Bulletin – December 8, 2013

December 8th, 2013

A MESSAGE FROM FR. PAUL

Good People,

As I mentioned at the 10:30 Mass a few weeks ago, I will be spending the next 5 months in Florida. I am going to be working at our retreat house in North Palm Beach until after Easter. I’ll be home sometime in early May.

The retreat house is called Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center. It is at 1300 US Highway 1, North Palm Beach, Fl. 33408. The phone number is 1-561-626-1300. I suggest you look it up on the internet. It is a beautiful place.

Remember me in your prayers and I will do the same for you. Many thanks for many kindnesses.

Fr. Paul

ADVENT-SOLSTICE REFLECTION

“Shifting from Darkness to Light: Not by Passive Hope.”
Saturday, December 21st from 7:30 to 9:00 P.M.

The hopeful expectation of the Advent season requires our active participation to effect change; it is not a passive hope.

By examining the recent typhoon in the Philippines, we will seek signs of active hope and reflect on the Church’s calls for ecological justice.

Please contact Dennis O’Hara at dennis.ohara@utoronto.ca or 416-926-1300, ext. 3408 to register or for more information.

GIFTS FOR ROSALIE HALL

For many years, St Gabriel’s has had a close relationship with Rosalie Hall. At this time of the year, we are thinking of the young mothers and babies in need of assistance. If you wish to help, you may choose a “Christmas Stocking” from the Christmas tree in the Gathering Space to purchase pyjamas or undershirts, for babies ages 6, 9 or 12 months. If you wish to buy a toy, please take a”Gingerbread Boy” tag.

Unwrapped items with the original tag attached can be left in the box provided near the Giving Tree no later than December 12th.

For the Moms, we are suggesting gift cards from Shoppers Drug Mart, Tim Horton’s, Walmart or MacDonald’s. These can be placed in the envelopes provided and brought to the Parish Office. Thank you for your ongoing support of Rosalie Hall.

CHILDREN’S CHOIR

FAMILY MASS – CHRISTMAS EVE AT 7:00 PM
Rehearsal: Sunday, December 22nd from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Each year, young people, Grade 3 and up, form a special choir for the Family Mass on Christmas Eve. Children must be at the Church by 6:00 PM. One rehearsal, which is mandatory, will be held on Sunday, December 22nd from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Please call Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041 for more information.

Christmas Schedule 2013

INDIVIDUAL ADVENT CONFESSIONS
Wednesday – December 11th
3:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.

MASSES

CHRISTMAS EVE – Tuesday, December 24th
No 9:00 A.M. Mass
7:00 P.M. – Family Mass – Carol Singing
9:00 P.M. – Adult Choir – Carol Singing
12:00 A.M. – Midnight Mass – Contemporary Group

Office Open 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. only

CHRISTMAS DAY – Wednesday, December 25th
10:30 A.M.
12:30 P.M.
Office Closed

BOXING DAY – Thursday, December 26th
No 9:00 A.M. Mass, Office Closed

NEW YEAR’S EVE – Tuesday, December 31st
No 9:00 A.M. Mass
Mass at 5:00 P.M. for the Feast of Mary the Mother of God
Office Open 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. only

NEW YEAR’S DAY – Wednesday, January 1st
FEAST OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD
10:30 A.M.
12:30 P.M.
Office Closed

Parking

While parking at ground level is limited to 51 spaces, there is plenty of space in the underground parking lot. Please follow the instructions of the attendants. Do not park in front of the Church since this is a fire route and must be kept clear.

Additional parking is available on the east side of Elkhorn Public School and in the bus loop.
Again, please follow the instructions of the attendant. The school requests that we do not park on the grass. Many thanks to Holly Richards, the Principal of Elkhorn Public School, for allowing us the use of the school property.

BISHOP GARY GORDON

Bishop Gary Gordon spoke at all the Masses last weekend about his work in the Yukon. If you would like to learn more about Bishop Gordon’s diocese and his ministry, you can find further information at www.whitehorsediocese.com.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

December 9th to December 14th, 2013

MONDAY – RENATA SPIELMANN – Requested by the Family
TUESDAY – CECILIA BLAZINA – Requested by Nora Kerr
WEDNESDAY – ANNA McGLADE – Requested by Mary Ann & Fergus O’Connell
THURSDAY – SHARON MURPHY – Requested by Margaret Anne Leckie
FRIDAY – SPECIAL INTENTION – Requested by Michael & Marie Gennaro
SATURDAY – DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH & WROBEL FAMILIES – Requested by Wanda & Jack Wrobel

PHILIPPINES TYPHOON HAIYAN HUMANITARIAN RELIEF

Donations to aid victims of Typhoon Haiyan can still be made through the Parish using the yellow relief envelopes or by visiting our website and clicking on the box that says “Donate Now.” The Canadian government has announced it will match donations to the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund made by Canadians between November 9th and December 20th.

