February 7th, 2016
A while back I was visiting a family and enjoying a great meal. One of their daughters was home on a visit. She was an enjoyable free spirit but drove her parents crazy with her free and sometimes wild life style.
In the course of the evening she cornered me and asked – how can I be sure there is a God? Any priest is asked that question many times. I don’t know how it came about but I answered,’ well I’ll start with a man on a cross and we’ll go from there.
This is how St. Paul instructed the first Christians of Corinth. I handed on to you as of first importance – first importance-that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried and that he was raised on the third and that he appeared to Cephas and the twelve.
We start with the man on the cross Jesus the Christ. St. John tells us ‘in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God and the word became flesh and dwelt among us.’ St. Paul tells us Jesus was in the form of God but did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited but emptied himself taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness and he became obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. For this God highly exalted him – by raising Jesus from the dead – and gave him a name above every other so that every tongue should confess Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
The man on the cross, nails though hands and feet, crowned with thorns, his naked body showing the brutality of his scourging is the love of God made visible. For God so loved the world he sent his son to the world not to condemn us but to make us one again with God. By his wounds we are healed, by his wounds we are reconciled with God for Jesus made peace by the blood of the cross.
To make it clear the Jesus’ sacrifice of his life to the Father was acceptable the Father raised Jesus from the dead, death had no power over him anymore. The Risen Christ appeared to Peter and the 12 and finally to Paul and commissioned to proclaim to the world the good news of God’s love and mercy for all of us. This is the message of first importance.
How do know there is a God, how do we know there is someone, not a force or a power, but someone who made us and loves us and heals and sustains us and challenges us to be men and women of justice, love and peace? How do we know there is a God – some one – who sustains us when we, like the fishermen in the gospel who worked the boat and struggled with the nets all through the night and came up with nothing, just we struggle and strive to cope with our weaknesses, try to maintain healthy relationships, try to respect and accept men and women different from ourselves, try to be responsive to the poverty in our city, try to be sensitive to the sufferings of people have lost everything, people who are persecuted for their religious beliefs and yet we seem to make little progress in our prayer life, we still remain locked up in our own little worlds.
I don’t think I made much progress with this young lady. Maybe she asked the question just to keep the conversation going. Someone described a mindset like hers as an unrestrained celebration of choice, the human will is worshiped as the ultimate reality. So many people are convinced there is no standard of truth and goodness outside of ourselves before which we seek guidance. We make the truth, we decide what is good. Nobody, nobody has any right to tell what to do, how to love, how to live. We have no duty, no responsibility, no obedience to any authority other than ourselves.
The man on the cross means nothing to so many people. This is a great sadness. But for we who believe – Christ crucified is the power of God and the wisdom of God and the love of God made visible for all those who wish to see.
As we continue to celebrate this Mass at which we re-present the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ we pray for ourselves and for each other that the daily living or our lives will always be sustained and inspired by the life-giving death of the man on the cross.
| Posted in Homily |
February 6th, 2016
Sunday, February 21st after 12:30 PM Mass
Monday, February 8th marks the beginning of Lunar New Year. For many years, the Asian community in our parish has gifted our parish community with a wonderful Lunar New Year Party. This year is the Year of the Monkey.
Our Lunar New Year Party will take place on Sunday, February 21st after the 12:30 PM Mass in the Gathering Space. All are welcome. Don’t forget to mark your calendar!
Volunteers and donations are also welcome.
Please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
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 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, 14th , 19th, 20th .21st. 26th, 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 to book your appointment with Fr. Brando.
Saturday, February 27th at 10:30 AM St. Gabriel’s Church
First Reconciliation for children attending St. Gabriel’s School and those in the Children’s Faith Program and children attending Private Schools will be held at
St. Gabriel’s Church on Saturday, February 27th at 10:30 AM.
Wednesday, March 2nd at 7:30 PM
This year’s parish Lenten Evening of Reflection will be preached by Father Nicholas Obiero, C.P. Father Nicholas is a Passionist from Kenya. He is working towards his doctorate in Pastoral Theology at St. Michael’s College of the University of Toronto. Occasionally Father Nicholas helps out at our parish as well – many of you might have already met him.
Please mark your calendar. Details about the Evening will follow once they become available.
