December 21st, 2008
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 at Elkhorn Public School. Again, please follow the instructions of the attendant. The school requests that we do not park on the grass.
Many thanks to Patricia Broderick, the Principal of Elkhorn Public School, for allowing us the use of the school property.
Total: $11,495
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Number of Envelopes Issued: 1136 Number of Envelopes Used: 546
May the Christ whose Birth and Life we celebrate strengthen us all and bless us with the peace and joy of this Holy Season.
The 2009 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are ready for pick up in the Gathering Space today. 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 each envelope so that we may allocate donations correctly for income tax purposes. If you do not have envelopes and would like a box, contact the Parish Office at 416-221-8866.
We are updating our Parish Records. If you are a new parishioner and have not yet registered, please fill out a registration card which may be obtained at the Parish Office. If you have recently moved, please let us know your new address so that our records will be correct. Parish Office: 416-221-8866
Next Meetings:
Wednesday, January 7th at 10:00 AM Topic: Movie: “Romero
Tuesday, January 13 at 7:30 PM Topic: The Bible: How the Bible was written
Practice: Sunday, December 21, 3:00 PM – 4:30 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 6:00PM. There is only one practice and it is mandatory. Practice will take place this weekend on Sunday, December 21st from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. For further information you may call Marilyn Calderone at 416-221-8866, Ext. 227
Dress Rehearsal: This weekend, Sunday, December 21st, 3:00PM to 4:30PM
S.K. to Grade 5 children are invited to participate in the pageant. Please call Anne Murphy at 416-512-0340.
Christmas Offering envelopes for the St. Vincent de Paul Society are available at the back of the Church. Your donations enable the Society to help those in need. At this time of year, they try to provide a little extra to add to their Christmas celebration. Your generosity is much appreciated.
Your prepared chicken rice casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at all the Masses next weekend, December 28th, for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. 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.
The Passionist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality in cooperation with The Elliot Allen Institute for Theology and Ecology University of St. Michael’s College, Faculty of Theology Presents
ADVENT/WINTER SOLSTICE EVENING OF REFLECTION
The annual Advent/Winter Solstice Evening of Reflection will be held this weekend on Sunday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gabriel room. Because the feast of Christmas was deliberately timed to coincide with the darkness of the winter’s solstice, there is a link between theological meaning and cosmological setting. Join us for a guided exploration of the relevance of these theological and cosmological connections to today’s ecological challenges. This year’s theme is: “Surprise is to Gratitude as Cosmogenesis is to Advent.” To register or for more information, please contact Dennis O’Hara at dennis.ohara@utoronto.ca or 416-926-1300, ext. 3408. No fee.
The Catholic Children’s Aid Society is inviting families to assist them in providing some little extras, such as new clothing, new toys, food vouchers and /or gift certificates to bring the joy of the season to one of their families. If you are willing to provide a donation or adopt-a-family, please call 416-395-1634 or email info@hopeforthechildren.ca.
Fr. Emeka Obiezu, O.S.A. will be speaking on “St. Paul and the Eucharist as a Sacrament of Unity” at St. Brigid’s Church from 2:00 to 4:30 PM. For more information, please check www.kolbeapostolate.com.
| Posted in Bulletin |
December 14th, 2008
There are so many thoughts offered us in the readings of today’s Mass. Let’s start with the responsorial psalm, the Magnifact, Mary’s beautiful prayer of thanksgiving in which she rejoices that God has looked favorably on lowliness. In all humility Mary proclaims, “He who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is His name. Henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” Think on this, each one of us here can say these words of Mary about ourselves. We may be burdened by our own sense of unworthiness, maybe we think only of our faults and failings, we may wonder if we really are living as Christ would have us live, but the truth of the matter is each of us here can say of ourselves, “He who is mighty has done great things for me.” Before the world began God chose us to be His adopted sons and daughters. He who is mighty has done great things for us.
Each one of us can echo the words of Isaiah; we can make his words our own because when we were baptized and the Spirit of God was poured into our hearts giving us the power and the boldness to call God, Father. That same Spirit is always with us touching our lives in so many different ways by the Spirit’s gifts of wisdom, understanding, knowledge and counsel, fortitude, piety and awe. Like Isaiah we can greatly rejoice in the Lord because he knew God’s Spirit was always with him as he faced opposition and hostility as he tried to proclaim the Lord’s year of favor. That same Spirit is with us as we face the joys and sorrows of our own lives. St. Paul tells us not to quench that Spirit but be open to it as the Spirit seeks to guide us and help us hold fast to all that is good.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon us, he has anointed us, he has sent us to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and release to prisoners and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. We bring the good news of God’s love to others as we try, every day of our lives, to live the great commandment; “love one another as I have loved you.” We bring good news as we try to show the love of Christ for others when we reach out in any way to men, women and children less fortunate than ourselves, especially during this season of Christmas. We bring good news when we respect the faith and cultures of other people. We bring good news when we try to heal the wounds of past hurts and injustices that come from broken relationships and failed commitments. We bring good news when we try to bind up and sooth the wounds and hurts of good people who are diminished by sins of prejudice and bigotry, good people excluded from families and neighbourhoods because their race or faith or life styles.