Philippines Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund to Date: $27,689

THE GIVING TREE

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has a Giving Tree in the Gathering Space decorated with gift tags. Each tag has the gender and age of a child. We invite you to take a tag, buy a gift of about $25.00 for that child and return the unwrapped gift, with the tag attached to the box provided in the Gathering Space.

If you are a knitter, there are mitten tags. Please take one and return mitts to the box in the Gathering Space. Thank you for your generous support.

CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE

We are having a Christmas Toy Drive for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society. Can you help by dropping off an unwrapped new toy for a child 0 to 12 years old? Containers will be set up at the doors of the Church until Sunday, December 15th.

GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

There but for the Grace of God…
Please help feed the hungry and homeless this Christmas by participating in the Good Shepherd Centre’s annual Christmas Food Drive.

Urgently Needed Items:
Rice, pasta and sauces, breakfast cereals, powered fruit juices, canned items – fish, meats, vegetables, fruit, soup or stews, peanut butter, jams, tea, ground and instant coffee, sugar, cookies and crackers, ketchup, mustard and relish.

Donations may be left in the designated containers at the doors of the Church. We thank you for your generous support.

JUST COFFEE

Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend.

Regular ground coffee: $5.50
Decaffeinated: $6
Whole Beans: $5.50
Chocolate Bars: $4 incl. Taxes
Hot Chocolate and Cocoa: $4.75
Teas: $4.00 and $4.25 by variety

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL INFORMATION MEETING

Tuesday, December 17th at 7:30 P.M.

If you are interested in learning more about or joining the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, you are invited to attend an information meeting on Tuesday, December 17th at 7:30 P.M. here at the Church.

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for December 1st, 2013

Envelopes 427 $13,140
Loose Change $1,101
Weekly Portion of PAG 182 $3,519 (Pre-Authorized Giving)
Total $17,760

Please remember to print your full name on your Offertory envelope and then seal it.

OFFERTORY DONATION USING VISA, MASTERCARD OR AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CARD

You can now use your credit card to make your recurring or one-time Offertory donations to St. Gabriel’s. Your donations may earn you valuable points, travel miles or cash back! A classic case of giving and receiving!

Simply log on to the Archdiocese of Toronto website (www.archtoronto.org) select “Donate Now”, “Our Parish”, “Toronto East”, then pick “St. Gabriel Catholic Parish” under Parish in the Donation Information section. Complete all required information.

Remember that your tax receipt for a recurring offertory donation will be issued to you by the Archdiocese at the end of the year. For a one-time gift, your tax receipt is emailed to you immediately.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2014

The 2014 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are now available in the Gathering Space. Please inform the Parish Office if you have recently moved or are new to the Parish so that we may update our records. If you are on the Pre- Authorized Giving Plan, you will still receive a smaller green box of envelopes which includes Initial, New Year’s, Christmas, Easter and Maintenance envelopes. You may contact the Parish Office if you do not have envelopes but would like a box for 2014.

Bulletin – December 1, 2013

December 1st, 2013

A MESSAGE FROM FR. PAUL

Good People,
As I mentioned at the 10:30 Mass, I will be spending the next 5 months in Florida. I am going to be working at our retreat house in North Palm Beach until after Easter. I’ll be home sometime in early May.

The retreat house is called Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center. It is at 1300 US Highway 1, North Palm Beach, Fl. 33408. The phone number is 1-561-626-1300. I suggest you look it up on the internet. It is a beautiful place.

Remember me in your prayers and I will do the same for you. Many thanks for many kindnesses.
Fr. Paul

AN ADVENT EVENING OF REFLECTION

“Advent: New beginnings”
Wednesday, December 4th from 7:30 to 8:30 P.M.

To prepare our hearts and minds for Christmas, the parish will once again be hosting an Advent Evening of Reflection on Wednesday, December 4th, from 7:30 to 8:30 P.M. This year, our theme will be “Advent: New beginnings”. Father Jack Lynch sfm will be leading us in prayer and reflection.