February 8th to February 13th, 2016
MONDAY – PAUL SAI BUN CHAN – Requested by the Family TUESDAY – LYN EGSGARD – Requested by Gerry, Molly, Helen & Kathi WEDNESDAY – ASH WEDNESDAY – No 9:00 AM Mass THURSDAY – MARION DES ROCHES – Requested by the Des Roches Family FRIDAY – JOVITA PINO – Requested by Josie Pino SATURDAY – GUS CALDERONE – Requested by Marie Calderone
February 10th 2016
February 10th is Ash Wednesday. Special Masses will be celebrated at 12:00 Noon and 7:30 PM with the distribution of ashes. There will be no 9:00 AM Mass that day.
Do not be afraid. If the Lord is calling you to the ordained or consecrated life, do not be afraid. Jesus calls and will give you the grace to respond wholeheartedly. If you think God is calling you to be a priest, religious or deacon, please contact Fr. Chris Lemieux, Vocations Director, Archdiocese of Toronto at 416-968-0997 or email vocations@archtoronto.org.
Development and Peace is proud to be a partner of ShareLIfe. Through our theme this year, Create a Climate of Change, we invite you to experience “the opening of our hearts to those living on the outermost fringes of society.” (Pope Francis)
Lent is a time to look within ourselves and reflect on our relationship with God and with each other. It is the opportune moment to open our hearts towards compassion and love and take action on the multiple crises that are affecting humanity.
This weekend, members of Development and Peace will distribute Lenten materials that highlight the difference that we can make in creating a Climate of Change.
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.
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 80 casseroles for January. For February, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of February 27th/28th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are encouraged to become active in helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. Three different recipes are available in the Parish Office or online at the Church website.
If you require more information or would like to get a copy of a recipe and a casserole pan, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
Leprosy Mission of Canada Stamp Collection Program
Make a difference with your mail! You can get involved by collecting, trimming and sending them used postage stamps. They fill bags of stamps and sell them to stamp dealers by the kilogram. By donating your time or stamps, you can bring hope to people with leprosy. Stamps can be trimmed leaving no less than ¼ inch and no more than ½ inch paper border Your kindness and compassion are felt by the friends and staff of Effect Hope and by the many people we serve. We look forward to your continued partnership with this mission of healing and hope. Please place stamps in the basket provided outside the Parish Office.
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.
Monday, February 8th from 6:30 to 8:30 Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge Street, 4th Floor
New Beginnings and Catholic Family Services of Toronto present an inspirational talk by Susan Morgan, M.Div. entitled “Hearts Broken Open” for anyone who has experienced a loss in life and who desires to move forward.
The talk will be held at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge St. (Shaftesbury Ave.) 4th Floor, located at Summerhill Subway on Monday, February 8th from 6:30 PM. to 8:30 PM. Limited underground parking is available.
Saturday February 13th at 4:30 PM St. Andrew Kim Parish, 849 Don Mills Road
Cardinal Collins has designated this weekend 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.
Tuesday, February 16, 2016 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Blessed Trinity Parish Church, 3220 Bayview Ave.
The Catholic Women’s League of Blessed Trinity Parish is hosting a Day of Recollection on Tuesday, February 16th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Blessed Trinity Parish Hall. Tickets which include a hot lunch, are $20 each.
All women are invited. For tickets or more info, please call Louise 416-733-3946 or Gisele 416-223-7826
Beginning Friday, February 19th at 8:00 PM Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre, Mississauga.
There will be a Women’s Lenten Retreat at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre on the weekend of February 19th to 21st. The retreat begins at 8:00 PM on Friday and concludes with Mass at noon on Sunday, followed by lunch. It will be preached by the Centre Team. Please call 905-278-5229 for further information or to register.
St. Augustine’s Lay Spiritual Formation Program
Saturday, February 20th from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM St. Augustine’s Seminary, 2661 Kingston Road
St. Augustine’s Lay Spiritual Formation Program presents a Lenten Retreat, Jesus in the Desert with Fr. Charles Anang on Saturday, February 20th from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. The cost is $40 which includes lunch. To register go to www.staugustines.on.ca or call 416-261-7207.
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for January 31st, 2016:
Envelopes 398 $ 6,976 Loose Change 963 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 166 3,160 Total 564 $ 11,099
Maintenance Fund $ 6,923
Please pick up your 2016 envelopes from the Parish Office 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.
