May 10th, 2009
Total: $11209
–>
Number of Envelopes Used: 512
It’s a wonder the silent can be heard…
Somewhere a mother is trying to ask her family for help but isn’t understood. Tomorrow, a boy will try to get his sister’s attention from across the room, to no avail.
In 2007, Silent Voice offered 311 one-week placements for deaf and hearing youngsters in its Sign Language Summer program, giving them an opportunity to be better understood at home, at school and in the community.
Third ShareLife Collection. June 7th 2009
You can work WONDERS!
2008 ShareLife Total: $174,507.20 2009 ShareLife To Date: $128,709.51
The sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 19th at 7:30 PM in St. Gabriel’s Church. The celebrant will be Most Reverend Richard Grecco.
In preparation for this Sacrament, a Confirmation Retreat will be held on Wednesday, May 13th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in St. Gabriel’s School Gym. Candidates are reminded to bring a signed letter from the service coordinator or a parent stating the completion or anticipated date of completion of volunteering service hours.
Wednesday, May 20th at 10:30 AM Topic: Other Christian Religions
The Altar Service is now recruiting new members. If you are in Grade 4 or higher in the September 2009 school year and interested in becoming an altar server, please call Thomas Li at 416-756-4995 or email him at li_tomas@yahoo.com.
The orientation meeting will be held on Sunday, May 31, from 1:30 to 2:30 PM in the Gabriel Room at the Altar Service Annual Appreciation. Lunch will be provided for all members.
For many years, volunteers from St. Gabriel’s have served one of the daily meals provided to the homeless and disadvantaged that the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd offer as one of the services at the Good Shepherd Centre on Queen Street East in Toronto.
The kitchen and serving areas of the centre were recently renovated and when the meal service restarted, the serving times were changed. This change means that St. Gabriel’s will need more volunteers to continue to provide our contribution to this continuing and growing service.
St. Gabriel’s will now serve on the second Monday of the month from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. If you are interested in being a part of this volunteer service, please contact Lily D’Gama at 416-733-3949 for more details.
Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend.
Share your gently used clothing and household linens with others in your community. Support the Society of St. Vincent de Paul “Bundle Up Program” this weekend, May 9th/10th.
The truck will be open this weekend, Saturday from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM and all day Sunday until 4:00 PM. Volunteers will assist with the loading before and after each Saturday and Sunday Mass.
Thank you for your support.
Join the Catholic Community at Dundas Square Sunday, May 17th, 2009, – 3:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Join the Catholic community on Sunday, May 17th for “St. Paul in the Square”, a celebration of music and prayer in downtown Toronto featuring Lectio Divina with Archbishop Collins, renowned contemporary artist, Matt Maher, and other great Catholic performers.
Visit www.archtoronto.org for more details on this very special gathering. Mark your calendar today as we celebrate the year of St. Paul as a family of faith!
Saturday, May 30th 2009 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM St Gabriel’s School, 396 Spring Garden Ave ( Bayview and Sheppard)
Our Grade 8 students will be holding their annual car wash. Join them at the school for a fun-filled day with a BBQ, carnival games, bouncing slide, face painting, cotton candy, popcorn and many more game booths.
A day of food and fun in the summer sun for the whole family!
Second Annual Mix and Mingle Wednesday, May 13th at 6:00 PM Redeemer House, 151 McCaul Street, Toronto
Faith Connections and the religious of Toronto invite all 18-39 year olds (married, single, student, working etc.) to redeemer House for fun and laughter at a barbeque supper in a relaxed atmosphere. Hang out with other young adults, priests and sisters. It’s a chance to share life experiences, share resources, ask questions and meet new people!
For more information, go to www.faithconnections.ca or call Vanessa Schmidt at 416-222-1426, Ext. 276.
Catholic Parents of Lesbian Daughters and Gay Sons Day of Reflection
Saturday, June 13th, 2009 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Cost: $40.00 (includes lunch) Scarboro Missions, 2685 Kingston Road, Toronto For Brochure and information call John Montague at 416-523-6449.
Golf Tournament at Eagles Nest Golf Club June 16th, 2009
The Hope for the Children Foundation is holding its Annual Corporate Golf Tournament on June 16th, 2009 at the Eagles Nest Golf Club in support of the Catholic Children’s Aid Society. Funds raised support post-secondary scholarships and emergency care in times of crisis. For more information, please contact the Foundation at 416-395-1634.
| Posted in Bulletin |
May 3rd, 2009
The people to whom Jesus spoke the words in today’s gospel were familiar with the notion of shepherd. Their scriptures were filled with the teachings that God was the shepherd of Israel. We all know the 23rd psalm, ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want’ – this beautiful psalm speaks of the providential care of God for the people of Israel. It speaks of God’s providential care for all of us.
