January 1st, 2017
Mary was the Mother of Jesus. May we also bring Jesus into the world for others. Mary lived a life pleasing to God. May we do God’s will in all things. Mary gave the glory to God through her life. May we give praise to God in all we do. Mary was a holy person. May we strive to live as God created us. Mary was a person of courage. May we do what we know is right.
January 3rd to January 7th, 2017
MONDAY – OFFICE CLOSED – No 9:00 AM Mass TUESDAY – BERNADETTE SEDGWICK – Requested by Agnes Wong WEDNESDAY – BERNADETTE SEDGWICK – Requested by Astrid, Jacqueline & Greg THURSDAY – MARIA DI DIODATO – Requested by the Oakie Family FRIDAY – LEWIS ROYES – Requested by Helene Royes SATURDAY – CELINA DELFIN – Requested by her Family
Friday, January 6th from 9:30 AM – 12 Noon
Chinese: Sunday, January 1st at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room. English: Saturday, January 7th at 3:15 PM in the Library
Sunday, January 8th, 2017 at 11:30 AM in the Gabriel Room
Eco- Sabbath, normally held on the first Sunday of the month, will not take place on New Year’s Day, January 1st, 2017. It will be held instead on Sunday, January 8th at 11:30 AM in the Gabriel Room. All are welcome.
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.
Weekend of April 21st, 22nd and 23rd, 2017
St. Gabriel’s Parish
A Marriage Preparation course will be offered here at St. Gabriel’s the weekend of April 21st to 23rd, 2017.
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.
Wednesday, January 18th beginning at 10:00 AM
Imagine the Possibilities!
Junior Kindergarten in the Toronto Catholic District School Board provides children with a variety of learning experiences in a caring, faith based environment. Students develop a positive attitude about themselves and others, become more independent and responsible, develop self-regulation and social skills, and learn to solve problems.
Parents can apply online beginning at 10:00 AM on January 18th at SOAR.tcdsb.org and follow up with a visit to the school to present required documents. Or they can register at their local school with the required documents beginning January 18th, 2017 at 10:00 AM.
For more information go to www.tcdsb.org/kindergartenregistration or phone 416-222-8282 ext. 5314.
Monday, January 23rd from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Duke of York Pub, 39 Prince Arthur Avenue
All young adults (19-39) are invited for an evening of thought-provoking conversation on theological topics with Special guest: Fr. Tom Rosica CSB, CEO, Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation.
Pope Francis’ Post Synodal Exhoration, Amoris Laetitia, (The Joy of Love) published April 14th, 2016, draws on the long history of Church teaching and reflects a very intense Synodal experience that extended over two and a half years. Fr. Rosica served as the English-language Media Attaché at the October 2014 Extraordinary Synod on the Family and the October 2015 Ordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family. He works closely with the Holy See Press Office.
Munchies will be provided and a cash bar is available. Come and bring a friend! For more information: visit the Toronto Theology on Tap web page, or contact Vanessa Nicholas-Schmidt by e-mail at faithconnections@csj-to.ca, or phone 416-467-2645.
Weekly Offertory
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week. Collection for December 18th, 2016
Envelopes 365 $ 9,891 Loose Change 1005 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 165 3,055 Total 530 $ 13,951
The 2017 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the Gathering Space. Please pick yours up as soon as possible.
If you are contributing cash to the Offertory Collection without any identification, you will not receive credit for your contribution. You must provide your full name and address
Please do not use envelopes from previous years since that envelope number may have been reassigned to another parishioner.
| Posted in Bulletin |
December 25th, 2016
On the feast of Christmas we celebrate and hopefully open our lives to a great wonder. We celebrate the birth of a innocent, helpless child, God’s eternal Son who embraces our humanity, becoming as we all are and through his life shared in the joys and the sorrows that are the reality of all our lives. He knew the harshness of poverty, he earned his bread by the sweat of his brow. He knew the love and support of friends, he knew the deep hurt of those same friends betraying and denying him. He would die the humiliating death of crucifixion. This child whose birth we celebrate would spend his life telling people in his time and in ours that they are loved by God, embraced by God no matter what their faults and failings may be. God’s eternal Son would give us all a new commandment ‘ Love one another as I have loved you.’ His love for us was proven when his died on the cross for each of us. We are called to live out his challenge to us to love as we’ve been loved.
