May 2nd, 2015
Sunday May 10th After the Masses
On Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10th the St. Gabriel’s Youth Group will be selling flowers and tea which would make lovely gifts for mothers, grandmothers, aunts and sisters.
The money raised will go towards the group’s expenses for the World Youth Day to be held in Poland in July, 2016. Please help and support the efforts of our youth!
May 4th to May 9th, 2015
MONDAY – TOM DONAGHY – Requested by the Family TUESDAY – MAURICE MICHAEL – Requested by Charmaine Michael WEDNESDAY – MAISEY & ALBERT DAGNEAULT – Requested by Ginette Harquail THURSDAY – LAU KOON TING – Requested by Linda Law & Family FRIDAY – GUS CALDERONE – Requested by Marie Calderone SATURDAY – JUSTIN McCARTHY – Requested by the Markle Family
May 3rd to May 8th
We invite all parishioners to join in celebrating Catholic Education Week 2015, which runs from May 3rd to May 8th.
For more than 160 years, Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic schools have been integrating our faith into all aspects of school life, empowering one another to serve as faithful disciples. We celebrate the distinctive contribution that catholic schools provide, giving thanks and offering our prayers for all those who diligently nurture this precious gift. For more information about catholic Education Week, please visit www.goodnewsforall.ca.
A very special thank you to all those who provide leadership in our Catholic schools. In particular we thank the Principal and Staff of St. Gabriel’s School for the wonderful work they do. We pray for all educators and students, giving thanks to God for all those who faithfully spread the Good News.
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.
The Archdiocese of Toronto is accepting financial contributions for humanitarian relief following the catastrophic effects of a serious earthquake on April 24th The earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, and aftershocks have devastated huge areas of the country, with more than 4,000 people reported dead, many more injured and thousands of families displaced from their homes.
Relief workers from the official Catholic relief agency on the ground, Caritas Internationalis, say the victims most need temporary shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene supplies as relief operations gear up. So far, Caritas organizations around the world have pledged $3.3 million to the relief effort as well as providing 10,000 shelter kits and 3,000 tarps.
Those wishing to help may do so in the following ways: • Online through the Archdiocese of Toronto website: www.archtoronto.org • By phone through the Development Office – 416-934-3411 • Through the parish, making cheques payable to: St. Gabriel’s Parish – Nepal Earthquake – Humanitarian Relief
This Weekend – May 2nd/3rd
The Society for St. Vincent de Paul is holding their annual Bundle Up Collection this weekend, The truck will be open in the parking lot on Saturday, May 2nd from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and on Sunday, May 3rd from 8:30 AM until 1:00 PM Volunteers will assist with the loading before and after each Mass.
Working wonders in the whole community…
“Now in its 39th year of helping the whole community, the number of agencies funded by ShareLife’s annual appeal has increased significantly, reflecting the growing local social needs. The reality is there are more people relying on ShareLife today than ever before! I firmly believe we can continue to offer them a helping hand if we all participate.
Your donation, regardless of the amount, will bring us closer to our goal. Thank you for the contribution you make in gift and deed to our Church and to the community at large. My prayer is that the Lord will help us all to share our time, talents and treasure with a generous spirit.” —Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto
ShareLife, 2014: $220,250 ShareLife, 2015 to date: $86,577 Today is the Third ShareLife Sunday. Thank you for your generosity. Together we can work wonders!
You may continue to drop off the colourful outer milk bags in the bin located in the gathering space. Please make sure that the bags are clean and dry.
For further information about this program please visit www.milkbagsunlimited.ca or contact Sharon Gusz at sharongusz@gmail.com.
Each month the food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall or the Good Shepherd Centre. With everyone struggling at this time, these 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 ongoing support.
Spring is finally here and the Geraniums are again available just in time for Mothers’ Day! 4” pots – red, orange, lavender, pink sizzle, salmon, white – $3.00 ea. or $25/FLAT of 10 Hanging baskets – $17.00 Please pre-order by phoning LouiseTonelli at 416-733-3946 or emailing ltonelli@rogers.com.
Geraniums must all be picked up from Blessed Trinity Parish Hall on Friday, May 8th between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM or Saturday, May 9th between Noon and 6:00 PM. (Deadline for orders: May 3rd, 2015)
5km Fundraising Walk and Hug Saturday, May 9th, 2015
Registration from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at Fort York 10:00 A.M. Walk to SickKids
On Saturday, May 9th, the fourteenth annual Meagan’s Walk: -Creating a Circle of Hope will take place.