What is the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep? First of all the shepherd has an intimate knowledge of his sheep, he knows his sheep, he calls them by name, they hear his voice and follow him. The sheep will not respond to a stranger’s voice. The shepherd protects his sheep. The shepherd’s staff has two uses, one as a weapon to use when he needs to protect the sheep from predators, the crook of his staff he uses to hook a sheep by the neck to lift it out of a place of danger. The shepherd leads his sheep to pastures rich in nourishment and to refreshing waters so that they can be strong and healthy. The shepherd has an investment in his sheep, he uses their wool and finally he sells their meat. When we stop to think about it the sheep lay down their lives in gratitude for all the care the shepherd has shown them.
For the next several Sundays of this Easter season we will be hearing some familiar themes from the Gospel of John. Jesus makes many imaginative “I am” statements. “I am the light.” “I am the bread of life.” “I am the living water.” “I am the way, the truth and the life.”
In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus say twice “I am the good shepherd.” Jesus was not like the religious leaders of His time whom He compares to hireling, hired hands that had no investment in the sheep, no real concern for the sheep’s safety and well being, hirelings who would take off in times of danger. Jesus would lay down His life for His sheep.
Usually Good Shepherd Sunday is Vocation Sunday, a day on which we pray that young men and women will seriously consider giving their lives to the service of God’s people. But when we stop to think of it we are all called to be shepherds. We are all called to be sources of life to others. Think of the shepherding that goes on in our parish family; parents shepherding their children, guiding and directing them with life values and faith in God. Spouses shepherding each other, supporting each other, encouraging each others, understanding each other when things are tough, rejoicing in each other in the good times of their lives. Think of the shepherding done by dedicated teachers as they care for their students. Think of the shepherding done by those in the medical profession, the counseling profession. Think of the shepherding done in the care of the aged and those diminished in mind or body.
We are called to be shepherds in our relationships and friendships. In one way or another each of us is called to be shepherd, leading others to green pastures and fresh life giving waters, restoring each others spirits. Each of us is called to be a shepherd to others and we walk with them in the dark valley of depression, grief or other difficult times. In all these situations we lay down our lives, we put others first as we give them our time, support, encouragement, understanding, and forgiveness.
As we continue to celebrate this Mass we can pray for ourselves and for each other that each of us be the shepherd we are called to be, as priest, as spouse, as parent, as friend, as neighbour, as co-worker, being a source of live and lover to others as Christ, the Good Shepherd, Who laid down His life for us, is the source of our life and love.
| Posted in Homily |
Download a PDF of the Bulletin
Page 1 Page 2
April 26th, 2009
View the 2008 parish financial statement. (Please note: this is a PDF document)
Total: $9,436
Number of Envelopes Used: 504
Friday, May 1st from 9:30 AM 12 Noon Please see the time schedule on the table inside the Church.
English Rosary: Saturday, May 2nd at 3:15 in the Library Chinese Rosary: Sunday, May 3rd at 3:30 PM in the Library. For information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029
Sunday, May 3rd at 11:30 AM in the Library
Sunday, May 3rd at the 12:30 PM Mass.
Tuesday, April 28th at 7:30 PM Topic: How the Bible Was Written
Wednesday, May 6th at 10:30 AM Topic: The Eucharist
In case of inclement weather, please call Mary Landry at 416-293-3760.
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome: Colin Thomas Flood Ethan Cy Lee Zakary Kai St. Jean Kai Thomas Wu Luke Aidan Wu
These children received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, April 19th. Congratulations!
CHILDREN’S FAITH PROGRAM FAMILY MASS
The Children’s Faith Program Family Mass will be celebrated on Sunday May 3rd at the 8:30 AM Mass. All families are invited.
Bring your gently used clothing and household linens to share with others on May 9th and 10th. A St. Vincent de Paul truck will be in the Church parking lot so please share what you can with those less fortunate.
The truck will be open Saturday from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM and all day Sunday until 4:00 PM. Volunteers will assist with the loading before and after each Mass. Thank you for your continued support.
Weekend of May 2nd/3rd
Following Maggie O’Rourke’s presentation about ShareLife agency, Rosalie Hall, we would like to help with the everyday needs of this wonderful organization.