Tax receipts for 2015 were mailed last week. Tax receipts for the Family of Faith Campaign or for any donations made by credit card through the Archdiocese will be receipted by the Archdiocese.
| Posted in Bulletin |
January 31st, 2016
I seldom watch the series Downton Abbey. It’s a story of a family and its life of privilege, a life they know will not last much longer as the social situation of England changes. The really interesting people are those who have chosen a life of service. It’s not a bad deal – they had a roof over their heads, three meals a day. But they have to know their place – which is not upstairs unless they were called. In a recent episode a young woman visited Downton on business. It turned out that she’d worked there for three years before she left to better herself. She worked there for three years and the family couldn’t remember her. She was just there, in her place and they were there in their place.
The more things change the more they remain the same. At the time of Jesus this was the same mentality – know your place. Everyone had a proper place in society that was established by birth. No one was ever expected to neither become something better nor improve on the lot of their parents. The people of Nazareth knew Jesus was the son of Joseph the carpenter. What’s with his going around and acting like a rabbi?
Jesus worked his way home after spending 40 days in the desert praying and fasting and sorting out the message he’d received at his baptism – you are my son, the beloved, with you I am well pleased. Having overcome the temptations to turn away from his destiny and seek self – satisfaction or power, or a great reputation, Jesus began preaching in the towns of Galilee. The ordinary people were impressed by what he said and did. They felt he was one of them not like their leaders the Scribes and Pharisees.
Finally he made his way home. The word went out that he was going to read the scriptures on the Sabbath. The synagogue was packed with curious people. His neighbours were curious about what he had to say and wondered about his popularity.
Jesus attributed the call of Isaiah to himself – the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to captives, sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed. Jesus is perceived by his neighbours as being uppity, as stepping shamefully beyond his family boundaries. His father Joseph was a carpenter – who does he think he making such claims.
Rubbing salt into the wounds opened by his insulting behavior Jesus inserts himself into the prophetic line of Elijah and Elisha. Prophets who worked beyond the confines of the Jewish people, prophets God sent to the gentiles, the widow in Sidon and the Syrian leper Naaman. Jesus too would reach out to Samaritans and Gentiles. He was called to be for all people.
But what a home coming! They ran him out of town proving the truth of his saying, ‘a prophet is not without honor except in his own town.
What does all this have to do with us? The Spirit of the Lord was given to us at our baptism giving us the power to carry on the works of Jesus in our times. We are his voice, his eyes, his ears, his hands his right here, right now.
Every time we speak out against racism, bigotry or homophobia, every time we work for and support social justice whether it be justice for the peoples of our first nations, or adequate and affordable housing or a living and just wage, every time we respect all people who come into our lives, every time we try to live simply that others may simply live, we are driven and strengthened by the same Spirit who inspired Jesus when spoke so truthfully to his friends and neighbours. Like Jesus we will face opposition and ridicule. We will be asked ‘who do we think we are but this is what makes us faithful to our Christian faith. Faithful to Jesus the Christ.
As we continue to celebrate this Mass we pray for each other that we always try to live this Mass outside these wall guided and strengthened by the Spirit of God, the spirit of Jesus knowing he is with us every step of the way.
January 30th, 2016
This Sunday, our newcomers from Syria, Khajik, Christine and their children, George and Melissa will be attending the 10:30 AM Mass. After Mass there will be an opportunity to speak with them and get to know them in the Gathering Space.
Tuesday, February 2nd from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
On Tuesday, February 2nd from 7:30 to 9:00 PM the choir will be hosting a hymn sing! In preparation for full singing participation at all our masses, we will wander through our new blue Gather Hymn books. We will be focusing on new hymns for Lent and Easter. Please join us for a good ol’ sing-a-long!
Saturday, February 27th at 10:30 AM
St. Gabriel’s Church
First Reconciliation for children attending St. Gabriel’s School and those in the Children’s Faith Program and children attending Private Schools will be held at St. Gabriel’s Church on Saturday, February 27th at 10:30 AM.
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 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 26th, 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 to book your appointment with Fr. Brando.
February 1st to February 6th, 2016
MONDAY – BONNIE SOLMES – Requested by Jennifer Peters TUESDAY – BERTHA RICKETTS – Requested by the Family WEDNESDAY – HUI SOU LIN – Requested by Linda Law & Family THURSDAY – SPECIAL INTENTION – Requested by the Burke Family FRIDAY – THANKSGIVING – Requested by the John Chan SATURDAY – VIOLET PREVIDSA – Requested by Steve Previdsa
Saturday, February 6th at 3:15 PM in the Gabriel Room For information, please contact Linda Law at 416 -918-8029
Friday, February 5th from 9:30 AM – 12 Noon
Sunday, February 7th 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. The guided reflection brings an ecological perspective to the readings. All are welcome.
