January 16th, 2016
January 18th to January 23rd, 2016
MONDAY – MAURICE MICHAEL – Requested by Charmaine Michael TUESDAY – DECEASED RELATIVES OF THE FUNG FAMILY – Requested by the Family WEDNESDAY – LOUIS & MARIE FUNG – Requested by the Family THURSDAY – SR. MAGDALENA LEUNG – Requested by the Family FRIDAY – MARY LAM – Requested by the Ho Family SATURDAY – MR. & MRS. YUN YU SOONG – Requested by the Family
Sunday, January 24th at 4:00 P.M. Good Shepherd Chaldean Church, 2 High Meadow Place
Come and join us in an ecumenical prayer service with His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Anglican Archbishop Colin Johnson, Chaldean Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Michael Pryse and other city-wide religious leaders on Sunday, January 24th at 4:00 PM at Good Shepherd Chaldean Church, 2 High Meadow Place (northwest of Finch & Highway 400).
The homilist will be His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins. Refreshments will follow in the parish hall. Parking is available. For further information, please contact the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs at 416-934-3400, Ext. 344 or Ext. 527 or email vkwok@archtoronto.org.
Sunday, January 31st at 3:00 PM
St. Paul’s Basilica, 83 Power Street
On Tuesday, February 2nd, the Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. In the Archdiocese of Toronto, we are blessed to have living and serving among us more than 900 religious men and women of 100 different religious congregations. This World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life is a wonderful opportunity for us to thank God for the gifts of these religious sisters, brothers and priests and to pray for God’s blessing upon them in their efforts to faithfully live the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.
On Sunday, January 31st at 3:00 PM. at St. Paul’s Basilica, there will be a special Mass to close the Year for Consecrated Life. Bishop Wayne Kirkpatrick will preside at the Mass in celebration of the vocation and witness of these special men and women religious who are such a vital and important part of the life and ministry of the Church in our archdiocese. All are welcome to attend.
Wednesday January 17th
Pope Francis declared the theme for January 17th, 2016, World Day of Migrants and Refugees to be “Migrants and Refugees Challenge Us. The Response of the Gospel of Mercy.”
Weeks later, Cardinal Thomas Collins established Project Hope in the Archdiocese of Toronto in response to the refugee crisis in the Middle East. Since then, we have established enough sponsorship committees to support 90 refugee families and raised more than $3.5 million to support newcomers in their first year of resettlement.
Cardinal Collins wrote: “This is a tremendous accomplishment and I thank all donors for this tangible demonstration of assistance for refugee families in great need. I also wish to express my profound thanks to the countless volunteers who have formed refugee settlement committees. Let us continue to pray for all those persecuted and displaced in so many parts of our world.”
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Conference often meet Neighbours in Need who require professional help, but have no resources.
We are asking any of our parishioners who are Lawyers or who know Lawyers, specializing in immigration who would be willing to donate their time to contact the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Gabriel’s. Please call Brenda D’Souza 416-990-8892. Thank you very much for remembering the poor and for all your support in this mission of charity to our Neighbours in Need.
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 community, residential, educational and child development 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.
The Volunteer organization Meals on Wheels, located at 80 Sheppard Avenue West is looking for drivers and runners for the organization.
If you would like more information, please contact Karen Leung at 416-225-6041 ext 319 or by email at kleung@mowam.ca and she will provide the details.
Sunday January 17th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Temple Har Zion, 7360 Bayview Avenue
Mosaic Interfaith of which St. Gabriel’s is a member invites you to an event this Sunday January 17th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at Temple Har Zion, 7360 Bayview Avenue, in honour of Martin Luther King’s birthday. The programme is “Young Voices Making a Difference” – a new generation taking up the challenge of social justice. See poster on the bulletin boards. For more information or to RSVP call Nora 416 218 0680.
Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge St. 4thFloor Monday January 18th at 6:30 PM
On Monday, January 18th at 6:30 PM you are invited to gather in God’s presence at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge St. 4thFloor, for Taizé Prayer, singing, listening to scripture readings and meditations with periods of silence. To this gathering, please bring your intentions, needs and in particular your experiences of loss.
Boston Pizza, 400 Progress Avenue, Scarborough, Monday, January 18th, 2016 at 7:00 PM
Faith Connections, the Office of Catholic Youth, and the local parishes invite young adults (19-39) to join them for an evening of thought-provoking conversation on theological topics! Munchies are provided, and a cash bar is available. Come and bring a friend!
The Special guest will be Patrick Sullivan.
For more information: visit our Toronto Theology on Tap web page, or contact OCY by email youth@ocytoronto.org, or phone 416-599-7676. RSVPs are appreciated!
Tuesday Mornings at 10:00 AM, January 19th, 26th, February 16th, 23rd, March 15th, 22nd
St. Bonaventure Church, 1300 Leslie Street.
Sr. Mary Rose Marrin CSJ will be offering a programme on the topic of Spiritual Growth in the Second Half of Life hosted by St. Bonaventure Church, 1300 Leslie St. on 6 Tuesday mornings at 10:00 AM on Jan. 19th & 26th , Feb. 16th & 23rd, March 15th & 22nd in the St. Francis Room. She will be covering a variety of topics including Caregiving, Walking by Faith, Our Life Story, Growth in Wisdom, Prayer, and A Lifelong Mission.
Saturday, January 23rd from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM.
Newman Centre, 89 St. George St. Toronto
All are invited to attend a half-day of formation and understanding of the Jewish roots of Mass. Lunch is provided. There will be Mass, a talk, small group discussions, time for prayer and fellowship, facilitated by John O’Brien, SJ., a Jesuit scholastic.
RSVP: to sonal@newmantoronto.com or phone: 416-979-2468, ext. 244 or go to www.newmantoronto.com.
Saturday, February 6th from 6:00 PM
Blessed Trinity Church Hall, 3220 Bayview Avenue
The Catholic Women’s league of Blessed Trinity Parish is holding a Valentine Dinner Dance on Saturday February 6th at Blessed Trinity Parish Hall. There will be a cash bar, door prizes a raffle and a 50/50 draw.
Tickets are $40 per person,
For more information, please contact Velma at 413-226-0590 or Louise at 416-733-3546.
St. Andrew Kim Parish, 849 Don Mills Road Saturday February 13 at 4:30 PM
Cardinal Collins has designated the weekend of February 6th/7th as Marriage Sunday in the Archdiocese of Toronto. The event provides an opportunity to honour husband and wife while saluting the faithfulness, sacrifice and joy that comes with the marriage covenant. To those preparing for marriage, newlyweds and those that have been companions on the journey for decades, we offer our prayers and best wishes in a special way this weekend.
On Saturday, February 13th, at 4:30 PM couples from across the archdiocese will gather for A Celebration of Marriage with Cardinal Thomas Collins at St. Andrew Kim Parish (849 Don Mills Road, North York). A reception will follow Mass. All are welcome!
For more information please visit www.archtoronto.org/marriage or call 416-964-8695.
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for January 10th 2016: Envelopes 436 $ 8,185 Loose Change 1,075 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 166 3,160 Total 602 $ 12,420
Please pick up your 2016 envelopes as soon as possible if you have not already done so.
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 2016, 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.
Please inform the Parish Office if you have recently moved, so that we may keep our parish records up to date. In 2016, please do not use any envelopes from previous years as the number on it may have been reassigned. Please put your name on your envelope to ensure that your donation is properly recorded.
| Posted in Bulletin |
January 10th, 2016
In the beginning of Luke’s gospel we hear that the people were filled with expectation. There was a feeling in the air that they were on the cusp of something new. There was a sense that the Messiah would soon be among them. Many thought John the Baptist was the expected one but he made it clear to all he was not the one. Someone would follow him and the people should accept him.
