December 25th, 2016
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.
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.
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 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.
| Posted in Bulletin |
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.
| Posted in Homily |
December 17th, 2016
Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!” Amen. Fr. Henri J.M. Nouwen
December 19th – December 23rd, 2011
MONDAY – BONA KIM – Requested by Suzanne Kim TUESDAY – SPECIAL INTENTION – Requested by Suzanne Kim WEDNESDAY – ROB ARSENEAU – Requested by Cheryl & Max THURSDAY – DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE CHIU FAMILY – Requested by Bertram Chiu FRIDAY – DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE FUNG FAMILY – Requested by the Bertram Chiu
Rehearsal: Sunday, December 18th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Each year, young people, Grade 3 and up, form a special choir for the Family Mass on Christmas Eve. Children must be at the Church by 6:00 PM. One rehearsal, which is mandatory, will be held on Sunday, December 20th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.
Please call Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041 for more information
Sunday, December 18th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM
Each year a Nativity pageant takes place at the 7:00 PM Family Mass. S.K. to Grade 5 children are invited to participate in the pageant. The rehearsal will be held on Sunday, December 18th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM in the Church
CHRISTMAS EVE – Saturday, December 24th
4:30 PM Vigil Mass – Carol Singing 7:00 PM Family Mass – Carol Singing 9:00 PM Adult Choir – Carol Singing 12:00 AM Midnight Mass – Contemporary Group Office Open 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
CHRISTMAS DAY – Sunday, December 25th 8:30 AM 10:30 AM 12:30 PM Office Open 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM
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.
Weekend of December 17th/18th
Your prepared frozen casseroles will be collected at the Masses this weekend for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre on Monday, December 19th. Please note that because of the holiday, casseroles are being collected two weeks earlier.
More volunteers are urgently needed to help feed the hungry in our city. Please get a copy of a casserole recipe and a pan and give it a try. 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 the food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.
Christmas time is a particularly difficult time for young families and the homeless of Toronto. Your food donations are a sign that somebody cares. Please continue to help these very worthwhile organizations.
We remind you to check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your generous ongoing support.
Monday, Dec. 19th at 7:00 PM
Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge Street
“An Advent Invitation – Come together with others in a creative reflective space for a time of reflection and conversation to explore how the season of Advent might offer us hope in our healing journey through grief. This evening with Anne Williams, MAMS, DSD invites participants to embrace the Sacred within their own being and to open themselves to the new life waiting to emerge. For more information, please call New Beginnings at 416-921-1163 ext. 2235”
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.
Weekly Offertory
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week. Collection for last weekend: Envelopes 370 $ 7,690 Loose Change 1,019 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 165 3,055 Total 533 $ 11,764
The 2017 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are now available in the Gathering Space. Please pick your box up as soon as possible.
December 11th, 2016
As we come closer to the feast of Christmas the pace quickens. We’ll get caught up in the famous Christmas rush, only so many shopping days til Christmas. Remember the song, ”Slow down you’re going too fast, you’ve got to make the moment last.” All this Christmas rush brings out the worst in us. We get upset by the slowness of the service at the checkout counters. “What’s the hold up, why is that cashier so slow?” Why is that red traffic light taking so long to turn green? Why is this line so long? Why is this bus so slow?
We want instant service in the stores, instant gratification in our relationships, instant answers to the ‘whys’ of our lives. We want instant healing from an illness, instant answers to our prayers, instant faith to our doubts. We try to be patient with ourselves as we struggle with our faults and failing, try to be patient with the dullness of our prayer life. The list goes on and on.
Advent can be a season that teaches ‘patience’. The Jewish people wait patiently for that fullness of time when the Messiah is to come. Mary patiently spent nine months waiting for the birth of her promised son. Jesus lived patiently working in Nazareth waiting til it was time to begin his Father’s work. He patiently endured the dullness of his disciples as they struggled to understand his parables.
In our second reading James encourages the people to be patient for the coming of the Lord. It took a while for all the Apostles to realize that the second coming of Jesus was not as immanent as the thought and hoped. No one knows the day nor the hour. James puts before us the example of the patient farmer who trusted his seeds to the earth. He waits patiently as the warm, wet soil slowly brakes down the seed’s hard crust and lets the life force within begins to sprout and grow, first the stock, then the head and then the full grain in the head fit for the harvest. The farmer knows he can’t rush the process. He waits patiently for things to take their course.
What do we want? PATIENCE?! When do we want it? NOW!
Lots of luck.
