November 9th, 2008
The three readings of today’s Mass have to do with the temple – the place where God is worshiped. Today is the feast of the dedication of the church of St. John Lateran, the first church ever built in Rome. It is also the cathedral of Rome. The original church was built in 313 and was dedicated by Pope Sylvester on this date. That first church is a far cry from the magnificent church building we find in Rome today.
In the first reading we hear of how life giving waters flow from the temple coursing down to the stagnant sea but giving life to all along the way. The gospel tells of the zeal Jesus had for His Father’s house a zeal that brought Him to drive out the commercialism that had overtaken what was meant to be a house of prayer and praise and turned it into a marketplace.
The most important reading in today’s Mass is from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. As you’ve heard before the Christian community in Corinth left much to be desired. That is a blessing for us because Paul’s two letters to this community were written to deal with the divisions and abuses, especially around the celebration of the Lord’s supper, that were taking place in the community. Paul in his letters to this community hands on to them what was of first importance in the teachings of Jesus.
In those days there were no churches, no places of public worship for Christians. There were all kinds of temples to the different gods but no churches. The Christian people met in private homes, usually in the homes of people who were better off because they would have the space in which the people could gather. Paul’s teaching in our reading today is that the people really didn’t need a temple because they themselves are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in them as a community. Paul was angry with the divisions and rifts within the community. In a way he is saying to them “forget about the temples around here, forget about the temple in Jerusalem to which many of them had a great affection, forget about buildings, you are temple of God, God’s Spirit dwells in you and the foundation, the only foundation of this temple is Christ Himself.” Then Paul gives his famous warning, “if anyone destroys God’s temple, if any one destroys this community, by your divisions and factions, God will destroy that person.” For Paul the community held together by Christ, was of first importance.
Ten days from now is the second anniversary of the dedication of this church, this temple. We do have a beautiful building. More important, we have a beautiful temple – you good people. We are the temple of God and the Spirit of God lives in us as a community. It is this Spirit that gives us the courage to call God, Father. It is this Spirit that helps us lift our voices in praise. It is this Spirit that makes us aware of the needs of others. It is this Spirit that helps us acknowledge our own gifts and weaknesses and helps us forgive the weaknesses of others. It is this Spirit that helps us be proud of and willing to support the young people taking their first steps toward the sacrament of Confirmation. It is this Spirit that helps us realize, this is a beautiful building but we are its living stones.
Remember our first petition in the prayer of the faithful? “May we live this Mass outside these walls”. Going back to our first reading from Ezekiel and the image he uses of the life giving water flowing out of the temple and coursing down to the sea, can we see that as another expression of our petition, “May we live this Mass outside these walls”? Can we see ourselves as temples of the living God leaving this place as did the water of Ezekiel’s temple, to be sources of life, love, justice and healing which we bring from here to our homes, our places of work or pleasure?
As we continue to celebrate this Mass we can pray for ourselves and for each other that we remember our own worth and dignity as temples of the living God both as individuals and as a community, and know that the Spirit of God lives in us.
| Posted in Homily |
Total: $10,957.56
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Number of Envelopes Issued: 1136 Number of Envelopes Used: 467
There will be 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.
Next Meetings: Tuesday, November 11th at 7:00 PM Topic: “What is Liberation Theology?” Wednesday, November 19th at 10:30 AM Topic: “What is Liberation Theology?”
“Maryholme” is a Loretto retreat house. We have arranged to have an Advent Day of Reflection there on Thursday, December 4th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The retreat house is on Lake Simcoe, an hour’s drive…. so we will carpool. If you are interested in attending, please contact Mary Landry at 416-221-8866, Ext. 224. More information next week.
Grow in your faith by studying the Bible regularly. Fr. Bernard will lead a Bible study group on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM. All are welcome. Bring a friend and your Bible.
The Shepherds’ Trust is an archdiocesan retirement program that provides elderly and infirm priests with the financial support they require to lead a dignified life after many years of service to us. This collection will take place in our parish the weekend of November 15th/16th. The contributions received from our parish plus other “religious order” parishes will be allocated to each order’s retirement fund. Please note that all contributions are tax-deductible. Thank you for caring for those who always cared for us!
