Bulletin – April 24, 2016

April 23rd, 2016

FROM THE DESK OF FR. BRANDO

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Thank you, good people, for your overwhelming response to the appeal for help from Fr. Rey Ondap in the Philippines.

A total of $34,321 was collected. Your caring and generous support towards the Indigenous People of the Philippines will make a great impact on their lives as they face the difficult challenge brought by El Niño.

Your financial assistance will be used entirely to provide basic provisions for their needs. There’s no doubt that the need is huge. However, your staggering support will help to alleviate their desperate situation.

Thank you again for your compassionate support. I pray that the good Lord may bless you and your family.

WELCOME! BAPTISM

The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome:
Max Rorey Alonsagay-Tacay
James Thomas Barbetta
Isabella Stella Brennan
Sophie Etiembre
Zoe Isabella Grant
Cristian Marko Harispuru
Ovie Jeremiah Mayomi
Enajite Florence Mayomi

These children received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, April 17th, 2016. Congratulations!

CHILDREN’S FAITH PROGRAM

Registration forms for the Children’s Faith Program are now available in the parish office. This program is for children of the Parish who attend public or private schools. Classes are held at St. Gabriel’s School every second Sunday beginning September 11th, 2016.

Please note that a separate Sacramental registration form is required if your child will receive the sacraments of First Communion, Reconciliation or Confirmation during the 2016/17 year.

MILK BAG WORKSHOP

Tuesday May 17th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM
Gabriel Room

Hello fellow parishioners,I have booked the St. Gabriel’s Room for Tues. May 17th for our next weaving event. We will try to weave from 1:00 to 3:00 or 4ish as long as our energy and supplies last.

Thank you to those that took bags home to cut…. I have already received some back!! Hope to see you next month and feel free to bring a friend.

Sharon Gusz

ANNOUNCED MASSES

April 25th to April 30th, 2016

MONDAY – MARGARET CHAN – Requested by Agnes Wong
TUESDAY – MARCELINO FERNANDES – Requested by Tita Fernandes
WEDNESDAY – GERARD WALSH – Requested by his Family
THURSDAY – MARGARET MULLANE – Requested by Margaret Anne Leckie & Mary Alice O’Mahony
FRIDAY – ALLAN PERSAUD – Requested by the Persaud & Goldenberg Families
SATURDAY – VICTOR JOSEPH – Requested by Margaret & Family

CONFIRMATION

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday, May 15th for students in Grades 7, 9, 10 and 11 and Sunday June 5th for students in Grade 8 at 7:30 PM at St. Gabriel’s Church. In preparation for this Sacrament, a Confirmation Retreat will be held on Saturday, May 14th 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.

ECO – SABBATH

Sunday, May 1st at 11:30 AM in the Gabriel Room

On the first Sunday of each month, the Passionist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality facilitates a 30 minute reflection and discussion prompted by the readings for that Sunday’s liturgy. All are welcome to attend.

ROSARY GROUPS

Chinese: Sunday, May 1st at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room.
English: Saturday, May 7th at 3:15 PM in the Gabriel Room.

For information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.

PLANNING TO BE A CATHOLIC TEACHER?

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.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK 2016

May 1st to May 7th

Catholic Education Week 2016 begins on Sunday, May 1. You are invited to discover what celebrations are happening in your children’s school to celebrate the ongoing gift of publicly-funded Catholic education and if possible, attend. Publicly-funded Catholic education has existed in Ontario since 1841 and its graduates have served Ontario and Canada very well. The current generation of students in our publicly-funded Catholic schools serve with the same spirit and generosity as their previous generations.

Pope Francis has declared 2016 a “Holy Year of Mercy” as a way for the Catholic church to “make more evident, its mission to be a witness of mercy”. The Holy Year began on December 8, 2015 and will be celebrated until November 20, 2016. Throughout the year, there will be a series of jubilee celebrations on the theme of mercy for teenagers, deacons, the sick and disabled, prisoners, catechists and clergy.

As well, Pope Francis opened the Vatican’s Holy Door on December 8th. The Holy Door is opened to evoke the concept of forgiveness which is the main focus of a Holy Year. The theme God’s mercy is illustrated in fifteen of the sixteen bronze panels that make up the Vatican Door. There are seven such Holy Doors in the world, including one in Quebec City.