Registration opens at 8:30 A.M. at Fort York and the Walk begins at 10:00 AM. The Walk concludes at SickKids with the “Hug”. The day includes live music and entertainment, face-painting, an opportunity to sign our Wall of Honour, and moving and powerful messages from Meagan’s Walk’s founder, youth ambassadors and world-leading doctors and researchers.
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
May 9th from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre
A Men’s Day of Retreat will be held at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre, 1617 Blythe Road, Mississauga, Ontario, on Saturday, May 9th from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. The theme of the retreat is “A Biblical Journey into a Deeper Relationship with Christ.” The facilitator is Greg DeMarchi, deacon, doctor, surgeon, as well as a scripture scholar.
The day begins with coffee, tea, muffins and a wonderful four –course lunch will be served in our dining room at noon. The suggested offering is $35.00.
To register please contact the Centre at 905-278-5229.
Mosaic Interfaith are entering a team in the Big Bike Ride for Heart and Stroke on June 25th and are looking for more riders. If interested contact thisisfran@yahoo.com for more information and let her know you are from St. Gabriel’s. Each rider would be expected to raise a minimum of $25.
May 11th at 7:00 PM
Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge Street, 4th Floor
New Beginnings and Catholic Family Services invite you to join them for an inspirational talk entitled Marriage and Annulment. Fr. Brian Clough, Judicial Vicar, Archdiocese of Toronto will provide you with an understanding of the Catholic Church’s teachings on marriage and annulment. The Catholic Pastoral centre is located at 1155 Yonge Street, adjacent to the Summerhill Subway Station. Free underground parking is also available. For more information, please call 416-921-1163, Ext. 2227 or email alopechuk@cfstoronto.com
Wednesday, May 13th from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
St. Bonaventure’s Parish Centre
This is a one day workshop to raise awareness of a new vision for Senior Adult Ministry. It is for men and women in the second half of life who are interested in developing ministry for the “New Generation” of older adults. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 13th at St. Bonaventure’s Parish Centre, 1300 Leslie St. from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Please bring a “brown bag” lunch. The Facilitator will be Sister Mary Rose Marrin CSJ, graduate of the Johnson Institute for Spiritual Gerontology and Lifelong Faith Development.
Pre-registration is necessary. To register, call 416-462-1331 Ext. 4224 or email mrmarrin@csj-to.ca.
May 22nd to 24th
Married couples: You deserve a weekend to cherish being together; to rediscover each other and focus on ways to make your relationship even better. A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend offers this opportunity. The next weekend will be held on May 22nd to 24th, 2015.
For more information and application, please go to www.wwme.org or contact: Gerard & Marge McCauley at gerard.marge@rogers.com or (905) 792-1925.
Saturday, May 23rd at 8:00 PM
Salvation Army Citadel
East York Barbershoppers will present their 65th Anniversary Show will be on Saturday, May 23rd at 8:00 PM at the Salvation Army Citadel, 2021 Lawrence Avenue East
Tickets are almost sold out. Please call Jerry Beckerle at 647 220-8407 to order yours.
The pledge total as of April 25 is $1,060,600. Thank you!
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for Last Weekend Envelopes 397 $ 8,196 Loose Change 1,095 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 164 3,117 Total 598 $ 12,408
| Posted in Bulletin |
April 25th, 2015
On Mother’s day, Sunday, May 10th the St. Gabriel’s Youth Group will be selling flowers and tea which would make lovely gifts for mothers, grandmothers, aunts and sisters.
April 27th to May 2nd, 2015
MONDAY – MARCELINO FERNANDES – Requested by Tita Fernandes TUESDAY – CONVERSION OF SINNERS & TERRORISTS – Requested by May Chiu WEDNESDAY – REPOSE OF DECEASED SOULS – Requested by May Chiu THURSDAY – VICTOR JOSEPH – Requested by the Family FRIDAY – ALLAN PERSAUD – Requested by Persaud & Goldenberg Families SATURDAY – MARY-ANNE OLDEN – Requested by Kathleen Olden-Powell
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome:
Sophia Elizabeth Adona Isabel Marie Donoghue De Abreau Lucas Antonio Moniz Gavin Daniel O’Brien Navid Jonathan Parton Christine Paliwag Poutsoungas Vanessa Naomi Wong Zachary Ryan Wong
These children received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, April 19th, 2015. Congratulations!