The beautiful Jade tree that can be seen at the south end of the Gathering Space is a gift from Lena and Alfred Nardi. The tree is 25 years old and blooms throughout the winter months. We want to thank Lena and Alfred for this beautiful gift.
There will be a meeting for all volunteers who clean the altar linen on Thursday, November 13th at 7:00 PM in the Sacristy.
The Youth Group of St. Gabriel’s will hold a reorganizational meeting on Sunday, November 16th after the 12:30 Mass. This is an opportunity for those ages 14 to 35 to become involved. We look forward to seeing you there.
Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend.
Regular ground Coffee: $5 Decaffeinated $6 Whole Beans $5 Chocolate Bars: $4 including taxes Hot Chocolate and Cocoa; $4.50 Teas: $3.25 to $4.00 by variety
Passionist Christmas cards will be available after all the Masses next weekend, November 15th/16th. A donation of $1.50 per card is suggested.
We are pleased to announce that St. Gabriel’s School raised over $6,000 towards the construction of a clean water project in Kenya, Africa. Again, these students want to make a difference in the lives of suffering children in the world. This year they have chosen a new goal and hope to fund raise $14,000 to help build a school in Africa. In preparation for Advent, students will sell Advent Candle kits after all the Masses on the weekend of November 22/23 at $5.00 each. Your support to help these children touch the lives of needy children will be greatly appreciated.
On November 29th, 2008 at 6:30 PM, we will be hosting a multicultural potluck dinner in the Gathering Space. Participants will bring in food from their own ethnic backgrounds to share with the group. Stay tuned for more information about the potluck. Tickets, at $5 each, will be available beginning the weekend of November 15th/16th. Seats are limited so please get your tickets early.
7 Left – $65 each
Money from the sales will go to care for children in the first and only special education schools in Sri Lanka. These children have been affected by the tsunami and the ongoing civil war. See www.GodsOwnChildren.com. If you would like to be further involved in this very worthy cause, please contact Otto Schmidt at 416- 221-8866.
Last month we alerted you to a project being planned by a group of synagogues in the Bayview corridor to collect sports equipment for two First Nations communities near Owen Sound. Now this project is moving forward. If you have equipment to donate, and this can include skates, hockey equipment, skis and bicycles, please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 for drop-off instructions. Should you need further information, please contact Fatima Lee (Ext. 228).
New Beginnings Weekend Retreat November 14th, 15th and 16th, 2008 Scarboro Missions, 2685 Kingston Road, Scarborough
Finding closure and starting a new chapter in life is easier if one draws strength from one’s own spirituality. For more information, please contact New Beginnings at 416-921-1163, Ext. 2246.
Following the Lord: How to Pack Your Suitcases and Go
November 17th 2008 at 7:00 PM Duke of York Pub, 39 Prince Arthur Avenue, Toronto
Gillian Kantor, Producer, Salt and Light TV and David Kantor, Environmental Engineer, O’Connor Associates
Tuesday, November 11th at 2:00 PM Blessed Trinity Parish Hall
In time for the holidays, Michael Pinkus will take you on “An Armchair Tour Through the Wine Regions of the World”.
Salt + Light Television is Canada’s Catholic Network, focused on telling inspirational stories that bring people closer to Christ and the Catholic faith. Airing quality Catholic programming 24/7, Salt + Light TV is available through the providers below:
Bell TV (Channel 654); 1-800-sky-dish (1-800-759-3474), www.bell.ca Cogeco (Channel 185); 1-866-427-7451, www.cogeco.ca Eastlink (Channel 356); 1-888-345-1111, www.eastlink.ca Mountain (Channel 387); 905-389-1347, www.mountaincable.net Rogers (Channel 395); 1-888-764-3771, www.rogers.com Shaw (Channel 160); www.shaw.ca Videotron illico (Channel 242); 1-877-380-2511, www.videotron.com
In addition, we have many wonderful and thought-provoking documentaries that are available for purchase for your own personal viewing pleasure. Some of the most recent productions include: Road of Hope: The Spiritual Journey of Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan Hand of Peace: Pope Pius XII and the Holocaust
More information and Live online streaming at www.saltandlighttv.org Contact via email: info@saltandlighttv.org or call 1-888-302-7181
| Posted in Bulletin |
November 2nd, 2008
The feasts of All Souls and All Saints remind us of the fact that as church we belong to an extended family – a family not bound by the constraints of time and space. On the feast of All Saints we celebrate all the saints of the church – those canonized and those people who touched are lives, good and ordinary people whom we know to be with God. I know for a fact I’ve buried many saints here from St. Gabriel’s.
