April 9th, 2017
Today’s feast of Palm Sunday could be called the feast of great expectations. Jesus came to the holy city to celebrate the great feast Passover. As Matthew tells us in his gospel the crowds went wild. With great enthusiasm they welcome Jesus to the city. They spread palm branches on the road to cut down the dust, other people went before and after Jesus waving their branches crying out Hosanna to the son of David. Others proudly announced ‘this is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.
Many in that crowd really hoped that Jesus was the one who was to redeem Israel. They hoped that Jesus would be their liberator who would in whatever way break the hold the Roman Empire had on God’s people and make them a nation once again. This enthusiastic crowd had great expectations. But the crowd’s enthusiasm for Jesus was countered by the authority’s concern for national security and their conviction that it was better for one man to die than for the whole nation to perish.
The people’s great expectations of Jesus were far different from God’s expectation of his son. Out second reading tells us Jesus emptied himself or his divinity and took to himself our humanity and emptied himself even more, he became a slave, a slave who would be obedient even to dying on a shameful cross. By being faithful to his father’s will our reconciliation, our peace pact with God was sealed. God’s great expectation of his son was the total obedience of Jesus, an expectation that was rewarded with Christ’s resurrection.
On the feast of Palm Sunday St. Paul tells us to have the same mindset Jesus had when he surrendered his life to his Father. The question we can ask ourselves at this Mass is; do we really mean what we say to God our Father when we say, ‘thy kingdom come, thy will be done’. Are willing to echo the words of Jesus as he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane; ’not my will but you will be done.
Let this be our prayer as we begin the Holy Week, thy kingdom some. May we pray it as best we can, not knowing what these words may ask of us yet trusting that Jesus our Christ will be with us gracing us to mean what we say and promising us to be at our side in every situation that comes our way.
| Posted in Homily |
Sunday, April 16th after all the Masses
The youth group will be having a bake sale on Easter Sunday to raise money for their attendance at the Steubenville Catholic Conference this July. Handcrafted rosaries and the youth group’s CD will also be available for sale.
Please support our youth!
Wednesday, April 19 from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Gabriel Room
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 and dry.
Volunteer milk bag weavers will be meeting Wednesday afternoon, April 19 from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room. All are welcome!
For further information about this program please visit www.milkbagsunlimited.ca or contact Sharon Gusz at sharongusz@gmail.com.
April 10th – April 15th, 2017
MONDAY – CELINE CHIU – Requested by the Chiu Family TUESDAY – ARMANDO & WALTER DI NARDO – Requested by the DiNardo Family WEDNESDAY – FR. JOSEPH DINH & FR.JOSEPN NGUYEN – Requested by the Nguyen Family THURSDAY – HOLY THURSDAY – No 9:00 AM Mass FRIDAY – GOOD FRIDAY – No 9:00 AM Mass SATUR DAY – HOLY SATURDAY – No 4:30 PM Mass
There are still many children who have not yet booked a First Communion interview with Fr. Brando or Fr. John. Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866-to book your appointment as soon as possible.
Those children attending the Children’s Faith Program, private schools or others are asked to choose one of the following dates: April 18th, 19th, 20th or 21st.
Children from St. Gabriel’s School are asked to choose one of the following dates: April 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, May 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th.
Holy Thursday April 13th No 9:00 AM Mass 7:30 PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper Followed by Adoration until 10:00 PM
Good Friday April 14th 10:00 AM Morning Prayer 3:00 PM Solemn Passion of Our Lord 7:30 PM Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday April 15th No 4:30 PM Mass 8:00 PM Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday April 16th Masses 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM 12:30 PM
Easter Monday April 17th No 9:00 AM Mass Office Closed
While parking at ground level is limited to 51 spaces, there is plenty of space in the underground parking lot. Please follow the instructions of the attendants. Do not park in front of the Church since this is a fire route and must be kept clear.
Additional parking is available on the east side of Elkhorn Public School and in the bus loop. Again, please follow the instructions of the attendant. The school requests that we do not park on the grass. Many thanks to Holly Richards, the Principal of Elkhorn Public School, for allowing us the use of the school property.
Living the Gospel by supporting the Deaf community…
Taavi wasn’t engaged at his school or in extracurricular sports and as a deaf person, he faced obstacles trying to join his hearing peers. His mom encouraged him to try to participate in the deaf community. His life changed when he joined a deaf basketball fun day hosted by Silent Voice and met Mike, Director of the Silent Voice Child and Family Program. He joined a deaf sports team, began a co-op position with Silent Voice in his 4th year of high school. He was hired as a counselor in the Silent Voice Sign Language Summer day camp. He continues to volunteer at Silent Voice and says, “I’m grateful to ShareLife –supported Silent Voice and want to be a role model for deaf kids, like Mike was to me.” Last year more than 600 deaf children received help through ShareLife-supported Silent Voice’s Sign Language Summer Camps.
Next ShareLife Sunday is May 7th, 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. This past week, we were able to hear firsthand from our ShareLife speaker Jenelle about the difference Rosalie Hall made in her life.
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.
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.
