Jesus our Christ, a journey that can lead to a deepening of our relationship with our church.
On our journey we meet others and they meet us.
As we celebrate our own ‘breaking of the bread’ at this Mass may we always be there for family members and friends who are struggling with their faith in Christ and his church and at the same time be open to the example and support other people offer us as we try to grow ever more deeply in the life that is ours through the Passion Death and Resurrection of Jesus our Christ.
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