Father Lynch is a member of the Scarboro Foreign Missions. He was first missioned to Peru. Later he served as Director of a regional formation Center for 10 years in Central America. From 1997 to 2012, Father Lynch was Superior General of the Scarboro Missions. He is presently engaged in retreat work; and he continues with his involvement with the televised masses on Vision TV and Salt and Light TV.

With the Christmas season fast approaching, and as the pressure for us to shop, entertain, and decorate keeps mounting, this evening will be a great opportunity to pause, listen, and look deeply into our lives to find room to appreciate the meaning of “God with us”.

Please mark your calendar, and reserve the time for some quietude, so that we can remain anchored amidst the busyness of the season.

GIFTS FOR ROSALIE HALL

For many years, St Gabriel’s has had a close relationship with Rosalie Hall. At this time of the year, we are thinking of the young mothers and babies in need of assistance. If you wish, to help, you may choose a “Christmas Stocking” from the Christmas tree in the Gathering Space to purchase pyjamas or undershirts, for babies ages 6, 9 or 12 months. If you wish to buy a toy, please take a” Gingerbread Boy” tag.

Unwrapped Items with the original tag attached can be left in the box provided near the Giving Tree no later than December 12th.

For the Moms, we are suggesting gift cards from Shoppers Drug Mart, Tim Horton’s, Walmart or MacDonald’s. These can be placed in the envelopes provided and brought to the Parish Office. Thank you for your ongoing support of Rosalie Hall.

Christmas Schedule 2013

INDIVIDUAL ADVENT CONFESSIONS
Wednesday – December 11th
3:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.

MASSES

CHRISTMAS EVE – Tuesday, December 24th
No 9:00 A.M. Mass
7:00 P.M. – Family Mass – Carol Singing
9:00 P.M. – Adult Choir – Carol Singing
12:00 A.M. – Midnight Mass – Contemporary Group

Office Open 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. only

CHRISTMAS DAY – Wednesday, December 25th
10:30 A.M.
12:30 P.M.
Office Closed

BOXING DAY – Thursday, December 26th
No 9:00 A.M. Mass, Office Closed

NEW YEAR’S EVE – Tuesday, December 31st
No 9:00 A.M. Mass
Mass at 5:00 P.M. for the Feast of Mary the Mother of God
Office Open 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. only

NEW YEAR’S DAY – Wednesday, January 1st
FEAST OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD
10:30 A.M.
12:30 P.M.
Office Closed

ANNOUNCED MASSES

December 2nd to December 7th, 2013

MONDAY – JOSEPH MATTHEW FERNANDES – Requested by the Fernandes Family
TUESDAY – PATRICIA KEATING – Requested by Tom Keane
WEDNESDAY – JOSEPH LUAN NGUYEN – Requested by the Family
THURSDAY – MARIA DI DIODATO – Requested by the Family
FRIDAY – POONA JOSEPH – Requested by the Family
SATURDAY – MIKE PALAZZO & CHRISTOPHER DI LALLO – Requested by the Family

DAY OF CONFESSION

Wednesday, December 11th from 3:00 to 6:00 P.M.

On Wednesday, December 11th, we will all have the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Archdiocesan Day of Confessions. This week, let us make the journey into the heart of our relationship with God. Take a long, loving look at the ways God calls us to grow. Take this challenge and hold it in readiness for the rich blessing that is manifest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In our parish, confessions will be heard on Wednesday, December 11th from 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.

MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER COLLECTION

December 7th/8th

Next Sunday, there will be a special collection in all parishes across the Diocese in support of Aboriginal people in Canada. The Moving Forward Together Campaign collection will fund local and national healing and education programs to help build a brighter future with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters. If we are to truly live Jesus’ fundamental command to “love one another” (John 15:12), it becomes a challenge for all of us to embrace. Special Moving Forward Together Campaign envelopes are available. You can also give online at: movingforwardtogether.ca.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

December 7th/8th

You are invited after all the Masses on December 7th/8th to sign an Amnesty International petition and/or send a greeting card to a prisoner of conscience or human rights defender who is under threat. Human Rights Day is officially December 10th commemorating the adoption of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

PHILIPPINES TYPHOON HAIYAN HUMANITARIAN RELIEF

If you wish to assist the relief efforts for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, you can make an online donation

  • 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 – Philippines Earthquake – Humanitarian Relief

The Canadian government has announced it will match donations to the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund made by Canadians between November 9th and December 9th. Contributions made to the Archdiocese of Toronto for this relief effort will be eligible for the matching program.

We offer our prayers for the victims of this natural disaster and those who have been displaced. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to help those in crisis.