February 10th is Ash Wednesday.
Special Masses will be celebrated at 12:00 Noon and 7:30 PM with the distribution of ashes. There will be no 9:00 AM Mass that day.
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.
This 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.
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.
Next weekend, members of Development and Peace will distribute Lenten materials that highlight the difference that we can make in creating a Climate of Change.
Make a difference with your mail! You can get involved by collecting, trimming and sending them used postage stamps. They fill bags of stamps and sell them to stamp dealers by the kilogram. By donating your time or stamps, you can bring hope to people with leprosy. Please place stamps in the basket provided outside the Parish Office.
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.
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. For more information, please contact Velma at 416-226-0590 or Louise at 416,733-3546.
Tuesday, February 16, 2016 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Blessed Trinity Parish Church, 3220 Bayview Ave.
The Catholic Women’s League of Blessed Trinity Parish is hosting a Day of Recollection on Tuesday, February 16th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Blessed Trinity Parish Hall. Tickets, which include a hot lunch, are $20 each.
Beginning Friday, February 19th at 8:00 PM
Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre, Mississauga.
There will be a Women’s Lenten Retreat at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre on the weekend of February 19th to 21st. The retreat begins at 8:00 PM on Friday and concludes with Mass at noon on Sunday, followed by lunch. Please call 905-278-5229 for further information or to register.
Collection for January 24th, 2016: Envelopes 417 $ 8,420 Loose Change 938 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 166 3,160 Total 583 $ 12,518
Tax receipts for 2015 have been mailed this past week. Tax receipts for the Family of Faith Campaign or for any donations made by credit card through the Archdiocese will be receipted by the Archdiocese.
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.
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.
January 24th, 2016
I want to ask you a question. When I say the words ‘The church’ what image comes to your mind? The church. What do you think of?
For me the first image I get is of St. Peters in Rome. It is so wrong. The church is not buildings or structure or bureaucracy, the church is not the Pope or Bishops or Priests or Sisters. The church is you and me and every other baptized Catholic. We were church long before we were allowed to build places fit for the worship of God. We were church when people gathered in one another’s homes to celebrate the breaking of the bread and listen to the word of God and teachings of the Apostles.
Our second reading –Paul’s letter to the Corinthians was written at a time in the first century when the Christian community in Corinth was breaking into factions – I am of Paul, I am of Cephas, I am of Apollo. Paul was determined to challenge these divisions by his insistence that we all are of Christ and no one else. For Paul the church, the Christian community is all about men and women bound together by the Holy Spirit, it’s about men and women gifted in different ways for the common good of the community but especially the poor. To be the body of Christ means to be dependent upon Christ and subject to his Lordship.
We speak of the church as being holy. But the holiness of the body of Christ comes first of all from the holiness of Christ and then from the holiness of we the members of Christ’s body. That’s why we try to live this Mass in the lives we live, the work we do, the service we give and the prayers we pray, our ways of growing in Christ. We share in Christ’s holiness when we welcome our refugee families, when we support the Good Shepherd Centre and Rosalie Hall. The church is holy when we mend fences within our families and respect other people as they are.
We all know of the sexual abuse scandals that have damaged our church these past and present years. The crimes of priests and the cover up by bishops have wounded us all. When one member of the body suffers the whole body suffers.
Spiritual rugged individualism is not for Christians – we are family. That’s why we pray for and work for the re-union of all Christian communities.
Just as we should see our church as being made up of men, women and children forming one community of life, love and service so Pope Francis is asking us to see our relationship with Mother Earth in the same way. We human beings are one member of the whole communities of life on this planet. As I’ve said before ‘ we did not weave the web of life, we are a strand in the web, we depend on every other strand in this web and what we do to the web, be it for good or for ill we do to ourselves. Everything comes home to roost. The church is a community of life, love and service. As members of the human family we are called to live simply that others may simply live and work for the healing of our common home.
Pope Francis is asking us to see ourselves in that same relationship with Earth as we have in the church, a relationship of life, love and service. As in the church so as human beings we are kin, we are family.
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