Items that are most needed include: Pampers, – all sizes including toddlers, diaper cream (Penaten and Zincofax), powdered baby formula (preferably Regular Nestle Good Start), sleepers, undershirts, new and gently used clothing- 6 months to 3 years), socks, sippy cups, plastic dishes and glasses for toddlers, baby soap, receiving blankets, bibs (ages 1 to 3 years), baby safety devices (plugs for electrical sockets, locks for cupboard doors), pasta, tomato sauce, beans, macaroni and cheese.
Items can be dropped off in the playpens and boxes provided in the Gathering Space.
“More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” Fr. Peyton
Join the prayer network of Rosalie Hall and pray for a young Mom and her child. For more information, contact Maggie O’Rourke at 416-438-6880, Ext. 235.
Tuesday, April 28 at 2:00 PM Blessed Trinity Church Hall
Prospective members are cordially invited. The Guest Speaker will be Mercedes Hughes, a member of the Alzheimer Society of Toronto.
April 19th, 2009
Imagine the scene in today’s gospel. It’s the evening of the first day of the week. The disciples were hiding out behind locked doors fearing for their lives. They couldn’t believe their eyes when Jesus stands among them. These are the men who betrayed, denied and abandoned Him when He most needed them. If it were us we probably would have torn a strip off them. But what does Jesus say, “Peace be with you.” All is forgiven. I understand you were afraid, you didn’t know what was happening, you were intimidated by the crowd, you buckled under. I understand. Peace be with you.
The main character in today’s gospel is Thomas the Doubter. He just would not believe Jesus was alive. He had been so shaken by the death of Jesus, so disillusioned by it all, Thomas was not about to be taken in by some story of Jesus being alive. So we have his famous demand, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the mark of the nails and put my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
I think Thomas’ real problem was that he tried to cope with the humiliating death of Jesus alone. He didn’t stay with the others, he wanted to be alone. That decision robbed him of the support of his friends. He had no one to talk to, no one to listen to his hurt, his disappointment, and his fear of the future. He was alone. Thomas was with the community for the second visit of the risen Christ. Christ offers His wounds as a witness to the reality He was alive, not an illusion. We hear Thomas’ statement of faith, “My Lord and My God” And all is well.
There is a saying that, as humans, there are two things we can’t do alone; get married and be a Christian. I would add to that we can’t grieve alone. We need the presence and support of others in both the joys and sorrows of life.
It is within a community we find the example and the strength we need to be faithful to the faith. That’s why Sunday Mass is so important. We are here with others who share our faith; we are here with good people who share with us the struggles of life, with good people who share the joys of life. We see in those around us examples of years of marital love, we see in those around us examples of young love and new life, we see in those around us those burdened with the weakness of old age, chronic illness, we see in those around us the hopes, possibilities and vibrancy of youth, we see in those around us loneliness of those who mourn. In this Mass, at every Mass we are surrounded by all the possibilities of our human condition.
And it is from this community of good people, who at the same time are as we are, mistake making beings; we grow in our own Christian faith. As community we praise and thank God, as community we hear the word of God, as community we share the Bread of Life at the table of the Lord and it is from this community we go out to live this Mass beyond these walls. I want to share these quotes from two different Rabbis; their words apply to us Christians as much as they apply to the Jewish congregations to which they were addressed.
“The synagogue is where Jews are made, where the individual soul and the community are joined. It is the place where modernity and eternity cross-fertilize, where the seed of Jewish identity are sown. All other institutions in Jewish life are created by Jews. Only the synagogue creates Jews, child by child, family by family.”
“In congregational worship, regularly scheduled services on Saturday of Sunday, I have come to believe that the congregating is more important than the words we speak. Something miraculous happens when people come together seeking the presence of God. The miracle is that we so often find it. Somehow the whole becomes more important than the sum of its parts. A spirit is created in our midst which none of us has brought there. In fact each of us came looking for it because we did not have it when we were alone. But in coming together, we create the mood and the moment in which God is present.”
“We don’t go to church or synagogue at a stipulated time because God keeps office hours. We go because that is when we know there will be other people there, seeking the same kind of encounter we are seeking.”
After his experience of the Risen Christ, I think Thomas the Doubter would say to us, “Stick together, you need one another.”
As we continue to celebrate this Eucharist we pray for ourselves and for each other that we not be like the Thomas who tried to cope with his grief and disappointment in isolation, but that we be the Thomas who finds his strength to live on surrounded by others who share with him their faith in the Christ who lives, love, heals and forgives in the community He has made His own.
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