Friday, May 1st from 9:30 AM – 12 Noon
Sunday, May 3rd 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.
English: Saturday, May 2nd at 3:15 PM in the Gabriel Room.
Chinese: Sunday, May 3rd at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room.
For information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
May 3rd to May 9th
Catholic Education Week 2015 begins on Sunday, May 3rd.
The Catholic schools in our parish will engage in a series of events to celebrate the ongoing gift of publicly-funded Catholic education. You are invited to discover what celebrations are happening in your children’s school 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 will serve with the same spirit and generosity as their previous generations.
This year, Catholics across our archdiocese are being asked to support the Family of Faith campaign. This campaign will provide for the pastoral and temporal needs of the archdiocese, such as campus and youth ministry, communication initiatives that will strengthen our family of faith, and support to help new parishes to celebrate Mass in a new church.
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. There is no duplication – ShareLife agencies do not receive funding from the Family of Faith campaign. Thus 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.
ShareLife, 2014: $220,250. ShareLife to Date: $79,143
Next Sunday, May 3, 2015 is ShareLife Sunday Please give generously. You can work wonders!
Next Weekend – May 2nd/3rd
The Society for St. Vincent de Paul will hold their annual Bundle Up Collection next weekend, May 2nd/3rd. Bring your gently used clothing and household linens to share with others.
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 2nd from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. and all day Sunday, May 3rd until 1:00 P.M. Volunteers will assist with the loading before and after each Mass. The Society will donate or sell these donations to support their outreach efforts. Thank you for your continued support.
We are still collecting milk bags which can be cut, looped and woven into sleep mats for individuals or families in developing countries. You may drop the colourful outer bags in the bin located in the gathering space. Please make sure that the bags are clean and dry.
Tuesday, April 28th to Thursday April 30th at 7:00 PM
St. Bonaventure Parish Hall
Pope Francis has caused a great deal of interest, particularly in his style and preferential option for the poor. Do you ever wonder where he gets that appreciation? He is steeped in the great tradition of our Catholic Social teachings. Some have called them the greatest hidden treasure of the Catholic Church.
The St Bonaventure community invites you to join them at St. Bonaventure Parish Hall on Tuesday, April 28, Wednesday April 29th and Thursday, April 30 at 7:00 PM as they delve into those treasures of our faith.
Spring is finally here and the Geraniums are again available just in time for Mothers’ Day!
4″ pots – red, orange, lavender, pink sizzle, salmon, white – $3.00 ea. or $25/FLAT of 10
Hanging baskets – red, orange, lavender, salmon, white – $17.00
Please pre-order by phoning LouiseTonelli at 416-733-3946 or emailing ltonelli@rogers.com.
The day begins with coffee, tea, muffins and a wonderful four -course lunch will be served in our dining room at noon. The suggested offering is $35.00.
Registration from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at Fort York
10:00 AM Walk to SickKids
On Saturday, May 9th, the fourteenth annual Meagan’s Walk: -Creating a Circle of Hope will take place. Registration opens at 8:30 AM at Fort York and the Walk begins at 10:00 AM. The Walk concludes at SickKids with the “Hug”. The day includes live music and entertainment, face-painting, an opportunity to sign our Wall of Honour, and moving and powerful messages from Meagan’s Walk’s founder, youth ambassadors and world-leading doctors and researchers.
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!
New Beginnings and Catholic Family Services invite you to join them for an inspirational talk entitled Marriage and Annulment. Fr. Brian Clough, Judicial Vicar, Archdiocese of Toronto will provide you with an understanding of the Catholic Church’s teachings on marriage and annulment.
The Catholic Pastoral centre is located at 1155 Yonge Street, adjacent to the Summerhill Subway Station. Free underground parking is also available. For more information, please call 416-921-1163, Ext. 2227 or email alopechuk@cfstoronto.com
East York Barbershoppers will present their 65th Anniversary Show on Saturday, May 23rd at 8:00 PM at the Salvation Army Citadel, 2021 Lawrence Avenue East
Collection for Last Weekend Envelopes 404 $ 7,133 Loose Change 970 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 164 3,117 Total 568 $ 11,220
If you have prior year’s offertory envelopes, please do not use them! Envelopes for which no donations have been received may be reassigned to another parishioner.