I’d like to offer another dimension to this feast we are celebrating. The birth of the Christ Child.
Our parish motto is, belonging, believing and becoming. We all want to belong, we want to be accepted by others, supported and loved by others, forgiven by someone else. It is not good to be alone. To believe that we are alone and unloved is an unbearable pain. Today’s feast tells us that we belong, belong to God in a very special way. And God belongs to us.
Jesus took to himself our humanity, in what we call the Incarnation. Jesus is like us in all things but he did not sin and he invites us to share in his divinity. Before the world began God chose us, in Christ, to be his adopted sons and daughters. Christmas tells us Jesus belongs to us and we belong to him.
We belong to the human family, a family that is showing the worst of itself these days with the devastating wars that plague our times, especially in Syria. At the same time we are a family that is showing the best of itself as we reach out to our suffering brothers and sisters and welcome them to Canada.
We belong to the family of the church, the body of Christ. Christ is the head of this body and we are its members and no one member can say to the other,’ I have no need of you’. We belong to one another as the different members of the body belong to one another. As each of us tries to be faithful to the example and teachings of Jesus we build up the body of Christ, because we belong we do what we can to maintain the holiness of the church.
If we belong then all others belong, no one is to be excluded. That’s why racism and bigotry – which has recently raised its ugly in the city – and the exclusion of other people is a sin against this feast – this feast in which we welcome Jesus into our human family just as Jesus welcomes us into the divine family. No matter what our color or creed or any other difference – we belong to one another.
We belong to the family of life, the web of life that permeates planet Earth. That’s why the careless and greedy exploitation of Earth’s limited resources, our consumerism, our pollution of lands, air and water, all these are sins against this feast. We did not weave the web of life we are stands in the web and what we do to the web we do to ourselves and we deny our belonging. We are not the Lords of creation we are emeshed in creation.
Think of Christmas as the great feast of belonging – Jesus belongs to us, he is one with us in our human family – thru Jesus God chose us to be God’s sons and daughters – as we belong to God in Jesus can we make every effort to make all those who come into our lives welcome and accepted? This can be our Christmas challenge.
| Posted in Homily |
My dear Good People, Greetings of joy and peace in God who is always with us!
A heavily wounded four year-old child rescued by medical officers in Aleppo, Syria asked the doctors whether he is going to die. The doctors groped for words to answer his question. However, they were overtaken by the boy’s whimpering caution: “If I die, I will tell God everything!” All the doctors could do is hug him and pour all their expertise to save him.
With so many harrowing events around the world and even in places close to us, we are thrown into states of insecurity and pessimism. In places where tragedies like wars and natural disasters occur, it can be so difficult to continue hoping for goodness in others. Those who are displaced and have to move away from their homes, however, can only force this hope in themselves. They have to carry with them a sustained belief in humanity despite the overwhelming pains and trauma inflicted on them and their helpless children. Providentially, such a belief in humanity is re-affirmed by the warm welcome they receive in our community. The two families who found refuge in our parish have regained strength and optimism as they continue to move on. They find life in this beautiful city of Toronto. I am utterly proud of our community of good people for giving them a new road in life. We have served them God’s mercy and compassion in the flesh.