December 10th, 2016
December 12th to December 17th 2016
MONDAY – HELEN CHAN – Requested by Shella Tang TUESDAY – LOUISE MUSCAT – Requested by Lina Abela Pulis & Christopher Muscat WEDNESDAY – CAROLINA CAETANO-MACDONNELL – Requested by the Family THURSDAY – HARRY LEUNG – Requested by Mary Leung FRIDAY – TOMMASO RUSCICA – Requested by the Family SATURDAY – UMBERTO INTINI – Requested by Chiara & Tina Intini
Sunday, December 18th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM
S.K. to Grade 5 children are invited to participate in the pageant. The rehearsal will be held on Sunday, December 18th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM in the Church
Thank you so much for your wonderful response to our appeal for gifts for the Catholic Children’s Aid “Hope for the Children campaign, Rosalie Hall and St. Vincent de Paul. This weekend is your last chance to bring in gifts. Please include the mitten, stocking or gift tag with your gift.
All items may be left beside the Christmas tree in the boxes provided. If you were unable to get a tag, you may still contribute. Just bring your gift and place it in the appropriate place.
Your prepared frozen casseroles will be collected at the Masses next weekend for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. Please note that because of the holidays, casseroles are being collected two weeks earlier.
We remind you to check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.
Food donations may be placed in the bin provided in the Gathering Space. Thank you for your generous ongoing support.
Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend.
Regular ground coffee: $5.50 Decaffeinated: $6 Whole Beans: $5.50 Chocolate Bars: $4.50 incl. Taxes Hot Chocolate and Cocoa: $6.00 Teas: $5.00
Collecting Stamps
This is a wonderful time of year to collect stamps from your Christmas cards and letters to give to Effect Hope, the Leprosy Mission of Canada, who are renowned for their effectiveness in the prevention, detection and treatment of leprosy. They are helping people to rebuild their lives. If you wish to help, your stamps may be left in the basket outside of the office.
Commencing on Friday, December 16th at 6:00 AM
Blessed Trinity Parish, 3220 Bayview Avenue
Beginning on December 16th at 6:00 AM, there will be a Nine-Day Novena Mass in preparation for Christmas. Mass at dawn is a centuries old Filipino tradition offered to the Blessed Virgin Mary, honouring her motherhood.
Mary said ‘YES” and became the instrument for God to bring Christ into the world, Our Saviour – God born in the flesh! Coffee and tea will be served after Mass in the parish hall, and it is requested that you bring something to eat for breakfast (sandwich, danish or bagel) before beginning your day. Everyone is welcome.
An Advent Invitation – Come together with others in a creative reflective space for a time of reflection and conversation to explore how the season of Advent might offer us hope in our healing journey through grief. This evening with Anne Williams, MAMS, DSD invites participants to embrace the Sacred within their own being and to open themselves to the new life waiting to emerge. For more information, please call New Beginnings at 416-921-1163 ext. 223.
MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE
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.
With 2016 coming to a close, the St. Gabriel’s Parish Youth Group is excited to share the many experiences in which we have partaken in the past few months.
At our first meeting in September, our youth group welcomed almost 35 new members, with 60 youth in attendance. To allow our members to bond, we have gone bowling together as a group and also had an evening of games, music, and food at our Winter Fair Social.
Our youth group also held two fundraisers here at St. Gabriel’s. For Halloween, we screened the new Ghostbusters movie, with popcorn generously donated by Cineplex Fairview Mall. In total we raised $153.00. Last month, the youth handcrafted and raffled off two Advent wreaths. Congratulations to our winners, Margaret O’Rourke and Teresa Sheldrick. The money raised totaled to $484.00, which will help cover the youth’s expenses in attending the Steubenville Conference this summer.
In October, our youth group planted trees at Cedarvale Park and Pineway Park, helping to promote environmental sustainability in the city. For our second outreach initiative, we contributed Winter Care packages which consisted of hats, scarves, socks and gloves. Our youth journeyed through the streets of downtown Toronto together to hand out the packages, helping almost 50 people stay warm this winter.
This month, the youth group is looking forward to experiencing Eucharistic Adoration in this season of Advent and to celebrate Christmastime together with a Potluck dinner. We are also excited to lead the Nativity Pageant at the 7:00 PM Christmas Eve Mass.
I would like to thank the youth group members for all their hard work and dedication, especially the Core Team members: Alliyah, Catherine, Christine, Eric, Erika, Janna, and Megan. As well, thank you to Fr. John, Fr. Brando, Francis Ng, Marilyn Calderone, Alicia Escobar, Leslie Tan-Man Wong, Sylvia Ha, and Paul Royes for their guidance and support. I also would like to express my gratitude to you, the parishioners, for your generous support of our Halloween Fundraiser and Advent Wreath Raffle.
I look forward to what 2017 brings for the youth here at St. Gabriel’s Parish. Any youth Grades 5 and up who are interested in joining the youth group may contact us at sgpyouthgroup@gmail.com.On behalf of the youth group I would like to wish you all a very safe, warm, and joyful Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Nikki Malunas, Youth Minister
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week. Collection for last weekend: Envelopes 380 8,040 Loose Change 846 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 163 3,025 Total 543 $ 11,911
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2017
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