We proclaim liberty to captives and release to prisoners when we free ourselves from the habit or the tendency to stereotype people. We proclaim liberty to captives and release to prisoners when we free ourselves from our propensity to label men and women of different faiths or races as ‘these people’. We proclaim liberty to captives and release to prisoners when we free ourselves from our own narrow-mindedness our own intolerance toward people different from ourselves. We proclaim liberty to captives and release to prisoners when we free ourselves from that insularity that convinces us that we Catholics have a corner on God’s love and God’s truth.
Some days we win, some days we loose but always we try to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and release to prisoners and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor because He who is mighty has done great things for us, holy is his name. It is the Spirit Who gives us the insight to know when and were we can bring good new, set captives free, heal the broken hearted and we trust the truth that the one who calls us is faithful and He will do these things in us and through us and for us.
| Posted in Homily |
“As we pass the basket from person to person, we are reminded that the financial burden of the Church is a responsibility we all share.”
St Gabriel’s parishioners have always been generous. Over the past year, however, our weekly collections have not been keeping up with inflation and our operating expenses.
We encourage everyone to use envelopes. This is the only way you can receive a tax credit for your donation. Pick up a box in the Parish Office.
Thank you. The Parish Financial Committee
Total: $17,058
Number of Envelopes Issued: 1136 Number of Envelopes Used: 473
Tuesday, January 13 at 7:30 PM Topic: The Bible: How the New Testament was written
CHILDREN’S CHOIR FAMILY MASS – CHRISTMAS EVE AT 7:00 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 6:00PM. There is only one practice and it is mandatory. Practice is on Sunday, December 21st from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. For further information you may call Marilyn Calderone at 416-221-8866, Ext. 227
Dress Rehearsal: Sunday, December 21st, 3:00PM to 4:30PM
THE Passionist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality in cooperation with The Elliot Allen Institute for Theology and Ecology University of St. Michael’s College, Faculty of Theology Presents
The annual Advent/Winter Solstice Evening of Reflection will be held on Sunday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gabriel room. Because the feast of Christmas was deliberately timed to coincide with the darkness of the winter’s solstice, there is a link between theological meaning and cosmological setting. Join us for a guided exploration of the relevance of these theological and cosmological connections to today’s ecological challenges. This year’s theme is: “Surprise is to Gratitude as Cosmogenesis is to Advent.” To register or for more information, please contact Dennis O’Hara at dennis.ohara@utoronto.ca or 416-926-1300, ext. 3408. No fee.
Sunday, December 14th
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 next Sunday, December 14th.
The brothers could use our help during the Christmas Season. Please bring non-perishable food items such as: canned soups and stews, powdered milk, instant and ground coffee, canned tuna or salmon, canned meats, canned fruit juices, powdered soup bases, hot chocolate, cooking spices and cold breakfast cereals. Kindly leave donations at the doors of the Church in the designated containers.
Tuesday, December 16th at 7:30 PM Forest grove United Church 43 Forest Grove Drive, North York
This ecumenical service is sponsored by the Bayview-Sheppard Ministerial Group (including Chaplains of North York General Hospital and Seniors’ Health Centre) with the hope that the light of Christ will bring peace and comfort to people in the North York community who are bereaved or troubled, or for whom Christmas may be a difficult time.
On Saturday, December 13th at 7:30, a group of talented youth from St. Margaret Mary Church in Woodbridge and Cardinal Carter will come together to celebrate the Christmas season with a fabulous MULTILINGUAL Christmas Concert, hosted at St. Gabriel’s Church. The evening will feature traditional and non-traditional festive songs that encompass different genres of music such as classical, pop, soul and jazz! Instruments include the violin, bass, guitar, drums and piano. This is a holiday community concert that you do not want to miss! The concert is $5 at the door, with proceeds going to support the Passionist Missions.
December 7th, 2008
Just a few words about the opening prayer of today’s Mass; we prayed, “Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy.”