We are asking that you not use old envelopes, but if you do, please ensure your name is written legibly on the front.
April 23rd, 2015
New baptized at the Easter Vigil with Fr. Brando and the teachers
| Posted in Events |
April 19th, 2015
It is the evening of the day Christ rose from the dead. The two disciples who walked with a stranger as they returned home to Emmaus rushed back to Jerusalem with the news that they had seen Jesus and knew that it was him as they shared a meal with him. While they were telling all this Jesus comes to the disciples again and offers them, as he’s done before, his gift of peace. With this gift Jesus is saying to them ‘all is forgiven,’ your denials, your betrayals, your abandoning me, that’s all in the past. This echoes the words of Isaiah, though your sins be as red as scarlet they shall be white as wool, though they be red as crimson they shall be white as snow. Then Jesus said, I have things for you to do, as the Father has sent me so now I am sending you.
Even seeing Jesus face to face, hearing his voice, seeing him eat a bit of fish they still couldn’t take it in. They were startled, terrified, skeptical, and overjoyed all at the same time. They couldn’t get their heads around the wonder standing before them. Jesus lives, his is risen from the dead.
Patiently he opened their minds to understand the scriptures they all knew but had missed the deeper meaning in them – that the Christ, the Messiah they longed for, was to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed to all nations.
It must have been difficult for these disciples to trust in the peace Jesus offers them. They were so ashamed they had let him down so badly. They couldn’t look him in the eye. They knew in their hearts they held grudges and resentments against people who wrong them but no one wronged them the way they wrong Jesus. Yet here he is offering them his peace, his love, his friendship
Forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed to all the nations because God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. The Risen Christ wants us to know that we can have peace with God, we do have peace with God when we repent, admit our sins of selfishness, our bigotry, our rejection of others, our indifference to the sufferings of others, our envy of other peoples blessings, our misuse or squandering of the gifts with which we have been blessed and make up our minds to try harder to be the kind of man, the kind of women we are meant to be as a follower of the risen Christ.
But to know Christ’s peace we have to be at peace with others, especially those closest to us, our spouses, our sons and daughters, our relatives. To know Christ’s peace we have to be at peace with those we feel wronged us by the way they spoke of us or to us. To know Christ’s peace we have to be willing to let go of past hurts and disappointments, let go of our long held grudges. To know Christ’s peace we have to forgive as we seek forgiveness.
As I’ve said so many times, we are good people but we struggle every day with a basic fact of life – the good we would do that we do not and the evil we would not do that we do. We are mistake making beings. There are times when we can make very bad, hurtful, selfish mistakes. It is then more than ever that we need the peace and forgiveness of our Risen Lord.
As one writer observed, ‘my difficulty is not so much in believing that God exists, my difficulty is believing that God loves, that God loves someone like me who has done some pretty awful things in my life. If and when we think like this we we are challenged to hear the words of the risen and forgiving Christ – peace be with you. If and when we fail to trust the peace and forgiveness we could remember the confident words of Paul, the persecutor of the church, ‘there is one thing I go, I forget what is behind and I go with confidence to the throne of grace’. It is there that Paul knew peace. It is there that we will know peace, peace beyond our understanding. Peace be with you.
| Posted in Homily |
April 18th, 2015
April 20th to April 25th, 2015
MONDAY – JAN TRUDEL – Requested by Gilles Trudel TUESDAY – HUI SOU LIN – Requested by Linda Law & Family WEDNESDAY – ED KARTHAUS – Requested by Society of St. Vincent de Paul-St. Gabriel’s THURSDAY – LEONARD MARCHIE – Requested by Theresa & Family FRIDAY – JOSEPH RORAI – Requested by Sheila & Family SATURDAY – DAVID POGSON – Requested by Cecilia Borbely
Our modern day lifestyle is slowly undoing the miracle of God’s work. Following Pope Francis’ April 2015 prayer intention, this month we pray and reflect on the goodness of creation and how our dependence on fossil fuels is putting life at risk, at home and around the world. We prepare for the forthcoming encyclical and reflect on what we are called to do, to act. Look out for more information and show your support by signing the petition online at www.CatholicClimateMovement.global.