I think that for many Canadians today there is that same sense of expectancy. We are in for sunny days though realistically we know not all days will be sunny days. We are hopeful for a time of openness and co-operation among our politicians. We are hopeful that the peoples of our first nations will receive the respect and the justice that is their due. We are hopeful that our government will be more sensitive to the environmental crisis of our future survival. We are hopeful of a co-operative and open leadership. We are hopeful.
Last week we celebrated the Epiphany, Christ was manifested by a star. Today Christ is manifested, made known by the heavens opening above him and the Spirit of God descending upon him in the form of a dove and a voice claiming, ‘you are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased. The Holy Spirit anoints Jesus for his mission to open the eyes of the blind, to set captives free from the chains of sin, to set the downtrodden free and bring to all the good news of salvation.
Jesus, the sinless son of God had no need of baptism but he wanted to be identified with the people who came to John. Those people wanted to come closer to God and by letting themselves be immersed into the flowing waters they let go in their hearts and surrendered they lives to God and sought a new beginning in their friendship with God.
Today we can think back to our own baptisms. Can we get our heads around the fact that when each one of us was baptized the Holy Spirit was poured into our very being and that Spirit gives us the boldness and confidence to call God – Father/Mother. God is not some distant diety, God is not ‘the force’. Each one of us is a son, a daughter of our Father/ Mother. Isaiah asks the question,’can a mother forget her baby, or a woman the child with her womb? Yet even if these forget I will never forget you.
Our baptism is our birthing into a living and loving relationship with God. Can we get our heads around the wonder that God’s love for us is unmerited and unconditional. The fact is that nothing we can ever do can make God love us less and nothing we can ever do can ever stop God’s loving us. Our baptism is our invitation to put on Christ, to grow to full maturity in Christ. Baptism is not a one shot deal it is our first step in a life-long adventure to follow Jesus in such a way that at any time in our lives the Father can say of us what he said of Jesus at the Jordon, ’You are my beloved son, my beloved daughter, with you I am well pleased.’
Our life long project is to be as Christ -like as possible and that seems like an impossible task. And it is, if we are without the presence and help of Christ. As often as we try to an open and accepting of other people, as Christ always was then we are on the right track. As often as we are there for men and women in need – when we welcome the stranger, when we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, support those who are depressed, in whatever form such people come into our lives, then we are putting on Christ, we are growing in Christ.
On this feast of the Baptism of Jesus we recall our own baptism and pray for the gift to live each day of our lives in such a way that the Father/Mother can say ‘you are my son, my daughter, my beloved, with you I am well pleased’. Realistically we know that some days we’ll win and other days we’ll lose but always we’ll keep on trying.
| Posted in Homily |
January 9th, 2016
January 11th to January 16th, 2016
MONDAY – FR. DON SANVIDO – Requested by Jeanne Robinson TUESDAY – IN THANKSGIVING – Requested by Francis Cheung WEDNESDAY – MARY TAI-LAU FUNG – Requested by the Family THURSDAY – SR. LUCY YAU – Requested by the Family FRIDAY – MAGDALENE LAM – Requested by John Chan SATURDAY – THOMAS DONAGHY – Requested by Siobhan Donaghy
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome: Santiago Castellanos Pena Dominic Gabriel Duran Villavona
These children received the Sacrament of Baptism in the last few weeks. Congratulations!
On behalf of the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, thank you so much for your participation in the 2015 Hope For the Children Christmas Program.
With the support of donors like you, we were able to provide assistance to many families and children served by the CCAS.
Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous 2016!
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 62 casseroles for December. For January, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of January 30th/31st for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. More volunteers are 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.
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
The Volunteer organization Meals on Wheels, located at 80 Sheppard Avenue West is looking for drivers and runners for the organization. If you would like more information, please contact Karen Leung at 416-225-6041 ext 319 or by email at kleung@mowam.ca and she will provide the details.
January 16th from 9:30 AM to 12:00 Noon
St. Clement’s Church, Etobicoke
Did you know that Development and Peace is the Canadian Roman Catholic Church’s official international development agency? It is widely known and respected in the Global South for its work in fighting poverty and injustice.
