January 4th, 2010
The person most in the news this past week is a man named Umar Abdul Mutalab. He’s the man who tried to blow up a plane approaching Detroit. He is a Muslim from Nigeria who is supposed to have been trained in Yemen to be a suicide bomber.
Read more »
| Posted in Homily |
January 3rd, 2010
This week, learn about Canon Law, and help refugees settle in our city through Becoming Neighbours.
| Posted in Bulletin |
January 1st, 2010
As I often say on this day, this is a cluttered day. We know it is New Year’s Day, it is also the feast of Mary the Mother of God, it was the feast of the Circumcision and it is also the World Day of Peace.
December 27th, 2009
Just a few words on today’s gospel. Luke tells us that Jesus was 12 years old. At that time a 12 year old was considered an adult, one ready to learn a trade and start earning a living.
They had no amber alerts in those day so we can just image the panic Mary and Joseph endured as they search the city looking for their son. We can imagine Mary’s exasperation at his thoughtlessness. Why have you treated us like this? What were you thinking of? Mary’s was certainly a normal reaction. Jesus didn’t help the situation with his reply, ‘did you not know I must be in my Father’s house?’
Yet, think about it. Jesus did not come to earth in order to be Mary and Joseph’s child. Just the opposite. Mary and Joseph came into earthly existence to prepare him for his role as the adult son of the Father of all things. How often have you heard the complaint that parents never let us grow up, never treat us as adults? We could be in our 40’s and still a mother asks, ‘where are you going,’ ‘what time did you get in last night’ or any number of similar questions that might be appropriate for a teenager but not for an adult. How often do adults resent disapproving looks or comments from a mother or a father? We’re never allowed to grow up and though you may promise yourself you won’t treat your sons and daughters this way, how often have you thought to yourself ‘I’m sounding just like my mother, just like my father.’ I’ve mentioned before that parents are supposed to give their children roots and wings. Parents know from experience that there are times when the wings take their adult sons and daughters far from their roots. How often have parents said “This was not the way you were raised.” But it is good to remember that deep roots are stronger than wings. Mary and Joseph had to learn that they were to give Jesus roots, which they did, and wings, wings that would carry him far from Nazareth, wings that would carry him to Calvary and beyond. But Mary was always a mother. She never stopped worrying about him as she heard He was provoking the authorities more and more. She was His mother to the very end. Parents will always be parents, they will never stop worrying about their sons and daughters, parents will always be there with wanted or unwanted advice. On this feast of the Holy Family we pray for all parents that they come to know the greatest gift they can give their children is that they nurture them in such a way that when they take wing they are mature, responsible people bearing witness to their family and their faith – by what they say and what they do.
Father help us to live as the Holy Family, united in respect and love. The greatest blessing you bring to your family is the presence of God in your life. The fragrance of His presence sweetens the atmosphere of your home. The beauty of His presence warms the relationships within its walls. The joy of His presence lightens every heart. The glory of His presence fills all its chambers with rare and precious treasures.
Father help us to live as the Holy
Family, united in respect and love.
The greatest blessing you bring to your family is the presence of God in your life. The fragrance of His presence sweetens the atmosphere of your home. The beauty of His presence warms the relationships within its walls. The joy of His presence lightens every heart. The glory of His presence fills all its chambers with rare and precious treasures.
-“From God’s Heart to Yours” by Roy Leesin
Let us pray for one another. May God bless you and yours throughout this Christmas Season. We wish you a happy and peaceful New Year and always try to remember “Holiness is in the ordinary.”
Next Meetings: Topic: What’s” Canon Law” all about? Tuesday, January 5th at 7:30 PM. Wednesday, January 6th at 10:30 AM.
Toronto’s Catholic Schools invite you to register your children for the 2010-2011 school year. Registration begins in January 2010 for Kindergarten and French Immersion at all Catholic elementary schools throughout the City of Toronto. For the convenience of families, most schools are open for registration on Wednesday, January 13th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. For more information, please contact the Catholic school nearest you or call 416-222-8282, extension 5314 or visit the Board’s website at www.tcdsb.org.
Weekend of January 9th /10th
“Becoming Neighbours” is a joint ministry of nineteen religious congregations of men and women in Toronto (the Passionists included), to serve as companions to new immigrants and refugees during the latter’s initial adjustment in Canada, so as to ease their adaptation to life in Toronto.
Most of us have been blessed with abundance. In the spirit of sharing, St Gabriel’s will be collecting gently used items such as clothes (esp. winter clothes), toys, children’s books, linens, kitchenware, for these new immigrants and refugees on the weekend of the 9th/10th January. Please help if you can.
Your prepared chicken (or turkey) rice casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses the weekend of January 2/3, 2010 for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. Please note that this is a week later than normal to avoid collection on the Christmas weekend. More volunteers are encouraged to get a copy of the casserole recipe and a pan and give it a try. For more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.
Please keep on sending us your used postage stamps so that we can work towards the day when leprosy is eradicated. We are happy to accept any and all trimmed stamps, leaving no less than ¼ inch and no more than ½ inch paper border. Stamps may be deposited in the basket just outside the Parish Office.
NEW YEAR’S EVE Thursday, December 31st – No Mass Office Closed
NEW YEAR’S DAY Friday, January 1st – 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM Office Closed
December 28th 2009 to January 2nd 2010
THURSDAY – ANA SOFIA NASCIMENTO Requested by the Family FRIDAY (NEW YEAR’S DAY) SATURDAY – LIVING & DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE WROBEL/CHUCHRA FAMILIES Requested by Jack and Wanda Wrobel
ENGLISH ROSARY GROUP Saturday, January 2nd at 3:15 PM in the Library
CHINESE ROSARY GROUP Saturday, January 2nd from 6:00 Pm to 9:00 PM in the Gabriel Room. Please note the change of time.
For information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
Sunday, January 3rd at 11:30 AM 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.
There will be no Family mass in January 2010. The next Family Mass will be celebrated on February 7th, 2010.
A special thank you to all those who helped with our Christmas celebrations; those in the Music Ministry, the Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors, the Altar Servers and Ministers of Hospitality, those who organized and participated in the Christmas Pageant, those responsible for decorating, and the Pastoral Team. Your work helped to make Christmas a beautiful and uplifting time.
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome Claire Mekayla Burke who received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, December 6th. Congratulations!
December 20th, 2009: $10,449
Number of Envelopes Used: 455
The 2009 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the Gathering Space. It is important that you throw away all envelopes from previous years as your number might have been assigned to another family. Please enter your full name and address on the first few envelopes so that we may allocate donations correctly for income tax purposes. If you are on the Pre- Authorized Giving Plan, you will still receive a box of envelopes since these include Initial, New Year’s Day, Christmas, Easter and Maintenance envelopes. If you do not have envelopes but would like them for 2010, please contact the office at 416-221-8866.
Thank you, thank you to performers, musicians and audience who helped make “For the Love of Singing” on November 28th a huge success! The charities of the East York Barbershoppers and our own new piano fund were well supported. Stay tuned for more concert offerings in 2010!
Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions? Can we disregard the growing phenomenon of “environmental refugees”, people who are forced by the degradation of their natural habitat to forsake it – and often their possessions as well – in order to face the dangers and uncertainties of forced displacement? Can we remain impassive in the face of actual and potential conflicts involving access to natural resources?
Pope Benedict XVI, Message for the 2010 World Day of Peace
| Posted in Uncategorized |
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