April 10th and 11th on Vision TV
April 11th and 12th on Salt+Light TV atThe National Catholic Mission this year is inspired by the writings and teachings of Fr. Henri Nouwen. Join Sr. Sue Mosteller and Fr. Ron Rolheiser for this two part Mission that will be broadcast during Holy Week on Salt + Light TV on April 11th & 12th and on VisionTV on April 10th & 11th. Each part of the Mission will be rebroadcast the following day following the Daily TV Mass. For more information e-mail the NCBC at info@ncbc.ca, call them toll-free at 1-888-383-6277 or visit www.dailytvmass.com.
Our God is Human — A Holy Week Reflection
Monday, April 10th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Boston Pizza, 400 Progress Ave, Scarborough
Faith Connections, the Office of Catholic Youth, and the local parishes invite young adults (ages 19-39) to join us for an evening of thought-provoking theological discussion in a comfortable and relaxed setting, with special guest: Dr. Margaret Lavin, Professor Emerita, Regis College, Toronto School of Theology. Munchies will be provided. There will be a cash bar. Come and bring a friend! For more information call OCY at 416-599-7676 or visit www.faithconnections.ca.
Tuesday, April 18th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Blessed Trinity Church, 3220 Bayview Avenue
Hosted by Fellowship of St. Joseph of the Association for Hebrew Catholics, Fr. Joseph Alozie, CCE, Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at St. Augustine’s Seminary, will lead us on a dynamic and interactive journey of discovery of the Hebrew roots of the Eucharist. We will learn about the history and theology of the Blessed Sacrament and the place it has in the context of history and tradition. Fr. Joseph is a passionate and exciting speaker who will motivate us to fall in love more deeply with our Saviour in the Eucharist. All are welcome.
Saturday, April 22 at 7:00 PM
The Donalda Club
St. Clare Inn is a transitional housing program for homeless women who are challenged with a diagnosed mental health illness. Join us on Saturday, April 22nd for a night celebrating.
St. Clare Inn’s 10th Anniversary and support this Inn that affords each resident a place to rebuild her life. It’s an evening filled with great food, friends, entertainment and more!, The cost is $85 per person. Tickets will be available at www.stclareinn.org or by calling 416-690-0330. Thanks!
Saturday, April 29th from 9:00AM to 5:00 PM
GRADES 11 & 12 St. Mary Immaculate Parish, Richmond Hill
The Office of Vocations is hosting a day retreat at St. Mary Immaculate Parish, Richmond Hill on Saturday, April 29th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It will provide a time to pray, interact & socialize with other young Catholic men. Seminarians will deliver talks on practical aspects of faith. Day includes Holy Mass, Adoration & Confession. For more information please contact your pastor or call the Office of Vocations at 416-968-0997 or email: vocations@archtoronto.org.
| Posted in Bulletin |
April 5th, 2017
Here are some pictures from our youth ministry’s recent community outreach events:
Planting native trees in Cedarvale Park and Pineway Park, preparing and distributing Winter Care Packages in downtown Toronto, serving food at The Scott Mission Centre, and weaving milk bags into mattresses.
| Posted in Events |
April 2nd, 2017
Let’s look at the very humanness of this Lazarus event. Jesus was a close friend of Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary. He often visited them with his disciples. We remember the time when Jesus and his friends crashed at Lazarus’ home and caused a bit of a family squabble, Martha complaining about having to do all the work of preparing a meal while her lazy sister Mary sat and listened to what Jesus had to say.
Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was very ill. They expected him to come right away. They knew Jesus had cured sick men and women before; surely he would be there for his friend Lazarus. But things didn’t work out that way. Jesus and his companions showed up four days after Lazarus’ burial. His body had already begun to smell.
When Martha, who always spoke her mind, went out to meet Jesus she rightly complained to him, ‘if you had been here my brother would not have died.’ In other words, ‘after all the hospitality we’ve shown you and your friends, where were you when we need you? Martha and Mary must have had conversations about how disappointed they were with Jesus’ absence in their time of grief because Mary made the same complaint when she met Jesus,’ if you had been here our brother would not have died.’
Martha and Mary shared the same conviction, ‘I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ In other words, all is not lost.
And we are told that Jesus wept, he shared in their grief and in the sadness of the whole scene. As Jesus told his disciples when word reached about Lazarus’ health, ‘this illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of Man may be glorified through it,’ In other words, there’s more to this than meets the eye.
Jesus goes to the tomb and in loud voice he calls Lazarus to come out. To everyone’s astonishment Lazarus comes out wrapped in his burial shroud. We can only imagine the shock and the astonishment of all who were there that day and how swiftly the news spread about what Jesus did.
One thing in this wonderful event that sticks with me is the justifiable complaint of Martha and Mary, ‘if you had been here our brother would not have died.’ That complaint might make us wonder whether or not we have been there for family members and friends when they most needed us. There can be times in a person’s life when he or she can be so overwhelmed that they feel their very life has gone out of them. Emotionally they are as good as dead. They’ve just been told they have cancer or some debilitating disease that will change their life completely. They may be tortured by anxiety or swamped by depression. They may have been let go from their job. They may be faced with the shock of separation or divorce. They may have discovered a son or daughter in trapped in an addiction. The list could go on and on, but their lives will never be the same.