There is a lot more to these four weeks of Advent than waiting for Christmas or the celebration of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. It is better if we look at Advent as the time we give to letting Jesus come closer and closer to us and our un-straightedness and roughness. The closer we allow His birth in us, the straighter and smoother our ways become.
We know Jesus comes to us in every person we meet, family, friend or stranger and often at unexpected times and unexpected ways. Jesus intrudes into our lives, our set ways, our busyness, and our distractions. Jesus interrupts us as we try to cope with our own problems and worries. Sometimes we respond as we should and sometimes we don’t.
There used to be an old Irish custom of leaving a lit candle in the front window on Christmas Eve as a sign that if the Holy Family was looking for lodging this night, they would be welcome in this home. It’s a beautiful thought and custom. There was a woman in the parish who would come to see me every year for such a candle so she could keep that tradition alive in her family. The truth is Jesus comes to us looking for lodging and welcome and acceptance every day of the year in the most ordinary and extraordinary ways.
Isaiah talks about making crooked ways straight and rough ways smooth so that nothing can hinder the coming of the Lord. As I mentioned Advent is a great time when we can take a look at the crooked and rough spots in our lives, our ways of living and loving and relating to other people and with God’s help make those crooked ways straight and our rough road smooth and come to be more open to the Christ as He comes to us in the events and people who make up our daily living.
People get frazzled at this time of year. Just look at the way people handle themselves in a mall’s parking lot. Think of the frenzy of Christmas shopping which will probably be tempered this year because of our economic downturn. Think of all the preparations that go into a Christmas family re-union or the juggling of time to make sure no one is left out of a family visit. This can be a stressful time and so we can come to resent those who come into our lives with their needs. In the midst of all our busyness we’re challenged to light a candle of welcome and acceptance and show we are willing to welcome the Christ who comes to us in so many ways each day.
Advent can be an important for us; it can help us keep our priorities straight. Advent can help us open our lives to the unexpected, even the unwelcome ways Jesus comes into our lives in all the people we meet and help us to grasp the wonder of Christmas. God so loved the world He sent His son to the world, not to condemn us but to embrace our human condition and help us live with our joys and sorrows, our successes and our failures, our strength and our weaknesses.
During these days of Advent we can light a candle of acceptance to welcome those with whom we disagree or those we’ve kept out of our lives because of prejudice. During these days of Advent we can light a candle of forgiveness and heal the hurts that keep others out of our lives. During these days of Advent we can light a candle of compassion and be more sensitive to the blight of good people who struggle to survive as they carry the burden of poverty or unemployment. During these days of Advent we can light a candle of concern for people we know who are in the hospital or house bound and take the time to call or visit them.
As we continue this Mass we can pray for ourselves and for each other that we use these days of December trying to remove from our ways of living and loving those things that hinder us from receiving with joy and love the Christs who come into the ordinary living of our ordinary lives.
Total: $11,232
Number of Envelopes Issued: 1136 Number of Envelopes Used: 503
The 2009 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are ready for pick up in the Gathering Space today. 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 each envelope so that we may allocate donations correctly for income tax purposes. If you do not have envelopes and would like a box, please contact the Parish Office.
We are updating our Parish Records. If you are a new parishioner and have not yet registered, please fill out a registration card which can be obtained at the Parish Office. If you have recently moved, please let us know your new address so that our records will be correct. Parish Office: 416-221-8866
Next Meetings: Tuesday, December 9th at 7:00 PM Topic: Movie: “Babette’s Feast” Wednesday, January 7th at 10:00 AM Topic: Movie: “Romero”
December 10th marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On December 6th and 7th after all the Masses, you are invited 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.
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 68 casseroles for the Good Shepherd Centre for November. For December, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at all the Masses on the weekend of December 27th and 28th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. Turkey rice casseroles are a welcome alternative. More volunteers are encouraged to become active in helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. If you require more information or would like to get a copy of the recipe and a casserole pan, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend. Please note that this is a week earlier than normal.
Regular ground Coffee: $5 Whole Beans $5 Decaffeinated ground and beans: $6 Chocolate Bars: $4 including taxes Hot Chocolate and Cocoa; $4.50 Teas: $3.25 to $4.00 by variety
CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY “HOPE FOR THE CHILDREN FOUNDATION”
Tuesday, December 9th at 6:00 PM
The Blessed Trinity CWL is having their annual Pot Luck Supper on Tuesday, December 9th at 6:00 PM. Bring a friend, your favourite dish to share and join in the festivities of the season. There will be a sing-a-long, raffles and other surprises!
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