Catholic Education Week 2016 combines both the theme of mercy and the act of opening doors of reconciliation, mercy and forgiveness to all around us.

SHARELIFE

Working wonders for our new arrivals in Canada…

“As an Iraqi Christian, the Office for Refugees (ORAT) has provided me with the opportunity to meet other people who have experienced the same thing that I have. We are able to help support each other in this new journey to Canada and without ORAT, I do not know where I would be today. It is possible I would still be in Jordan, afraid for my life, unable to practice my religion, and under threat of deportation. The work that ORAT did truly gave me hope and a chance at life free from persecution and fear. ORAT has also invited me to volunteer with them, and I am even able to sponsor a new person or family to come to Canada with their help.”
Sara, a Christian refugee from Iraq.

Since 2009, ShareLife-supported ORAT has sponsored over 2,500 families to be resettled in the GTA.

ShareLife to date: $103,312
Next ShareLife Sunday is May 29th.
Please give generously.
You can work wonders!

FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Each month food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Your donations are very much needed and appreciated. Thank you for your generous support

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL BUNDLE-UP COLLECTION

Weekend of May 7th/8th

The Society for St. Vincent de Paul will hold their annual Bundle Up Collection on the weekend of May 7th/8th. Bring your gently used clothing, household linens, shoes and small household goods to share with others. Appliances, furniture and books cannot be accepted.

A St. Vincent de Paul truck will be in the Church parking lot to receive donations. The truck will be open in the parking lot on Saturday, May 7th from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. and Sunday, May 8th until 1:00 P.M.

Volunteers will assist with the loading before and after each Mass. The Society will donate, exchange for vouchers or sell these donations to support their outreach efforts. Thank you for your continued support.

MEAGAN’S WALK – CREATING A CIRCLE OF HOPE

5km Fundraising Walk and Hug
Saturday, May 7th, 2016
Registration from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at Fort York
10:00 A.M. Walk to SickKids

On Saturday, May 7th, the fifteenth annual Meagan’s Walk: -Creating a Circle of Hope will take place.
Registration opens at 8:30 A.M. at Fort York, followed by family activities and entertainment. 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.

FAITH FINANCE & SELF-KNOWLEDGE

A Catholic Young Adult Seminar
Saturday, May 7th, from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM.
Gabriel Room, St. Gabriel’s Church

You are invited to attend a Catholic young adult seminar, “Faith, Finance and Self- Knowledge” being held here at St. Gabriel’s on Saturday May 7th from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM.

Guest speakers include Fr. Brando Recana CP, Quentin Schesnik and Rose Heron. The cost of $15 includes lunch. Space is limited. To register, please contact Pauline at pauline.susanto@gmail.com.

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Collection for April 17th, 2016:
Envelopes 402 $ 7,610
Loose Change 1,158
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 165 3,034
Total 567 $ 11,802

Please inform the Parish Office if you have changed your address or are moving out of the Parish so that we may update our records.

If you have prior year’s offertory envelopes, please do not use them! Each year we go through the unused envelopes for which no donations have been received and may reassign that number to another parishioner.

Homily – April 17, 2016

April 16th, 2016

In our first reading we heard about the rejection of Paul and his companions by the leaders of the synagogue in Antioch. Paul responds by telling them they’ve had their chance to hear the good news of Jesus and that by refusing to listen, they were the losers. Paul would take his message to the Gentiles.

The Gentiles were non Jewish people and were considered as of less value to those who saw themselves as the people of God. Gentiles were shunned by Jews and any Jew who socialized with them was considered to be in danger of being contaminated by pagan ways. But the Gentiles were good men and women who lived their lives according to their own lights and beliefs.