Philippines Typhoon Haiyan relief Fund to Date: $9,385

THE GIVING TREE

During Advent, the Society of St Vincent de Paul will have a Giving Tree in the Gathering Space. The tree will be decorated with gift tags. Each tag will have the gender and age of a child. We invite you to take a tag, buy a gift of about $25.00 for that child and return the unwrapped gift, with the tag attached, to the box provided in the Gathering Space.If you are a knitter, there will be mitten tags. Please take one and return mitts to the box in the Gathering Space. Thank you for your generous support.

CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE

We are having a Christmas Toy Drive for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society and Rosalie Hall. Can you help by dropping off an unwrapped new toy for a child 0 to 12 years old? Containers will be set up at the doors of the Church until Sunday, December 15th.

GOOD SHEPHERD CASSEROLES

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 38 casseroles for November. For December, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of December 28th/29th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. More volunteers are needed to help feed the needy. If you require more information please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.

“WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS” CONCERT

St. Bonaventure’s Parish
Friday, December 6th at 8:00 P.M.

Born out of 76 years of choral excellence from the prestigious St. Michael’s Choir School, Seraphim has assembled the finest Alumni chorus to perform We Need a Little Christmas at St. Bonaventure Parish (1300 Leslie St. just south of Lawrence) on Friday, December 6th starting at 8:00 P.M. Suggested Donation: $10 per person or $30 per family

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for November 24th, 2013

Envelopes 418 $10,406
Loose Change $1,081
Weekly Portion of PAG 182 $3,519 (Pre-Authorized Giving)
Total $15,006

Please remember to print your full name on your Offertory envelope and then seal it.

OFFERTORY DONATION USING VISA, MASTERCARD OR AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CARD

PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING OPTION

You can now use your credit card to make your recurring or one-time Offertory donations to St. Gabriel’s. Your donations may earn you valuable points, travel miles or cash back! A classic case of giving and receiving! Simply log on to the Archdiocese of Toronto website (www.archtoronto.org) select “Donate Now”, “Our Parish”, “Toronto East”, then pick “St. Gabriel Catholic Parish” under Parish in the Donation Information section. Complete all required information. Remember that your tax receipt for a recurring offertory donation will be issued to you by the Archdiocese at the end of the year. For a one-time gift, your tax receipt is emailed to you immediately.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2014

The 2014 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the Gathering Space. Please inform the Parish Office if you have recently moved or are new to the Parish so that we may update our records. If you are on the Pre- Authorized Giving Plan, you will still receive a smaller green box of envelopes since these include Initial, New Year’s, Christmas, Easter and Maintenance envelopes. You may contact the Parish Office if you do not have envelopes but would like a box for 2014.

Bulletin – December 1, 2013

December 1st, 2013

A MESSAGE FROM FR. PAUL

Good People,

As I mentioned at the 10:30 Mass a few weeks ago, I will be spending the next 5 months in Florida. I am going to be working at our retreat house in North Palm Beach until after Easter. I’ll be home sometime in early May.

The retreat house is called Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center. It is at 1300 US Highway 1, North Palm Beach, Fl. 33408. The phone number is 1-561-626-1300. I suggest you look it up on the internet. It is a beautiful place.

Remember me in your prayers and I will do the same for you. Many thanks for many kindnesses.

Fr. Paul

AN ADVENT EVENING OF REFLECTION

“Advent: New beginnings”
Wednesday, December 4th from 7:30 to 8:30 P.M.

To prepare our hearts and minds for Christmas, the parish will once again be hosting an Advent Evening of Reflection on Wednesday, December 4th, from 7:30 to 8:30 P.M. This year, our theme will be “Advent: New beginnings”. Father Jack Lynch sfm will be leading us in prayer and reflection.

Father Lynch is a member of the Scarboro Foreign Missions. He was first missioned to Peru. Later he served as Director of a regional formation Center for 10 years in Central America. From 1997 to 2012, Father Lynch was Superior General of the Scarboro Missions. He is presently engaged in retreat work; and he continues with his involvement with the televised masses on Vision TV and Salt and Light TV.

With the Christmas season fast approaching, and as the pressure for us to shop, entertain, and decorate keeps mounting, this evening will be a great opportunity to pause, listen, and look deeply into our lives to find room to appreciate the meaning of “God with us”.

Please mark your calendar, and reserve the time for some quietude, so that we can remain anchored amidst the busyness of the season.

GIFTS FOR ROSALIE HALL

For many years, St Gabriel’s has had a close relationship with Rosalie Hall. At this time of the year, we are thinking of the young mothers and babies in need of assistance. If you wish, to help, you may choose a “Christmas Stocking” from the Christmas tree in the Gathering Space to purchase pyjamas or undershirts, for babies ages 6, 9 or 12 months. If you wish to buy a toy, please take a” Gingerbread Boy” tag.

Unwrapped Items with the original tag attached can be left in the box provided near the Giving Tree no later than December 12th. For the Moms, we are suggesting gift cards from Shoppers Drug Mart, Tim Horton’s, Walmart or MacDonald’s. These can be placed in the envelopes provided and brought to the Parish Office. Thank you for your ongoing support of Rosalie Hall.

Christmas Schedule 2013

INDIVIDUAL ADVENT CONFESSIONS
Wednesday – December 11th
3:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.

MASSES

CHRISTMAS EVE – Tuesday, December 24th
No 9:00 A.M. Mass
7:00 P.M. – Family Mass – Carol Singing
9:00 P.M. – Adult Choir – Carol Singing
12:00 A.M. – Midnight Mass – Contemporary Group

Office Open 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. only

CHRISTMAS DAY – Wednesday, December 25th
10:30 A.M.
12:30 P.M.
Office Closed

BOXING DAY – Thursday, December 26th
No 9:00 A.M. Mass, Office Closed

NEW YEAR’S EVE – Tuesday, December 31st
No 9:00 A.M. Mass
Mass at 5:00 P.M. for the Feast of Mary the Mother of God
Office Open 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. only

NEW YEAR’S DAY – Wednesday, January 1st
FEAST OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD
10:30 A.M.
12:30 P.M.
Office Closed

ANNOUNCED MASSES

December 2nd to December 7th, 2013

MONDAY – JOSEPH MATTHEW FERNANDES – Requested by the Fernandes Family
TUESDAY – PATRICIA KEATING – Requested by Tom Keane
WEDNESDAY – JOSEPH LUAN NGUYEN – Requested by the Family
THURSDAY – MARIA DI DIODATO – Requested by the Family
FRIDAY – POONA JOSEPH – Requested by the Family
SATURDAY – MIKE PALAZZO & CHRISTOPHER DI LALLO – Requested by the Family

DAY OF CONFESSION

Wednesday, December 11th from 3:00 to 6:00 P.M.

On Wednesday, December 11th, we will all have the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Archdiocesan Day of Confessions. This week, let us make the journey into the heart of our relationship with God. Take a long, loving look at the ways God calls us to grow. Take this challenge and hold it in readiness for the rich blessing that is manifest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

In our parish, confessions will be heard on Wednesday, December 11th from 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.

MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER COLLECTION

December 7th/8th

Next Sunday, there will be a special collection in all parishes across the Diocese in support of Aboriginal people in Canada. The Moving Forward Together Campaign collection will fund local and national healing and education programs to help build a brighter future with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters. If we are to truly live Jesus’ fundamental command to “love one another” (John 15:12), it becomes a challenge for all of us to embrace. Special Moving Forward Together Campaign envelopes are available. You can also give online at: movingforwardtogether.ca.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

December 7th/8th

You are invited after all the Masses on December 7th/8th to sign an Amnesty International petition and/or send a greeting card to a prisoner of conscience or human rights defender who is under threat. Human Rights Day is officially December 10th commemorating the adoption of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

PHILIPPINES TYPHOON HAIYAN HUMANITARIAN RELIEF

If you wish to assist the relief efforts for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, you can make an online donation

  • by visiting www.archtoronto.org
  • by calling the Development Office at: (416) 934-3411
  • by donating through our parish, making cheques payable to: St. Gabriel’s Parish – Philippines Typhoon Haiyan – Humanitarian Relief.

The Canadian government has announced it will match donations to the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund made by Canadians between November 9th and December 9th. Contributions made to the Archdiocese of Toronto for this relief effort will be eligible for the matching program.

We offer our prayers for the victims of this natural disaster and those who have been displaced. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to help those in crisis.
Philippines Typhoon Haiyan relief Fund to Date:$9,385

THE GIVING TREE

During Advent, the Society of St Vincent de Paul will have a Giving Tree in the Gathering Space.

The tree will be decorated with gift tags. Each tag will have the gender and age of a child. We invite you to take a tag, buy a gift of about $25.00 for that child and return the unwrapped gift, with the tag attached, to the box provided in the Gathering Space.

If you are a knitter, there will be mitten tags. Please take one and return mitts to the box in the Gathering Space.

Thank you for your generous support.

CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE

We are having a Christmas Toy Drive for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society and Rosalie Hall. Can you help by dropping off an unwrapped new toy for a child 0 to 12 years old? Containers will be set up at the doors of the Church until Sunday, December 15th.

GOOD SHEPHERD CASSEROLES

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 38 casseroles for November. For December, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of December 28th/29th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. More volunteers are needed to help feed the needy.

If you require more information please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.

“WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS” CONCERT

St. Bonaventure’s Parish
Friday, December 6th at 8:00 P.M.

Born out of 76 years of choral excellence from the prestigious St. Michael’s Choir School, Seraphim has assembled the finest Alumni chorus to perform We Need a Little Christmas at St. Bonaventure Parish (1300 Leslie St. just south of Lawrence) on Friday, December 6th starting at 8:00 P.M. Suggested Donation: $10 per person or $30 per family

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for November 24th, 2013

Envelopes 418 $10,406
Loose Change $1,081
Weekly Portion of PAG 182 $3,519
(Pre-Authorized Giving)
Total $15,006

Please remember to print your full name on your Offertory envelope and then seal it.

OFFERTORY DONATION USING VISA, MASTERCARD OR AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CARD
PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING OPTION

You can now use your credit card to make your recurring or one-time Offertory donations to St. Gabriel’s. Your donations may earn you valuable points, travel miles or cash back! A classic case of giving and receiving!

Simply log on to the Archdiocese of Toronto website (www.archtoronto.org) select “Donate Now”, “Our Parish”, “Toronto East”, then pick “St. Gabriel Catholic Parish” under Parish in the Donation Information section. Complete all required information.

Remember that your tax receipt for a recurring offertory donation will be issued to you by the Archdiocese at the end of the year. For a one-time gift, your tax receipt is emailed to you immediately.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2014

The 2014 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the Gathering Space. Please inform the Parish Office if you have recently moved or are new to the Parish so that we may update our records. If you are on the Pre- Authorized Giving Plan, you will still receive a smaller green box of envelopes since these include Initial, New Year’s, Christmas, Easter and Maintenance envelopes. You may contact the Parish Office if you do not have envelopes but would like a box for 2014.

Bulletin – November 24, 2013

November 24th, 2013

AN ADVENT EVENING OF REFLECTION

“Advent: New beginnings”
Wednesday, December 4th from 7:30 to 8:30 P.M.

To prepare our hearts and minds for Christmas, the parish will be hosting again an Advent Evening of Reflection on Wednesday, December 4th, from 7:30 to 8:30 P.M. This year, our theme will be “Advent: New beginnings”. Father Jack Lynch sfm will be leading us in prayer and reflection.

Father Lynch is a member of the Scarboro Foreign Missions. He was first missioned to Peru. Later he served as Director of a regional formation Center for 10 years in Central America. From 1997 to 2012, Father Lynch was Superior General of the Scarboro Missions. He is presently engaged in retreat work; and he continues with his involvement with the televised masses on Vision TV and Salt and Light TV.

With the Christmas season fast approaching, and as the pressure for us to shop, entertain, and decorate keeps mounting, this evening will be a great opportunity to pause, listen, and look deeply into our lives to find room to appreciate the meaning of “God with us”.

Please mark your calendar, and reserve the time for some quietude, so that we can remain anchored amidst the busyness of the season.

GIFTS FOR ROSALIE HALL

For many years, St Gabriel’s has had a close relationship with Rosalie Hall. At this time of the year, we are thinking of the young mothers and babies in need of assistance. If you wish, to help, you may choose a “Christmas Stocking” from the Christmas tree in the Gathering Space to purchase pyjamas or undershirts, for babies ages 6, 9 or 12 months. If you wish to buy a toy, please take a ”Gingerbread Boy” tag.

Unwrapped items with the original tag attached can be left in the box provided near the Giving Tree no later than December 12th.

For the Moms, we are suggesting gift cards from Shoppers Drug Mart, Tim Horton’s, Walmart or MacDonald’s. These can be placed in the envelopes provided and brought to the Parish Office. Thank you for your ongoing support of Rosalie Hall.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

November 25th to November 30th, 2013

MONDAY – LUIGI & ALBINA BERTOLONE – Requested by Frank & Sylvia Leaver
TUESDAY – JOSE MARTIN – Requested by Maria & Larry Cacao
WEDNESDAY – NANCY YEUNG – Requested by Wai Chin, Paul Hwang & Family
THURSDAY – ALVARO BOHORQUEZ – Requested by the Family
FRIDAY – ELIO RANCATI – Requested by the Family
SATURDAY – GIUSEPPINA SMERIGLIO – Requested by Lina Giannotta

NOVEMBER IS THE MONTH OF ALL SOULS

BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE

There is a Book of Remembrance placed on the altar for the month of November. You are invited to write the names of your deceased relatives and friends in the book. They will be remembered at all the Masses celebrated in November.

ECO-SABBATH

Sunday, December 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. The guided reflection brings an ecological perspective to the readings. All are welcome.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION – FIRST FRIDAY

Friday, December 6th from 9:30 AM – 12 Noon.

ROSARY GROUPS

Chinese: Sunday, December 1st at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room.
English: Saturday, December 7th at 3:15 PM in the Gabriel Room.
For information, please contact Linda Law at 416 -918-8029.

WELCOME! BAPTISM

The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome
Lucy Rose Carbonneau
Vivianne Marta Guay
Julia Larida Liwanag
Sebastian Alexander Mahdavi
Cameron Andrew James Mathias
Mason Lee St. Jean
Alicia Lulu Tabliago Yuen

These children received theSacrament of Baptism on Sunday, November 17th, 2013. Congratulations!

THE GIVING TREE

During Advent, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will have a Giving Tree in the Gathering Space. The tree will be decorated with gift tags. Each tag will have the gender and age of a child. We invite you to take a tag, buy a gift of about $25.00 for that child and return the unwrapped gift, with the tag attached, to the box provided in the Gathering Space.

If you are a knitter, there will be mitten tags. Please take one and return mitts to the box in the Gathering Space. Thank you for your generous support

SHEPHERD’S TRUST COLLECTION

Thank you for your generous support of this year’s Shepherd’s Trust Collection. $10,530 was collected to support the retired clergy of religious orders and diocesan priests in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

December 7th/8th

You are invited after all the Masses on December 7th/8th to sign an Amnesty International petition and/or send a greeting card to a prisoner of conscience or human rights defender who is under threat. Human Rights Day is officially December 10th commemorating the adoption of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights

PHILIPPINES TYPHOON HAIYAN HUMAITARIAN RELIEF

The Catholic community across the Archdiocese of Toronto is responding to the humanitarian crisis in the Philippines with prayer and practical assistance following the catastrophic effects of Typhoon Haiyan on November 8th. We will be working with Catholic partners in the affected region who will be present to address short and long term needs.

If you wish to assist the relief efforts, you can make an online donation

  • 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 – Philippines Earthquake – Humanitarian Relief

The Canadian government has announced it will match donations to the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund made by Canadians between November 9th and December 9th. Contributions made to the Archdiocese of Toronto for this relief effort will be eligible for the matching program.

We offer our prayers for the victims of this natural disaster and those who have been displaced. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to help those in crisis.

CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE

We are having a Christmas Toy Drive for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society. Can you help by dropping off an unwrapped new toy for a child 0 to 12 years old? Containers will be set up at the doors of the Church from Saturday, November 30th until Sunday, December 15th.

“WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS” CONCERT

St. Bonaventure’s Parish
Friday, December 6th at 8:00 P.M.

Born out of 76 years of choral excellence from the prestigious St. Michael’s Choir School, Seraphim has assembled the finest Alumni chorus to perform We Need a Little Christmas at St. Bonaventure Parish (1300 Leslie St. just south of Lawrence) on Friday, December 6th, 2013 starting at 8pm. Suggested Donation: $10 per person or $30 per family.

FINANCE CORNER

Collection for November 17th, 2013

Envelopes 437 $8,825
Loose Change $976
Weekly Portion of PAG 182 $3,519 (Pre-Authorized Giving)
Total $13,320

WEEKLY OFFERTORY COLLECTION

The Parish’s 2013 budgeted operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
In order to meet our on-going expenses, the Finance Council recommends the following:

(i) consider the Pre-Authorized Giving option (forms are available from the office or on the Parish’s web-site); or

(ii) use offertory envelopes on a weekly basis (remember tax receipts are only issued if you use an envelope or PAG).

If you are a regular Parish member and you do not contribute to the Offertory collection, the Finance Council reminds you that “the responsibility of supporting 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.

Summary of Financial Statement for Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013:

Total receipts (including Diocesan collections of $184,532) $775,327
Total payments (including Diocesan disbursements of $184,532) $825,311
Payments in excess of receipts for nine months $(49,984)

The parish’s detailed financial statement for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 can be found on the parish website under “Finances”.

OFFERTORY DONATION USING VISA, MASTERCARD OR AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CARD
PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING OPTION

You can now use your credit card to make your recurring or one-time Offertory donations to St. Gabriel’s. Your donations may earn you valuable points, travel miles or cash back! A classic case of giving and receiving!

Simply log on to the Archdiocese of Toronto website (www.archtoronto.org) select “Donate Now”, “Our Parish”, “Toronto East”, then pick “St. Gabriel Catholic Parish” under Parish in the Donation Information section. Complete all required information.

Remember that your tax receipt for a recurring offertory donation will be issued to you by the Archdiocese at the end of the year. For a one-time gift, your tax receipt is emailed to you immediately.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2014

The 2014 Offertory Boxed Envelopes will be available in the Gathering Space at the end of November. Please inform the Parish Office if you have recently moved or are new to the Parish so that we may update our records and label your box correctly.

If you are on the Pre- Authorized Giving Plan, you will still receive a smaller green box of envelopes since these include Initial, New Year’s, Christmas, Easter and Maintenance envelopes. You may contact the Parish Office if you do not have envelopes but would like a box for 2014.

Homily – November 24, 2013

November 24th, 2013

Have you ever been at a lecture and at the end of the lecture the speaker says, ‘now to sum it all up’ and he tries to tie everything together and make some sense of what he said?

This is the last Sunday of our liturgical year and in a way the church is saying to us, ‘well to sum it all up the truth of the matter is this, Christ is King.’ Christ is King of kings, Lord of lords.’

This feast was instituted by Pope Pius 11th in 1925. It was at a time when many of the royal families of Europe were being replaced by other forms of government. It was a time of growing nationalism and secularism and the truths of our faith were being pushed out of public life. So Pope Pius brought us back to a basic truth that Christ is the King to whom we owe loyalty before all others.

Hearing today’s gospel, remembering Jesus nailed to the cross, wearing his mock crown of thorns, taunted with that last temptation ‘if you are the king of the Jews come down from the cross and we will believe – or the words of the thief, ‘save yourself and us’ Jesus remains faithful to his life’s mission – to bear witness to the love of the Father for all of us. Jesus preached his last sermon from his cross telling us that God so loved the world he sent his son to the world, not to condemn us but to bring us closer to our loving God.

As one author wrote,’ He is the king who serves the other. He is the king who dies for the other. He is the king who is ridiculed, scorned, and mocked. Most insufferable, most repugnant of all, is the fact that he is a powerless sovereign. Dying on his cross-throne, Jesus is thrice taunted for the fact that he does not save himself. “You a savior?” they jeer. “Then save yourself.” Soldiers with their sour wine chide, “Aren’t you a real king? Save yourself.” Even a criminal scolds: “I thought you were supposed to be a Messiah. Prove it.”

This is all so out of step with our notion of kingship. As St. Paul wrote – to the Greeks this was foolish, to the Jews this was a stumbling block. But to those who believe Christ the King is the power of God, the wisdom of God.

What has all this to do with us? We say we are the followers of Christ and as such we are called, each in our own way, in how we live and how we love and serve to bring about Christ’s kingdom in our day, in our homes, in our workplace, in our parish, in our community, in our world.

In the preface for this feast we hear that Christ wants each one of us to establish an eternal and universal kingdom – a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace. The reality of our lives is so far removed from such a kingdom. The reality of our lives is social injustice and the exploitation of the poor, job insecurities, strident political divisions. The reality of our lives is in knowing that we are helpless to stop the civil wars that blight the human family. Life is unfair to so many men, women and children around the world especially those driven from their homes by civil wars. The teaching of Christ, ‘love one another as I have loved you’ falls on too many deaf ears. At the same time Christ’s love is alive in people’s generous response to needs of our brothers and sisters in the Philippines. Christ’s love will be seen in people’s generous response to the food and toy drives for this coming Christmas. There is good in this world or ours, there is love and healing in this troubled world or ours. But we have a long way to go before we realize Christ the King’s kingdom of truth and life, holiness and grace, justice love and peace. But we must never stop trying. Remember the song, ‘let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me – let there be truth and life, holiness and grace, justice love and peace – and let it begin with me in the daily living of my life.

May the Bread of Life we receive at this Eucharist strength each of us to let Christ’s kingdom begin in me and with me.