The touch of home we have given to the aforementioned families is even more heartwarming considering that we also have our own struggles. I am one with the families going through difficult times like those losing their loved ones, suffering from any kind of illnesses, coping with financial challenges, or grappling with marital and other relational issues. I am one with all those who may find this Christmas season hard to celebrate. Rest assured, I keep you all in my prayers and masses with the express request that you all deserve to enjoy the graces of peace and abundance brought by the new-born Christ. Likewise, we prayerfully echo to the world these glad Christmas tidings especially to our sisters and brothers ravaged by armed conflicts. Our prayers are our priceless contributions to the peacekeeping initiatives going on in these war-torn countries.
In our parish, I cannot be more grateful for the collective vibrancy we shared and put into all programs and activities throughout the year. I thank all the parish volunteers who, on top of their day-to-day preoccupations, are still able to share considerable slices of their time, talent and treasure. My heartfelt gratitude also goes to our generous parishioners. At this, I am encouraging everyone to take part of this communal zest inspired by our patron, St. Gabriel of our Lady of Sorrows. I humbly invite all of you to support our parish ministries and programs like making casseroles for the homeless and supporting our young people in their quest to grow in faith and service to other people.
Above all, being your shepherd, I am restless when my people are troubled. Your difficulties are my difficulties. Your joys are my joys. The Year of Mercy may have folded, but our parish community stands amid the boundless and unending mercy of God. Hence, I want to keep you close to my heart in prayer. I have a daily resolution to be your dedicated and committed pastor of our welcoming and beloved parish. I am ever humbled by the task of keeping you in the fold of our Good Shepherd, whose birth we celebrate this season. If the season’s light and joy elude us because of problems and grief, we need not be afraid to follow the boy who cried “I will tell God everything.” With the new-born Christ, I hug you all in prayer and promise with deep faith that God will rescue us all. Thank you for everything and may God bless you all!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Fr. Brando Recaña
The greatest blessing you bring to your family is the presence of God in your life. The fragrance of His presence sweetens the atmosphere of your home. The beauty of His presence warms the relationships within its walls. The joy of His presence lightens every heart. The glory of His presence fills all its chambers with rare and precious treasures.
“From God’s Heart to Yours” by Roy Leesin
Let us pray for one another. May God bless you and yours throughout this Christmas Season. We wish you a happy and peaceful New Year and always try to remember “Holiness is in the ordinary.”
Good People of St. Gabriel’s, I’m not surprised, just overwhelmed by the generosity you’ve shown toward those less fortunate than us this Christmas. The young mothers and their children housed at Rosalie Hall, the many families assisted by our St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Catholic Children’s Aid, and the men fed and clothed at the Good Shepherd Centre have all benefited from the openness of your hearts and hands. Your willingness to share has made life easier for so many families during this holy season. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
December 28th – December 31th 2016
WEDNESDAY – THE CHIU FAMILY – Requested by Bertram Chiu THURSDAY – THE FUNG FAMILY – Requested by Bertram Chiu FRIDAY – FRANCISCO CALIMBAS – Requested by Estrella, Cherrie, Stella & Isabel SATURDAY – EDGARDO, ROLENDO & CELINA – Requested by their Family
We would like to welcome Bishop Robert Kasun, CSB, who was recently appointed Auxiliary Bishop to the Archdiocese of Toronto. We are fortunate to have him here with us to celebrate Mass on January 1st at 10:30 AM.
BOXING DAY – Monday, December 26th Office Closed No 9:00 AM Mass
Tuesday, December 27th Office Closed No 9:00 AM Mass
NEW YEAR’S EVE – Saturday, December 31st 4:30 PM Mass Vigil for Feast of Mary the Mother of God Office Open 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
NEW YEAR’S DAY – Sunday, January 1st Feast of Mary the Mother of God 8:30 AM 10:30 AM 12:30 PM Office Open 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Monday, January 2nd Office Closed No 9:00 AM Mass
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared casseroles for December. For January, your prepared frozen casseroles will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of January 28th/29th 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.
A Marriage Preparation course will be offered here at St. Gabriel’s the weekend of April 21st to 23rd, 2017. 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.