Who are the gentiles of today? Who are the people who need to hear the good news that they are important to God, acceptable to God, loved by God and their lives would be different if God was important to them. Today’s Gentiles could be unchurched men and women, friends we know who may have come from a catholic or non- catholic family background but were only exposed to a primitive form of religious education. Or they are people we’ve called ‘recovering Catholics’, good men and women who were raised in a very strict family or experienced an unbending parish life, good people who were never encouraged to think for themselves but to do what they were told, good people who won’t go back to the old ways and mind sets. Today’s Gentiles are successful career oriented young people who are living the good life but are totally un interested in God or the things of God. Then there are men and women who lived in good parishes and went to catholic schools but now are totally indifferent to life in the church. We have good people totally scandalize by the sexual crimes of priests and the cover-up or denial of bishops and want nothing to do with the church. These are all good people.

On this Sunday we are asked to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. It’s no secret we have a shortage of vocations in our archdiocese and in every diocese in Canada. At different times I’ve asked young men in the parish if they ever thought of becoming a priest. They look at me as if I was out of my mind. Personally I’m happy to be a priest, always have been, because my priesthood has been blessed and supported by good people like you.

By our baptism we are all members of the priesthood of all believers. Priests preach the good news of Jesus Christ who died on the cross to restore us to the life and love of God. Every one of us is to witness to the truth of God’s love for all by how we live out our own faith. As one saying goes ‘we may be the only bible people will ever read ‘ or as St. Francis is supposed to have said, ‘ preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words.’ We are all meant to draw other people to God and Jesus by the way we live our own Catholic Christian faith, by what we say, by what we do, by the way we relate to others.

We are to make our faith authentic; believable to others by the way we live this Mass outside these walls. We make our faith convictions attractive to others when in our social life or places of work we refuse to tolerate expressions of bigotry, misogyny, racism or homophobia. We make our faith authentic when we get involved in the struggles of the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the beaten down men, women and children of Toronto.

Could we imagine that can follow the example of Paul and Barnabas and reach out to the Gentiles in our lives and through the simple, unpretentious living of our lives lure them back to a vital relationship with Christ in the family of our church?

Think about it.

Bulletin – April 17, 2016

April 16th, 2016

URGENT APPEAL FROM THE PASSIONIST MISSION IN THE PHILIPPINES

We have just received an urgent appeal for help from Father Rey Ondap, a Passionist priest working in Mindanao of the Philippines. Because of the effects of El Niño, there was little or no rain for the whole growing season this year. Crops have failed miserably. The situation among the indigenous people there is most dire. At least 3,500 families, many children among them, are suffering from starvation and other forms of illnesses brought about by the drought.

Father Ondap is trying to raise funds to buy rice and other supplies for these affected communities in the mission areas, so that they can deal with this emergency situation. If you would like to help, you can drop off your donations in the box provided in the Gathering Space this weekend.

In order to receive appropriate tax credit, please include your offering in an envelope with your full name, address and/or envelope number.

PALLIATIVE CARE – NOT ASSISTED SUICIDE

There is a compelling need for palliative care in Ontario. Recently, Cardinal Collins mentioned in his address to all parishes that less than 30% of those needing end-of-life care can find it. Availability of palliative care is what is needed not doctor-assisted-suicide.

We are a small group of parishioners and health care professionals who have a vision to care for people needing inpatient palliative care. Our plan is to create a place where patients and their families will receive care imbued with the value of compassion and which provides total care from physical, social and spiritual care. Setting up hospices will be an effective way to achieve this objective and to this end we are engaging communities and organizations that have similar values. We need people with a diversity of backgrounds to realize this dream. If you are interested in volunteering with us please contact Bob Parke or Ron Forbe at hospiceprojects@gmail.com or call 416-577-1406.

CHILDREN’S FAITH PROGRAM
CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP

The St. Gabriel’s Children’s Faith Program is a Parish faith program for children in Grade SK to 8 who attend Public and Private schools.

We are in need of volunteers to serve as coordinator of the program and as class teachers and assistants. If you are interested please call 416-221-8866 ext 224, email francisng@bellnet.ca or leave your name and contact number with the parish office.

MILK BAG WORKSHOP

Tuesday May 17th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM
Gabriel Room

Hello fellow parishioners, I have booked the St. Gabriel’s Room for Tues. May 17 for our next weaving event. We will try to weave from 1:00 – 3:00 or 4ish as long as our energy and supplies last….

Thank you to those that took bags home to cut…. I have already received some back!! Hope to see you next month and feel free to bring a friend.
Sharon Gusz

ANNOUNCED MASSES

April 18th to April 23rd, 2016

MONDAY – LORENZO GRECH & SEBASTIANO PADOVA – Requested by the Grech Family
TUESDAY – BERNIE CABRERA – Requested by Olivia Cabrera
WEDNESDAY – ANTHONY O. B. YEUNG – Requested by Agnes Wong
THURSDAY – HUI SOU LIN – Requested by Linda Law & Family
FRIDAY – LEONARD MARCHIE – Requested by Teresa Marchie & Family
SATURDAY – THOMAS DONAGHY – Requested by Siobhan Donaghy

PLANNING TO BE A CATHOLIC TEACHER?

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.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL BUNDLE-UP COLLECTION

Weekend of May 7th/8th

The Society for St. Vincent de Paul will hold their annual Bundle Up Collection on the weekend of May 7th/8th. Bring your gently used clothing, household linens, shoes and small household goods to share with others. Appliances, furniture and books cannot be accepted.

A St. Vincent de Paul truck will be in the Church parking lot to receive donations. The truck will be open in the parking lot on Saturday, May 7th from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. and Sunday, May 8th until 1:00 P.M.

Volunteers will assist with the loading before and after each Mass. The Society will donate, exchange for vouchers or sell these donations to support their outreach efforts. Thank you for your continued support.

FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

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.

SHARELIFE

“The ShareLife campaign provides for the needs of our social service agencies, helps our 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 regardless of their religious beliefs or personal background. ShareLife agencies meet people where they are, treating them with the dignity and respect we all deserve.”
Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto.

ShareLife to date: $85,256
Today is ShareLife Sunday. Please give generously.
You can work wonders!

NEW BEGINNINGS – LIVING WITH LONELINESS

Monday, April 18th at 6:30 PM

Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge Street, 4th Floor

You are invited to attend an upcoming Inspirational Talk “Living With Loneliness” which will be held on Monday, April 18th at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge St., 4th Floor. The talk will begin at 6:30 PM.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN CLIMATE CHANGE?

Pope Francis and the Quest for an Integral Ecology
Tuesday, April 19th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Leaside Library, 165 McRae Drive

Join Dr. Stephen Scharper as he speaks on the above subject. Dr. Scharper is a professor of religion and the environment at the University of Toronto and a Toronto Star columnist. Author of For Earth’s Sake: Toward a Compassionate Ecology.

Refreshments will be served. Please join us for an evening of interesting conversation.

For more information contact St. Anselm’s Ecology Group at stanselmecology@gmail.com.

NEW BEGINNINGS SPRING RETREAT

Saturday, April 23rd from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM

St Bonaventure’s Parish, 1300 Leslie Street
The New Beginnings Spring Retreat, entitled, “Nurturing Seeds of Hope in all the Seasons of Life” will take place on Saturday, April 23rd at St. Bonaventure’s 1300 Leslie Street from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

MEAGAN’S WALK – CREATING A CIRCLE OF HOPE

5km Fundraising Walk and Hug
Saturday, May 7th, 2016
Registration from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at Fort York
10:00 A.M. Walk to SickKids

On Saturday, May 7th, the fifteenth annual Meagan’s Walk: -Creating a Circle of Hope will take place.
Registration opens at 8:30 A.M. at Fort York, followed by family activities and entertainment. 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.

FAITH FINANCE & SELF-KNOWLEDGE

A Catholic Young Adult Seminar
Saturday, May 7th, from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM.
Gabriel Room, St. Gabriel’s Church

You are invited to attend a Catholic young adult seminar, “Faith, Finance and Self- Knowledge” being held here at St. Gabriel’s on Saturday May 7th from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM.

Guest speakers include Fr. Brando Recana CP, Quentin Schesnik and Rose Heron. The cost of $15 includes lunch. Space is limited. To register, please contact Pauline at pauline.susanto@gmail.com.

A DATE TO REMEMBER: CATHOLIC SPEED DATING — CELTIC EDITION

Saturday, May 14th from 6:30 PM. to 9:00 PM

Newman Centre, 89 St George St, Toronto

Faith Connections and the Newman Young Adult Ministry invite single young adults (18-39) to a Catholic Speed Dating evening! Tickets are $35. Those registered will be divided into age groups. ID will be required. This event will be followed by a Celtic Ceilidh Dance Social!

Space is limited. Registration is required by May 8th. To register, call Vanessa Nicholas-Schmidt at 416-467-2645 or visit www.faithconnections.ca — a ministry of Fontbonne Ministries, Sisters of St. Joseph, Toronto.

FREE ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR

Wednesday, May 18th at 7:00 PM

Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home & Cemetery, Thornhill

Catholic Cemeteries and the Archdiocese estate planning team will share information about:
How to protect your loved ones with a proper will
How to ensure your wishes are legally protected
Powers of Attorney
The advantage of pre-arranging funeral, burial and cremation
The cost savings of making an estate plan
Finding lawyers and estate planning advisors
Our Catholic traditions around wills, burials and funerals.

An estate planning kit will be provided at no cost. Refreshments will be provided.

RSVP to Frank Jannetta, Catholic Cemeteries at 416.733-8544 ext. 2023 or fjannetta@cc-fs.ca.

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Collection for April 10th, 2016:
Envelopes 418 $ 7,894
Loose Change 817
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 165 3,034
Total 583 $ 11,745

Please inform the Parish Office if you have changed your address or are moving out of the Parish so that we may update our records.

If you have prior year’s offertory envelopes, please do not use them! Each year we go through the unused envelopes for which no donations have been received and may reassign that number to another parishioner.

Bulletin – April 10, 2016

April 9th, 2016

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION

“Volunteers are the Roots of Strong Communities”
Quoted from National Volunteer Week website, to be held from April 10-16, 2016

St. Gabriel’s volunteers are kindly invited to a recognition celebration this Sunday from to 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM in the Gathering Space.

The parish wishes to thank you for your involvement in enriching its life. Father Brando and the Pastoral Team look forward to seeing you.

PALLIATIVE CARE – NOT ASSISTED SUICIDE

There is a compelling need for palliative care in Ontario. Recently, Cardinal Collins mentioned in his address to all parishes that less than 30% of those needing end-of-life care can find it. Availability of palliative care is what is needed not doctor-assisted-suicide.

We are a small group of parishioners and health care professionals who have a vision to care for people needing inpatient palliative care. Our plan is to create a place where patients and their families will receive care imbued with the value of compassion and which provides total care from physical, social and spiritual care. Setting up hospices will be an effective way to achieve this objective and to this end we are engaging communities and organizations that have similar values. We need people with a diversity of backgrounds to realize this dream. If you are interested in volunteering with us please contact Bob Parke or Ron Forbe at hospiceprojects@gmail.com or call 416-577-1406.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

April 11th to April 16th 2016

MONDAY – LUDMILA CZORNIAK – Requested by Helen Dimoska
TUESDAY – BERNARD LUK – Requested by Teresa Marchie
WEDNESDAY – ANGELA WRIGHT – Requested by Margaret Anne Leckie & Mary Alice O’Mahony
THURSDAY – WALTER DI NARDO – Requested by Pasqua DiNardo & Family
FRIDAY – PAULINE LAM – Requested by Agnes Wong
SATURDAY – EDGARDO RECANA – Requested by his Family

CHILDREN’S FAITH PROGRAM
CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP

The St. Gabriel’s Children’s Faith Program is a Parish faith program for children in Grade SK to 8 who attend Public and Private schools.

We are in need of volunteers to serve as coordinator of the program and as class teachers and assistants. If you are interested please call 416-221-8866 ext 224, email francisng@bellnet.ca or leave your name and contact number with the parish office.

FIRST COMMUNION INTERVIEWS

Interviews for children who wish to receive their First Communion are now being scheduled. Those children attending the Children’s Faith Program, private schools or others are asked to choose one of the following dates: April 13th, 14th , 19th, 20th .21st, 27th or 28th

Children from St. Gabriel’s School are asked to choose one of the following dates: May 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 17th, 18th, 19th or 20th.

Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 as soon as possible to book your appointment with Fr. Brando.

URGENT APPEAL FROM THE PASSIONIST MISSION IN THE PHILIPPINES

We have just received an urgent appeal for help from Father Ondap, a Passionist priest working in Mindanao of the Philippines. Because of the effects of El Niño, there was little or no rain for the whole growing season this year. Crops have failed miserably. The situation among the indigenous people there is most dire. At least 3,100 families, many children among them, are suffering from starvation and other forms of illnesses brought about by the drought.

Father Ondap is trying to raise funds to buy rice and other supplies for these affected communities in the mission areas, so that they can deal with this emergency situation. If you would like to help, for this weekend and the next, you can drop off your donations in the box provided in the Gathering Space.

In order to receive appropriate tax credit, please include your offering in an envelope with your full name, address and/or envelope number.

SHARELIFE

Working wonders in our neighbourhoods…

“I would like to take this opportunity to encourage the community of Peel to be a part of the healing journey with Catholic Family Services of Peel-Dufferin (CFSPD). It’s a great organization that demonstrates care, support and compassion toward our well-being and healing processes. Since I began with this agency, it has been a transformational experience. I have gained so much knowledge and insight about myself and others and have made great friends and enjoy meeting new people. I would like to thank ShareLife and CFSPD for allowing me this opportunity to be part of their family and am very grateful for all the services they provided for me and the community at large.”
—Debbie, a client of the CFSPD sistering program.

Over 39,000 individuals received help in getting their lives back on track through ShareLife-supported family services programs.

ShareLife to date: $83,726
ShareLife Sunday is next Sunday, April 17th, 2016.

Please give generously.
You can work wonders!

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL BUNDLE-UP COLLECTION

Weekend of May 7th/8th

The Society for St. Vincent de Paul will hold their annual Bundle Up Collection on the weekend of May 7th/8th. Bring your gently used clothing, household linens, shoes and small household goods to share with others. Appliances, furniture and books cannot be accepted.

A St. Vincent de Paul truck will be in the Church parking lot to receive donations. The truck will be open in the parking lot on Saturday, May 7th from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. and Sunday, May 8th until 1:00 P.M. Volunteers will assist with the loading before and after each Mass. The Society will donate, exchange for vouchers or sell these donations to support their outreach efforts. Thank you for your continued support.

JUST COFFEE

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: $5.00

FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

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.

HIKE AND PRAYER: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE DOORS OF MERCY

Saturday, April 16th, from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM
(followed by Mass)
Starting at St. Paul’s Basilica, 83 Power St, Toronto

Young adults (ages 18-39) are invited to join the Sisters of St. Joseph for an opportunity to reflect on and embrace God’s mercy. Together you will celebrate this jubilee year by passing through the Holy Doors of St. Paul’s Basilica and St. Patrick’s Parish (as designated by the Archdiocese). There will be an opportunity to learn about the holy doors, pray & reflect, and receive the sacraments of Reconciliation & Holy Eucharist. Children welcome! RSVPs appreciated. To register, please call Vanessa Nicholas-Schmidt at 416-467-2645 or go to faithconnections@csj-to.ca.

NEW BEGINNINGS – LIVING WITH LONELINESS

Monday, April 18th at 6:30 PM
Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge Street, 4th Floor

You are invited to attend an upcoming Inspirational Talk “Living With Loneliness” which will be held on Monday, April 18th at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge St., 4th Floor. The talk will begin at 6:30 PM.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND

Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre
April 15th to 17th

Celebrate your love and take a fresh look at your marriage! Spend a very special weekend together. A weekend of discovery… a lifetime of love.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a weekend getaway that helps married couples rediscover themselves as individuals and as a couple. The weekend format helps couples communicate openly and honestly without group sharing, therapy or marriage counseling.

For more information please go to www.wwme.org or contact Gerard & Marge McCauley at 905-792-1925.

NEW BEGINNINGS SPRING RETREAT

Saturday, April 23rd from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
St Bonaventure’s Parish, 1300 Leslie Street

The New Beginnings Spring Retreat, entitled, “Nurturing Seeds of Hope in all the Seasons of Life” will take place on Saturday, April 23rd at St. Bonaventure’s 1300 Leslie Street from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

MEAGAN’S WALK – CREATING A CIRCLE OF HOPE

5km Fundraising Walk and Hug
Saturday, May 7th, 2016
Registration from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at Fort York
10:00 A.M. Walk to SickKids

On Saturday, May 7th, the fifteenth annual Meagan’s Walk: -Creating a Circle of Hope will take place.
Registration opens at 8:30 A.M. at Fort York, followed by family activities and entertainment. The Walk begins at 10:00 AM. and concludes at SickKids with the “Hug”.