Come and see what Development and Peace’s is doing to build international solidarity both overseas and here in Canada. You’re invited!
This event will take place at St. Clements Church,
409 Markland Drive, Etobicoke on January 16th from 9:30 AM. to 12:00 Noon. RSVP by January 11th to Keith Gauntlett, keithgca@yahoo.com or 416-481-1930.
All are welcome.
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
St. Gabriel’s Parish Weekend of April 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, 2016
A Marriage Preparation course will be offered here at St. Gabriel’s the weekend of April 22nd to 24th, 2016. Please note the change to a later date. 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
Come and join us in an ecumenical prayer service with His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Anglican Archbishop Colin Johnson, Chaldean Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Michael Pryse, and other city-wide religious leaders on Sunday, January 24th at 4:00 PM at Good Shepherd Chaldean Church, 2 High Meadow Place (northwest of Finch & Highway 400).
The homilist will be His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins. Refreshments will follow in the parish hall. Parking is available.
For further information, please contact the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs at 416-934-3400, Ext. 344 or Ext. 527 or vkwok@archtoronto.org.
On Tuesday, February 2nd, the Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life.
In the Archdiocese of Toronto we are blessed to have living and serving among us more than 1,000 religious men and women of over 100 different religious congregations. This World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life is a wonderful opportunity for us to thank God for the gifts of these religious sisters, brothers and priests and to pray for God’s blessing upon them in their efforts to faithfully live the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.
On Sunday, January 31st at 3:00 PM at St. Paul’s Basilica, there will be a special Mass in celebration of the vocation and witness of these special men and women religious who are such an important part of the life and ministry of the Church in our archdiocese. The presider will be the Most Reverend Wayne Kirkpatrick. All are welcome to attend.
Collection for New Years Day $6,943 Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week. Collection for January 3rd 2016: Envelopes 390 $ 9,460 Loose Change 1,579 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 166 3,160 Total 556 $ 14,199
January 3rd, 2016
This feast of the Epiphany is the feast of the curious, the seeker. We see the Wise Men travelling from a far country seeking the new born king of the Jewish wanting to pay him homage. We the curious and threatened King Herod seeking this king too but not to do him homage but to do him harm.
There was a home in the area and its only Christmas decoration was a siloete in their picture widow of the Wise Men and the star and the caption – the wise still seek him. The wise still want to know more and more about Jesus. Jesus born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth, died in Jerusalem. The wise want to come to know the deepest meaning of his parables. The wise want to see the power for good that Jesus had with the men and women of his time.
The wise want to share in the deep compassion Jesus had for those who came to him for help, for understanding and for healing. The wise still want to have the courage to live out the full challenge of his new commandment, ’love one another as I have loved you’. The wise seek to dig deeper into the awesome wonder of his words,’ take eat, this is my body, take drink this is my blood, do this in remembrance of me. The wise seek to mesh into the living of their own lives the reality of this truth, God loved the world, God loved me, so much that God sent his son into the world and the Son loved me so much he gave his life for me.
Are we among the wise that still seek him, find him and have him transform our lives as he did those Wise Men from the East? Are we among the wise who seek to understand the meaning of this feast?
The great meaning of Epiphany is expressed in our second reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, ‘The Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
The Jewish people were and still the people of God. They treasured and protected their privileged place in God’s eyes. They never forgot the ancient promise spoken so many times in their scriptures ‘I will be you God and you will be my people.
Today we are asked to see beyond that promise and be happy that we and all peoples have become fellow heirs and members and sharers in the promises of Christ, in and through the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.
St. Peter put another after his encounter with gentile centurion, ‘The thing I have come to realize is this, and that any person of any nationality who does what is right is acceptable to God’
Are we wise enough to live this truth of Epiphany and love and accept and respect men and women of different faiths and no faith, men and women of different social and racial and cultural backgrounds, men and women of different life styles? This can be a constant challenge to each of us every day of life.