If you are contributing cash to the Offertory Collection without any identification, you will not receive credit for your contribution. You must provide your full name and address.
Please do not use envelopes from a previous year as the number may have been reassigned to another parishioner.
The “Pre-Authorized Giving” Plan (PAG), authorized and supported by the Archdiocese of Toronto, is a direct debit program. It allows parishioners to make their regular offertory donations by automatic monthly bank withdrawal on or about the 20th of each month. PAG brochures and sign-up forms are available in the Parish Office.
Please note: All donations for 2016 must be received in the Parish Office by Friday, December 30th, 2016 to be included in your 2016 Tax Receipt.
December 18th, 2016
Just a thought on our first reading from Isaiah. He was writing about a very political situation going on in his time. Syria, which is so much in the news today, entered into a pact with the northern kingdom of Israel against the kingdom of Judah. They were going to lay siege against Jerusalem. Ahaz was Jerusalem’s king at that time. Isaiah wants Ahaz to know that things will work out in the long run, but he has to trust God. Isaiah offers Ahaz a sign. ‘A young woman is with child, she’ll have a son and he shall be named, Emmanuel. The young woman was one of Ahaz’s wives and her son Hezekiah would be the one to follow his father on the throne. The royal line of David would continue in the kingdom of Judah. A sign that God is still with the people of God.
In our gospel Matthew puts a whole new spin on the promise of Isaiah. Matthew interprets Isaiah through the prism of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus, Emmanuel, is not a product of human evolution but the intervention of our transcendent God into human history. This was the belief on the early Church, the eternal Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst, suffered, died and rose again.
For this wonder to take place God chose two young people from the unimportant town of Nazareth, Mary engaged to Joseph, a carpenter.
God made God’s plan known to Mary through the visit of the angel Gabriel. Her pregnancy would be unique, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you – the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. The young and confused Mary surrenders herself to this mystery with the simple response,’ be it done according to your word.
Mary left home to be with her aged cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant in her old age. When she came home to Nazareth her pregnancy was showing. Image the gossip and scandal in the town. Joseph, to whom Mary was engaged and who loved her dearly probably asked her what happened, who was the father? He found it hard to accept Mary’s explanation. Who wouldn’t? He decided to break the engagement but that was not to be. Young Joseph had a dream and was let in on the divine plan. This was all the work of God. Mary’s child would be Emmanuel – God with us. The young and confused Joseph added his ‘yes’ to Mary’s and our Christmas event begins to unfold.
Mary and Joseph were still in their teens when God intruded into their lives. But both Mary and Joseph did three things in their encounter with God. They listened, they trusted and they loved. They listened to what God was asking of them. They listened to what was beyond their imagining that they were invited to work with God in something only God could understand. Then they trusted. That must have been the hardest, to trust, as God’s plan unfolded in their lives. They trusted when they faced the dangers and hardships as they traveled to Bethlehem and found there was no place to stay and delivered their son in a shelter for animals. They trusted when they had to flee to another country to save the child’s life.
Imagine the trust demanded of Mary as she stood by the cross and looked at the beaten and diminished body of her son and remembered the promise of the Angel, ‘he will be great and will be called son of the Most High and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David, his kingdom will have no end.’ Looking at the crucified body of her son Mary faced the exact opposite of these promised and yet she trusted.
Mary and Joseph listened, trusted and loved. They certainly love each other; otherwise Joseph would have taken off when he discovered Mary’s pregnancy. They certainly loved the son Jesus and they certainly loved God.
Cardinal Newman wrote of himself, ‘God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me, which He has not committed to another. I have my mission.” We all have something to do in life that no one else can do. It may be great, it may be very ordinary, but it is ours just as Mary and Joseph had their definite to God.
When Mary and Joseph were presented with their missions they listened, they trusted and the loved. When, in God’s time we discover our mission may we be blessed with the grace to listen, to trust and to love and do whatever God calls us to do.
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.
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Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk