March 23rd, 2014
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: March 31st, April 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 28th, 29th, 30, May 1st, or May 2nd.
Children from St. Gabriel’s School are asked to choose one of the following dates: May 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, or 16th.
Please call the Parish Office to book your appointment with Fr. Brando as soon as possible.
Wednesday, April 16th at 7:00 PM in the Gabriel Room
Passover is the oldest festival of the Hebrew liturgical calendar. It has been observed by the Jewish people for more than 3,000 years. It celebrates the freeing of the Jews who were slaves during the time of Moses. It occurs in the spring, the time of renewal in “Nissan”, the first month of the Hebrew year, and it lasts for eight days. At this time, their meals celebrate this momentous historical Jewish Event.
Why do we Christians celebrate this “meal” at St. Gabriel’s? First, this celebration helps us to understand our religious roots, which are Jewish. Second, it is an opportunity for us to celebrate our growth as a community and be together with families and friends at this most special time during Holy Week.
The menu is identical to the Seder supper’s menu and the meal is “pot luck” – each person brings a dish for their table.
Please call Ed Shiller at 647-407-2953 or 647-352-3133 by Wednesday, April 9th to book your table of 6 or 8 or to have your name added to a table.
The Parish is purchasing 600 new song hymnals. The green song books would also be retained. These hymnals which contain the words to more contemporary songs that we all know and recognize, will help us to fully participate in our liturgies.
Although these hymnals are being purchased at a special 20% saving, they represent a cost of $20 per hymnal. We would encourage you to help defray the cost by making a contribution of $20 per hymnal. You are not limited to contributing only for one hymnal and we welcome any amount you may wish to give. Any contribution should be placed in a blank envelope including your name, address and envelope number and should clearly indicate “Hymnals.”
March 24th to March 29th, 2014
MONDAY – LUCILLE & PAT ALTILIA – Requested by Marie & Michael Gennaro TUESDAY – LEILA THOMAS – Requested by Thomas Callaghan WEDNESDAY – CECILY TURTON – Requested by David Turton THURSDAY – MICHAEL PANG – Requested by the Family FRIDAY – MARTIN SMEE – Requested by the Family SATURDAY – GERRY BAVINGTON – Requested by Diana Bavington
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome: William Antonio Camacho, Sebastian Roger Kipp and Andrew Phillip Aninangin Ganon who received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, March 16th 2014. Congratulations!
Stations of the Cross Friday Evenings at 7:30 P.M.
Individual Confessions April 9th 11:00 A.M to 12:00 Noon 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Reconciliation Service April 9th at 7:30 P.M.
Palm Sunday April 13th Masses: Saturday. 4:30 P.M., Sunday 8:30 A.M., 10:30 A.M., 12:30 P.M.
Holy Thursday April 17th No 9:00 A.M. Mass 7:30 P.M. Mass of the Lord’s Supper Followed by Adoration until 10:00 P.M.
Good Friday April 18th 10:00 A.M. Morning Prayer 3:00 P.M. Solemn Passion of Our Lord 7:30 P.M. Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday April 19th No 4:30 P.M. Mass 8:00 P.M. Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday April 20th Masses: 8:30 A.M., 10:30 A.M., 12:30 P.M.
Easter Monday April 21st No 9:00 A.M. Mass Office closed
EXTRA PARKING AT ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOL
Saturday, March 29th at St. Gabriel’s Church at 2:00 P.M.
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, March 29th at 2:00 P.M.
Working wonders in our community…
Last year Mary Centre received a call to assist Robert, a client, when they learned that his sister Theresa, who lived with him, had collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. Due to a previous connection with Robert and Theresa, the agency was able to respond quickly. Mary Centre’s respite facility at St. Bernard’s is often fully booked a few months in advance but other families were supportive and changed their plans to accommodate this situation.Robert stayed at Mary Centre for 3 weeks until Theresa was able to return home and take care of him. He continues to come to St. Bernard’s at least once a month where he has felt welcome and has made friends. Robert and Theresa take comfort in knowing that Mary Centre was there for them. Theresa shared, “To know Mary Centre is to know people who are kind, considerate and thoughtful; thank you for all you’ve have done for my brother and me.” Last year, over 1,800 people with special needs received assistance from ShareLife-supported agencies.
First ShareLife Sunday – March 30, 2014 Please give generously. You can work wonders!
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. You may pick up a copy of a casserole recipe and a pan from the Parish Office.
Three recipes are also available on St. Gabriel’s web site. . Please remember to mark the label on the pan lid with the name of the casserole. For more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.
Weekend of April 5th/6th
To raise funds for FertilityCare Toronto, the St.Gabriel’s Youth Group will once again be selling hand-made Belgian dark chocolate or milk chocolate Easter eggs for $3.00 each before and after all the Masses on the weekend of April 5th/6th. Your support will help the Centre promote and maintain their service in the Diocese.
Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre April 11th to 13th
Refresh and rekindle your love for each other by treating yourselves to a marriage enrichment weekend at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre, or give a weekend as a gift to family or friends. The Centre offers comfort, excellent cuisine and an inspiring program. The next weekend is April 11-13, 2014. For information telephone: 905-278-5229.
April 25th to 27th
Retrouvaille consists of a live-in weekend and Post sessions to help couples experiencing troubles in their marriage relationships. For further confidential and no-obligation information, call 416- 281-6007 or go to: www.torontoretrouvaille.com. The next weekend will be held on April 25th to 27th in Mississauga.
April 27th to May 3rd from 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.
100 Wellesley Street West, 1st Floor Solarium
Regis College, the Jesuit College of Theology at the University of Toronto, is having its 3rd annual Book Sale from April 30th to May 3rd. If you have any gently used books to donate, they would be most appreciated. The books can be delivered to Regis College at 100 Wellesley St. E. (at Queens’s Park). For more information please call 416-922-5474 ext. 244 or email at regiscollege.ca/booksale.TT.
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for last weekend:
Envelopes 404 $8,036 Loose Change $1,385 Weekly Portion of PAG 177 $3,307 (Pre-Authorized Giving) Total $12,728
If you have been a Separate School Supporter and have moved, you may not realize that your tax support automatically defaults to the Public School system. If you would like to be a Separate School supporter, please pick up a form in the Parish office.
| Posted in Bulletin |
Two thirsty people meet at a well. St. Augustine wrote of that meeting, “The very one who asks for a drink promises a drink. The very one who seems to be in need, hoping to receive, is the one who is rich, wanting to give, wanting to satisfy our deepest thirsts.” Jesus promises the woman at the well, “Whoever drinks the water I give will never be thirsty. No, the water I give shall become a fountain within, leaping up to provide eternal life.”
There are two thirsts involved in this meeting at the well. There is our human thirst and there is God’s thirst. We humans thirst for many things. We thirst for meaning in our life; we thirst for love and acceptance. We thirst for happiness. We thirst for peace and forgiveness. We thirst for God. Jesus tells us he is the only one who ultimately quenches all our thirsts.
Do we ever think of God’s thirst for us? God thirsts for us especially when we try to quench our many thirsts by drinking the polluted waters of selfishness and infidelity. Christ’s pitiful cry from his cross,” I thirst” tells us of his thirst for our response to his great act of love. When we grasp the full mystery of the passion, death and resurrection of Christ hopefully we may realize that, as great as our many thirsts may be it is God’s eternal thirst for us, for our faith, our trust, our love, is the central mystery of our relationship with God.
During these remaining days of Lent may we try, as best we can, to satisfy God’s thirst by being faithful to the teachings of his Son by loving and forgiving others as he loves and forgives us and by being there for others in need as he is always there for us.
| Posted in Homily |
March 16th, 2014
I’ve been to the Mountain of the Transfiguration. There is a beautiful church there and two small chapels representing the three tents Peter wanted to build, one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. The view from this mountain is awesome.
Jesus took Peter, James and John, his favorite friends up this mountain to give them a glimpse of his glory and his closeness to the Father. They saw him transfigured, his whole being transformed and heard the Father’s proclamation, this is my beloved son, listen to him.’ The presence of Moses and Elijah is to let us know that Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. What an experience this must have been for Peter, James and John.
Later on Jesus brought these same three friends with him into the garden of Gethsemane. In that dark place they heard Jesus beg for his life, ‘Father if it is possible let this chalice pass me by, yet not my will but your will be done.’ There they watched Jesus sweat blood as he prayed for the strength to face his future. No one said, ‘Lord it is good for us to be here’ in Gethsemane. To block out all this tension they slept and Jesus chided them for their failure to be with him and support him.
There can be times in our lives as we struggle to live our lives as followers of Jesus we may experience the Jesus of the mountain. Experiencing the deep love of spouses and family and close friends we may be blessed with an awareness of God’s closeness to us and God’s love for us. In the sacrament of reconciliation we know, in the depth of our being, our sins are forgiven and sense God’s loving embrace. When we become aware of the beauty of God’s good creation we catch our breath at the wonder of it all.
But we know too that in reality our lives are lived mostly in our personal gardens of Gethsemane with the struggling, suffering Christ. We find it hard to say, ‘Lord it is good for us to be here.’
But this we must know; it is the Jesus of Gethsemane who walks with us when we find ourselves in the dark frightening times of our lives; when our relationships sour and fall apart and we feel betrayed by those we love, when we are told tests are positive or that the treatments we endured did not work, when we no longer have the mobility to go where we want, when our eyesight or our hearing fails. It is Jesus of Gethsemane who sustains us when we struggle with our faults and failures and live with the disappointing reality that the good we would do we do not and the evil that we would not do, that we do. It is the Jesus of Gethsemane who stays with us as we try to spend some time in prayer and often find that time so long. It is the Jesus of Nazareth who stays with us when our prayer life seems empty and God seems so distant.
It is Jesus of Gethsemane who is with us as we face our sense of shame and failure when we surrender ourselves to our addictions and compulsions. It is the Jesus of Gethsemane who is with us as we find ourselves out of work and unable to support our family. It is the Jesus of Gethsemane who tells us, do not be afraid just as the transfigured Jesus told Peter, James and John ‘do not be afraid’ because in all the circumstances of our lives Jesus is with us. Jesus walks with us, strengthens us, lifts us up when we fall and most all loves us. The glory of the Transfiguration is a prelude to the glory of the Risen Lord showing us his wounds, blazing pledges of his love for us with his message that when all is said and done life conquers death, love conquers hate, justice conquers injustice, and freedom conquers oppression. Do not be afraid.
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: March 31st, April 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 28th, 29th, 30th, May 1st, or May 2nd.
March 17th to March 22nd, 2014
MONDAY – ROSHIN JOSEPH – Requested by Thomas Callaghan TUESDAY – ARMAND OAKIE – Requested by the Family WEDNESDAY – OLIVIA BARRON – Requested by the Family THURSDAY – LOUISE ZOLNAY – Requested by Maggie FRIDAY – ANTHONY KANG – Requested by Paul & Wai Chin Hwang SATURDAY – GIUSEPPE CLEMENTINA – Requested by Chiara Intini & Family
Stations of the Cross will take place each Friday evening during Lent at 7:30 PM.
We also encourage your attendance at our daily Mass throughout Lent.
First Reconciliation for children attending St. Gabriel’s School, as well as those in the Children’s Faith Program and children attending Private Schools will be held at St. Gabriel’s Church on Saturday, March 29th at 2:00 P.M.
St. Gabriel’s Church 1st and 3rd Fridays beginning March 21st from 7:30 to 9:00 P.M.
Coordinated by the New Beginnings Program at Catholic Family Services of Toronto, this support group welcomes widows and widowers to a gathering which is full of hope and faithful sharing of ideas. The group is facilitated by Mary Muir. Please register with Deacon James Shaughnessy at 416-921-1163, ext. 2227 or by email at jshaughn@cfstoronto.com.
Envelopes 398 $ 6,583 Loose Change $ 944 Weekly Portion of PAG 177 $ 3,307
Total $10,834
Maintenance Collection: $ 7,453
Please read the 2013 financial statements of the Parish included with today’s bulletin, along with comments from the Financial Council.
Working wonders in our livelihoods…
Andrew attended counselling at Catholic Family Services in Simcoe at the suggestion of his employer. He was experiencing a considerable amount of conflict at work which was affecting his job performance. Andrew realized that if he didn’t get some help, he would be at risk of losing his job. Through counselling he learned more positive ways of interacting, as well as some healthy stress management skills. Today, Andrew has fewer conflicts at work and has learned how to separate his work and home life. He appreciated the help that Catholic Family Services provided to him when he needed it most. Last year, ShareLife-supported Family Service agencies provided family counselling to over 5,100 people in the Greater Toronto Area.
We are collecting Canadian Tire money in support of Matercare International. This association of Catholic Obstetricians and Gynecologists working in developing countries is dedicated to improving the lives and health of mothers and their children, both unborn and born, through initiatives of service, training, research and advocacy. Thank you for your continuing support of this worthwhile campaign.
Did you know that the plastic, outer bags from four litres of milk can be woven into quick-dry, bug-resistant bed mats for flood-ravaged areas of the third world, like Haiti. This gives them a practical use since they take 40 to 100 years to decompose. A bin has been placed in the gathering space for the collection of bags. Please remember to rinse out and dry bags before depositing them. Thank you.
Blessed Trinity Church Tuesday, March 18th from 9:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.
The Catholic Women’s League at Blessed Trinity Parish will be holding a Day of Recollection on Tuesday, March 18th from 9:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. The retreat will be led by Fr. Fred Mazzarella, under the theme “Walking with Jesus.” Holy Mass, confessions and Holy Rosary will be held as well. Refreshments and a warm luncheon will be served. Tickets are $20.00 each and may be requested from Louise Tonelli at 416-733-3946 or Anne Chang at 416-497-7739.
Holy Cross Cemetery 8361 Yonge Street, Thornhill Saturday, March 22nd at 9:00 A.M.
Catholic Cemeteries and the Archdiocese estate planning team will share: – How to protect your loved ones with a proper Will – How to ensure your wishes are legally protected – About Powers of Attorney – The cost savings of making an estate plan – Finding lawyers and estate planning advisors – Our Catholic traditions around wills, burials and funerals
An estate planning kit and DVD will be provided at no cost. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP: Frank Jannetta, Catholic Cemeteries 416.733-8544 ext. 237 or fjannetta@ccat.on.ca
St. Joseph’s Chapel, Regis College, 100 Wellesley St. West Saturday, March 22nd from 10:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. followed by a Vigil Mass for Peace at 4:30 P.M.
Regis College celebrates World Water Day with a theological workshop exploring the scientific, religious and spiritual significance of water. Journalist and author Alanna Mitchell, eco-theologian Prof. Dennis O’Hara, and Jesuit ecologist Fr. John McCarthy will focus on water as fundamental to our Catholic faith. For information and registration go to: https://www.z2systems.com/np /clients/regis/event.jsp?event=271
March 9th, 2014
Those children attending the Children’s Faith Program, private schools or others are asked to choose one of the following dates: March 31st, April 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 28th, 29th, 30, May 1st, or May 2nd.
March 10th to March 15th, 2014
MONDAY – HEALING OF THE SICK & CONVERSION OF SINNERS – Requested by the Chiu Family TUESDAY – JESSIE CHEER – Requested by Wai Chin & Paul Hwang & Family WEDNESDAY – PAULINE FUNG CHIU & CELINE CHIU KO – Requested by the Chiu Family THURSDAY – THE WELL BEING & THANKSGIVING OF THE CHIU & FUNG FAMILIES – Requested by the Chiu Family FRIDAY – ALICE MICHAEL – Requested by Charmaine Michael SATURDAY – PHILIP LEAH – Requested by Kathi Leah
During Lent there are two days of Fast and Abstinence, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Abstinence means to abstain from eating meat. This applies to all Catholics 14 years of age and older. Fasting means that your two smaller meals combined should not be larger than your main meal. There is no eating between meals. This applies to healthy people between the ages of 18 and 60.
Together we are continuing to work wonders…
“Help one another. This is what Jesus teaches. This is what I do. And I do it with my heart…I love doing it because this is what the Lord has taught me. But you too must help us and help each other always. And thus in helping each other we will do good for each other.” —Pope Francis
Our Holy Father reminds us of the importance of caring for each other. Through ShareLife agencies, we reach out to some of the most vulnerable, marginalized and needy people in our community, helping our neighbours, friends and fellow parishioners as they work through difficult times. This demonstrates our commitment to Catholic charity in a meaningful way. Please consider supporting ShareLife, the annual appeal of our Archdiocese, during this Lenten season. —Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto
First ShareLife Sunday – March 30, 2014 Please give generously. You can work wonders
Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend.
Regular ground coffee: $5.50 Decaffeinated: $6.00 Whole Beans: $5.50 Chocolate Bars: $4.00 incl. Taxes Hot Chocolate and Cocoa: $4.75 Teas: $4.25
Since our last report, we have collected another $97 in Canadian Tire money in support of Matercare International. This association of Catholic Obstetricians and Gynecologists working in developing countries, is dedicated to improving the lives and health of mothers and their children, both unborn and born. Thank you for your continuing support of this worthwhile campaign.
A bin has been placed in the gathering space for the collection of milk bags (outer bag only) which can be woven into quick-dry, bug-resistant bed mats for flood-ravaged areas of the third world, like Haiti. Please remember to rinse out and dry bags before depositing them. Thank you.
St. Gabriel’s Church 670 Sheppard Ave. East 1st and 3rd Fridays beginning March 21st, 7:30 to 9:30 P.M.
Catholic Cemeteries and the Archdiocese estate planning team will share:
– How to protect your loved ones with a proper Will – How to ensure your wishes are legally protected – About Powers of Attorney – The cost savings of making an estate plan – Finding lawyers and estate planning advisors – Our Catholic traditions around wills, burials and funerals
An estate planning kit and DVD will be provided at no cost. Refreshments will be provided.
RSVP: Frank Jannetta, Catholic Cemeteries 416.733-8544 ext. 237 or fjannetta@ccat.on.ca
All Catholic students entering or continuing post-secondary education are invited to consider becoming part of the Student Campus Ministry team at the Newman Centre. You will live in community with other students, witness to your faith through Catholic chaplaincy outreach, participate in the liturgical life at Newman and be provided with a platform to grow in holiness and develop solid Catholic leadership skills. Your partially subsidized residence fees include a private room and a shared or private bath, food and utilities.
Interested in learning more about becoming part of our team? Email Erin Kinsella at chaplaincy@newmantoronto.com today. Deadlines to apply are March 31st for the summer term (May to August) and May 15th for the Fall/Winter term (September to April).
St. Joseph’s Chapel, Regis College, 100 Wellesley St. W. Saturday, March 22nd from 10:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Vigil Mass for Peace at 4:30 P.M.
Regis College celebrates World Water Day with a theological workshop exploring the scientific, religious and spiritual significance of water. Journalist and author Alanna Mitchell, eco-theologian Prof. Dennis O’Hara, and Jesuit ecologist Fr. John McCarthy will present water as fundamental to our Catholic faith. For information and registration go to: https://www.z2systems.com/np /clients/regis/event.jsp?event=271
Faith and Civil Engagement Duke of York Pub, 39 Prince Arthur Ave, Toronto Monday, March 24 from 7:00 P.M. to 9 P.M.
All young adults (19-39) are invited to join us for an evening of thought-provoking conversation on theological topics! Special guest: Toronto City Councillor Joe Mihevc. Munchies provided, cash bar available — come and bring a friend! For more information, visit our Toronto Theology on Tap web page, or contact Vanessa Nicholas-Schmidt by e-mail at faithconnections@csj-to.ca, or phone 416-467-2645.
Refresh and rekindle your love for each other by treating yourselves to a marriage enrichment weekend at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre, or give a weekend as a gift to family or friends. The Centre offers comfort, excellent cuisine and an inspiring program. The next weekend is April 11th to 13th, 2014. For information telephone: 905-278-5229.
International Plaza Hotel 655 Dixon Road, Toronto Saturday, April 12th from 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Come. Get inspired. Refresh your spirit. Meet new people. Renew your mind. Learn about new saints. The keynote speaker will be Lisa Hendley, from Fresno California, author of the Handbook for Catholic Moms. Other speakers include Fr. Terry McKenna, Michael Coren, Anita Healy, Dorothy Pilarski and Tammie Cancelli.
For more information and to register visit: www.dynamicwomenfaith.com
Envelopes 385 $8,290 Loose Change $2,190 Weekly Portion of PAG 177 $3,307 (Pre-Authorized Giving) Total $13,787
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