Jesus was there for Martha and Mary and his presence, his words made a difference. Are we there for those who need us? We can’t make the pain go away but our concern, our presence our words can make a difference. We can ask the question; ’is there anything I can do’. We can let them know we are praying for them. Do we appreciate the fact that a visit, a phone call, an email might make a difference and let them know they are not alone? These gestures may not be appreciated but at least we tried.
There is a song titled ‘where were you when I needed you’? Jesus was there for Martha and Mary. Can he inspire us to be there for those who might appreciate our presence, our prayers or our words of encouragement? As Jesus called Lazarus to life, our little gestures might call our friends to new life, new hope. It’s something to think about.
April 1st, 2017
Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at 7:30 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church Fr. Bernard McEachern CP
Fr. Bernard just came back from his visit to Haiti and the Passionist mission there. Many of us who have met Fr. Rick from his 2014 Advent visit to St. Gabriel’s are touched by his work. He and Fr. Enzo continue to do wonderful work there, accompanying the Haitian people in their joy and sorrows.
Good news! Fr. Bernard will be sharing his experience of Haiti as Lenten reflections at the parish this Wednesday, April 5th at 7:30 PM. He will talk about what he saw and felt, as well as his reflections. Please join us on that evening if you can.
Dear Parishioners of St. Gabriel’s, I wish to express my sincere thanks to Fr. Brando and to all of you who supported my mission through your various donations over the past two weekends. I am grateful especially to members of the Development and Peace Committee of St. Gabriel’s who helped throughout with the logistics of the collection.
The children in Karni, Ghana will greatly benefit from the openness of your hearts. Your generosity is a sign of the love and goodness in the hearts of so many. Thank you for your participation in this worthy endeavour to educate those less fortunate. “Educate a girl, build a nation.”
You will hear from me and see pictures of the women and children of Karni who are the beneficiaries of your generous donations. Thank you again!
Sister Janis Gbiel, FMM
April 3rd – April 8th, 2017
MONDAY – ALLAN PERSAUD – Requested by the Persaud & Goldenburg Families TUESDAY – TERESA GEIB – Requested by Pat & Reg Prower WEDNESDAY – SISTERS OF OUR LADY IMMACULATE – Requested by Jeanne Robinson THURSDAY – PARISHIONERS OF ST. GABRIEL’S – Requested by Mark DesRoches FRIDAY – SYDNEY WOOD – Requested by Don & Marie Harris SATUR DAY – STEPHEN TSAO – Requested by Renee Young
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.
Stations of the Cross Friday Evenings at 7:30 PM
Individual Confessions Wednesday, March 29th From 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Reconciliation Service Wednesday, March 29th at 7:30 PM
Palm Sunday April 9th Masses Sat., 4:30 PM 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM
Friday, April 7th from 9:30 AM to12 Noon
Interviews for children who are preparing to receive their First Communion are now being scheduled. Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866-to book your appointment with Fr. Brando or Fr. John as soon as possible.
Living the Gospel by supporting ShareLife…..
“The ShareLife campaign provides for the needs of our social service agencies, helps to evangelize the Gospel to brothers and sisters in Christ across the world, and supports the education of our clergy. It is important that we continue to support the ShareLife appeal, to provide for the needs of the marginalized both here in our communities and around the world. Sometimes the results are obvious and sometimes they’re invisible but, always they make a tangible difference in the lives of the people we are helping. Please prayerfully consider how you can be supportive today on ShareLife Sunday.”
—Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto.
Today is ShareLife Sunday – April 2ND, 2017 Please give generously!
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.
Sunday, April 2nd at 7:00 PM
St. Michael’s Cathedral
All parishioners are invited to join Cardinal Collins on Sunday, April 2nd at 7:00 PM. at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica for Lectio Divina. Lectio Divina is the spiritual tradition of attentively and prayerfully reading the Word of God. On April 2nd, Cardinal Collins will lead us through the story of The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). Vespers will be sung at 7:00 PM led by the Cathedral Vespers Choir followed by Lectio Divina from 7:30 to 8:15 PM. For more information, visit https://www.archtoronto.org/lectio.
Sunday, April 2nd at 12:45 PM
Nathan Phillips Square
Saint John Paul II Day in Ontario will once again be celebrated on Sunday, April 2nd. All are welcome to join in a brief flag raising ceremony at the City of Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square (courtesy flag pole) at 12:45 PM.
Monday, April 10th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Boston Pizza, 400 Progress Ave, Scarborough
2016 Financial Statement
Copies of the 2016 Financial Statement is available to parishioners. You may pick one up this weekend in the Gathering Space or from the Parish Office.
Cyber Crime Seminar
There has been considerable interest in the Cyber Crime Seminar. We will be organizing this event in the near future. Please stay tuned for more information.
If you are contributing cash to the Offertory Collection without any identification, you will not receive credit for your contribution. If you are not currently using parish envelopes and wish to have a set issued for 2017, please contact the Parish Office and we will prepare a box for you. This is the most effective way to keep track of your donations.
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