Working wonders in our livelihoods…
“My worst day clean is better than my best day using” exclaims Suzanne, as she shares the details of her past use of drugs and other substance abuse. “I was on medication constantly to deal with the side effects and was a chronic pain patient for 35 years. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. With the support of Catholic Family Services, I was able to finally kick the habit.” The Closed Trauma and Sister mentoring program were crucial to helping Suzanne get her life back on track. The positive influence of CFS program supervisor Valerie Anderson and encouragement from other professional staff gave Suzanne the courage to try again. She sheds ‘tears of joy’ as she now speaks on behalf of CFS, sharing the detailed differences Catholic Family Services has made in her life. Over 79,000 individuals received help in getting their lives back on track through ShareLife-supported family services program.
ShareLife, 2014: $220,250 ShareLife to Date: $77,651 Next ShareLife Sunday – May 3, 2015 Please give generously. You can work wonders!
Weekend of April 25th/26th
Your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses next weekend for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are 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. Three recipes are available on St. Gabriel’s web site. Printed copies of the recipes are also available in the Parish Office. Please 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.
Did you know that milk bags can be cut, looped and woven into sleep mats for individuals or families in developing countries? Schools churches and senior homes throughout the Greater Toronto Area would welcome your contributions. Please drop the colourful outer bags in the bin located in the gathering space. Please make sure that the bags are clean and dry.
For further information about this program please visit www.milkbagsunlimited.ca or contact Sharon Gusz at sharongusz@gmail.com
Weekend of May 2nd/3rd
The Society for St. Vincent de Paul will hold their annual Bundle Up Collection on the weekend of May 2nd/3rd. Bring your gently used clothing and household linens to share with others.
A St. Vincent de Paul truck will be in the Church parking lot to receive donations. We will donate or sell these donations to support our outreach efforts. Thank you for your continued support.
The truck will be open in the parking lot on Saturday, May 2nd from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. and all day Sunday, May 3rd until 1:00 P.M. Volunteers will assist with the loading before and after each Mass.
Collection for Last Weekend
Envelopes 402 $ 7,195 Loose Change 792 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 166 3,153 Total 568 $ 11,140
The pledge total as of Monday, April 13th 2015 is $ 1,060,493. Thank you!
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.
If we then receive an offertory envelope from a prior year and there is no identification on the envelope, that offertory donation could easily be credited to the wrong person.
April 21st to April 24th from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM 100 Wellesley Street West
A reader’s paradise can be found at the Fourth Annual Regis College Used Book Sale! More than 20,000 gently used (many as good as new) fiction and non-fiction books on a range of subjects, including theology, spirituality, art, history, travel, biographies, cooking, hobbies, business, children’s books and more! Cash, cheque, debit, Visa and MasterCard accepted. Proceeds support Regis College.
Admission is free with the exception of $5 entry fee on Day One from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. For more information, please visit www.RegisCollege.ca/BookSale or call 416-922-5474, ext. 244. Regis College is the Jesuit School of Theology at the University of Toronto.
Speed dating Event
Saturday, May 2nd at 7:30 PM
Hi, if you’re a Single, Practicing Catholic, age 25 to 95 years, why not join our Group? On Saturday, May 2nd at 7:30 the group will hold a Speed-Dating Event for ages 25 to 40, 35 to 50 and 50+.
Membership is free. There is no speed-dating fee. The event will be at a restaurant near Lawrence and Don Mills Road.
For more information go to http://www.meetup.com/Practicing-Catholic-Singles-Aged-25-Up-Speed-Dating-On-line/
5km Fundraising Walk and Hug
Saturday, May 9th, 2015
10:00 A.M. Walk to SickKids
New Beginnings and Catholic Family Services invite you to join them for an inspirational talk entitled Marriage and Annulment. Fr. Brian Clough, Judicial Vicar, Archdiocese of Toronto will provide you with an understanding of the Catholic Church’s teachings on marriage and annulment. The Catholic Pastoral centre is located at 1155 Yonge Street, adjacent to the Summerhill Subway Station. Free underground parking is also available.
For more information, please call 416-921-1163, Ext. 2227 or email alopechuk@cfstoronto.com
Married couples: You deserve a weekend to cherish being together; to rediscover each other and focus on ways to make your relationship even better. A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend offers this opportunity. Consider giving each other or another couple you know the gift of a weekend away from daily pressures; time to be with each other and with God on a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. The next weekend will be held on May 22nd to 24th, 2015
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