Proceeds from this event support the SickKids Foundation and are designated to the Meagan Bebenek Endowment Fund and awareness, research and treatment of paediatric brain tumours at SickKids.

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Collection for April 3rd, 2016:
Envelopes 370 $ 7,854
Loose Change 1,144
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 165 3,034
Total 535 $ 12,032

Please inform the Parish Office if you have changed your address or are moving out of the Parish so that we may update our records.

Homily – April 10, 2016

April 9th, 2016

We can just imagine the guilt that plagued Peter after he denied Jesus three times, one time swearing with an oath that he did not Jesus. Peter promised he would die with Jesus but never deny him. He was totally ashamed of himself. Jesus has called him a rock but he knew Peter was more like quick sand yet he wanted to build his church on this mistake making being he named Peter. Even when the risen Christ showed himself to the apostles after his resurrection we can imagine Peter couldn’t look Jesus in the eye he was so ashamed of himself.

In today’s gospel we heard of another of Jesus’ appearances to the apostles. Peter was a fisherman and he had a family to feed and so, for all the excitement in his life, he had to get back to work. Peter and his companions labored all night but still their nets were empty. Jesus calls to them from the shore and directs them to the other side of the boat and that’s what gave such a great catch.

Peter jumps into the water to quickly wade to shore and greet Jesus who has prepared them a breakfast of fish and bread. Jesus is about give Peter another chance asking him the simple question, ‘do you love me’? But he asks the same question three times to erase Peter’s three denials with his ‘yes Lord I love you, you know I love you.’ Each time Jesus tells Peter he is to demonstrate that love by service: “Feed my sheep, my lambs.” Wishing to show us how we demonstrate our love for him, Christ the Lord made it plain that it is by our concern and care for others.. Peter’s place in Christ’s community was made firm with the commands ‘feed by lambs, feed my sheep.’ Christ restores a humbled but forgiven Peter to his place as rock and shepherd.

Now we come to that part of today’s gospel that has a lot to say about many of us here. ‘When you were younger you used to fasten your belt and go wherever you wished. But when you grow old you will stretch out your hands and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’

I think this is a great description of old age. When we were young we had so much independence, we went where we wanted to go and did what we wanted to do. Not so much anymore. At this stage in our lives, whether we like it or not, we stretch out our hands, and let others bind them and take us where we rather would not go.

At one time or another it will be our time to let go. It won’t be easy, we may be resentful that we’ve come to this and resist it all as long as we can. Hopefully we won’t let ourselves become bitter and resentful toward those who are concerned about our well being. We might be tempted to feel we are unappreciated, we’re taking up space, we’re a burden, we’re disposal, like worn out slippers.

These feelings can be real but they are not true. Let’s face it, the time will come when we are asked to hand over the keys to our car and lose our freedom of mobility. We may have to give up the home in which we raised our families and move into a retirement home taking with us a few mementos of our past. We may have to use a cane of a walker. My doctor wants me to use a cane and I told him I don’t want to use one. He asked me, ‘why not’ and I told him, ‘I’m too proud’ and he asked me. ‘And what is it that comes before the fall?’ We may have to get stronger glasses or those hearing aids that never seem to work. Isn’t maddening when we can’t remember the name of someone we’ve known for years? I try not to panic at this, eventually it will come to me.

All these limitations are the reality of our lives and they are hard to accept. We can make our own lives miserable and the lives of those who love us difficult if we refuse to admit it is our time to stretch out our hands and let those who love us bind them knowing they will do the best for us.

That time came for Peter when his hands were bound and he was led away to be crucified as was the Christ he denied, the Christ who forgave him.

As we continue to celebrate this Mass together may we pray for ourselves and for each other that when our time comes we willing stretch out our hands into the hands of the man who stilled the water, the Christ from Galilee knowing in our hearts we are in good.