May our prayer for each other today be that we all be wise enough to seek a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ and what he taught and what he did? May each of us see him more clearly, follow him more nearly, and love him more dearly.
January 2nd, 2016
January 4th to January 9th, 2016
MONDAY – TORREFRANCA FAMILY – Requested by Margarita Flores TUESDAY – IN THANKSGIVING – Requested by Pacita Cadavez WEDNESDAY – LEWIS ROYES – Requested by Helene Royes THURSDAY – GEORGE OLDEN – Requested by Kathleen Olden-Powell FRIDAY – FR. ADRIEN LEE – Requested by Jeanne Robinson SATURDAY – RENATO BELLISARI – Requested by Chiara &Tina Intini
Thank you, good people, for your overwhelming generosity this Christmas season. Thanks to you, St. Gabriel’s was able to provide toys, food and gifts to Rosalie Hall, the Catholic Children’s Aid, the Good Shepherd Centre and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
A very special thank you to our neighbours the St. Gabriel’s Village Condos for their generous support of our food and toy drives. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.
The Syrian family sponsored by the parish arrived in Toronto late Sunday evening, December 20th in time for Christmas! The family is Armenian Christian from Aleppo, Syria. Father Brando and representatives of the refugee committee met them the next morning at the airport hotel where they stayed for the night.
The family of two adults and two young children, ages 10 and 3, joined us at the 12:30 PM Mass on Christmas Day, where they received a warm welcome from our community. They are so grateful to have this opportunity to come to Canada, and are determined to re-build their lives here.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been overwhelmed by your generosity once again! Your contributions to our giving tree were wonderful. Thanks to everyone who offered help and gifts to our families in need. Your kindness has been deeply appreciated.
Dear Friends, Thanks to you, Christmas this year was spent by our young mothers along with their children, surrounded by your kindness and generosity. Most importantly, these young families you have supported have the knowledge that help came from a caring and compassionate community of donors – people like you who value and care for others less fortunate.
On behalf of all the grateful recipients of your Christmas spirit, thank you for your kindness and consideration, making Christmas 2015 one of joy and hope for every young mother, father and child! We wish you peace and prosperity in 2016.
Boston Pizza, 400 Progress Avenue, Scarborough, Monday, January 18th at 7:00 PM
The Special guest will be Patrick Sullivan. For more information: visit our Toronto Theology on Tap web page, or contact OCY by e-mail youth@ocytoronto.org, or phone 416-599-7676. RSVPs are appreciated!
On Monday, January 18th, at 6:30 PM you are invited to gather in God’s presence at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge St., 4th Floor, for Taizé Prayer singing (chanting), listening to scripture readings and meditations with periods of silence. To this gathering, we bring our intentions, needs and in particular our experiences of loss.
St. Gabriel’s Parish Weekend of April 22nd, 23rd and 24th, 2016
A Marriage Preparation course will be offered here at St. Gabriel’s the weekend of April 22nd to 24th, 2016.
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.
Collection for Christmas: $43,313 The Parish’s 2015 budgeted operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Offertory Collection for December 27th, 2015: Envelopes 340 $10,247 Loose Change 903 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 164 3,058 Total 504 $14,208
If you are a regular Parish member and you do not contribute to the Offertory collection, the Finance Council reminds you that “the financial burden of the Parish is the responsibility of each and all parishioners to the extent that your means allow”.
For those parishioners who contribute to the offertory on a regular weekly basis, we thank you for your constant support.
Have you considered using PAG or Donate Now?
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. Participation in the PAG provides a regular dependable cash flow of contributions to the parish and enables us to better manage the Parish finances. PAG brochures and sign-up forms are available in the Parish Office and on the tables at the back of the Church.
The 2016 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are now in the hall near the Gabriel Room. Please pick yours up as soon as possible.
In 2016, please do not use any envelopes from 2015 or any envelopes from previous years as the number on it may have been reassigned to another parishioner.
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.
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