On this feast of All Souls we think of all those who have died and who may still be in need of our prayers.
When we die we come to know God’s love for us in a whole new way and at the same time we come to know ourselves in a way we never knew before. We come to see how deficient, how lacking we were in responding and returning God’s love for us – we come to see how we neglected or ignored the gifts of God. We have a sense of how unworthy we are to be in God’s presence. We want to be purged of our self centeredness and self indulgence. We want to be rid of all those things that kept us from being Christ like. The prayers of those we leave behind can help us in our desire for readiness. Scripture tells us “it is a good and holy thing to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins.”
It is a bit like after a hard day’s work we want to freshen up, clean up before we sit down for dinner.
Our great consolation when we think of those we love and who have died is that they are at peace – that grace and mercy await those God has chosen. This truth helps sooth the pain we know when someone we love died a painful and tragic death. We know this because we trust in the love of our God who mercy for sinners knows no bounds and has been proved in the painful death and glorious resurrection of Jesus, His son. Jesus was the seed that fell to the ground and died to bear much fruit. This fruit, the victory of Christ’s resurrection is why our perishable bodies will put on imperishability and our mortal bodies will put on immortality and death will be swallowed up in victory and death will have no sting.
As we continue to celebrate this Eucharist, caught up in these two feast of All Saints and All Souls we pray for ourselves and for each other that we always remember and pray for those who have died, that we be grateful for the many ways they touched our lives and that we live our own lives in such a way that at the moment of our own death we will hear those welcoming words of Christ, “come, you who my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world.”
NB: The bulletin is only available as an image this week, due to a technical glitch.
October 26th, 2008
Total: $8,842.01
Number of Envelopes Issued: 1136 Number of Envelopes Used: 474
Next Meetings: Tuesday, October 28th at 7:00 PM Topic: “What is Liberation Theology?”
Wednesday, November 5th at 10:30 AM. Topic: “What is Liberation Theology?”
The parish will be holding a reception on November 1st , 2008 in the gathering space of the church to welcome all the new parishioners who have joined our parish family in recent months. For those who are new to the parish, this will be an opportunity for the parish team to get to know you and to answer any questions you have regarding our community. Please join us if you can. It will facilitate our planning if we can know ahead the number of people who will be attending. If you can come to the reception, please call the parish office at 416-221-8866 or email stgabrielsparish@bellnet.ca before October 24th.
Sunday, November 2nd at the 12:30 PM Mass. All are welcome.
The Parish of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome: Alexandra Cairns Elijah Forde Miguel Luis Gutierrez Madison Isabella Wong
These children received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, October 19th. Congratulations!
Saturday, November 1st at 3:15 PM in the Library For information, please contact Linda Law at 416 -918-8029.
Sunday, November 2nd at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room For information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
Sunday, November 2nd 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. This guided reflection brings an ecological perspective to the readings.
The Confirmation Enrollment Ceremony for all Confirmation candidates will be held on Sunday, November 9 at the 12:30 Mass.
ShareLife is continuing to accept funds to assist with relief and reconstruction efforts in Haiti. Donations can be made online through the ShareLife website www.sharelife.org. As always, ShareLife applies no administration fees to funds received for humanitarian relief appeals, ensuring that 100 percent of each contribution goes to the agencies involved.
BCE (Bell Canada), one of Canada’s premiere telecommunications companies, will soon become a private company (December, 2008). All common shareholders will be required to sell or donate their BCE securities and may face a large tax bill due to the greatly appreciated value of their stock. By donating your shares to our parish or the Passionist Community, you can avoid the taxes on gains. Please consult your financial advisor on this matter. You can also download the forms needed at www.stewardshiptoronto.org. Please share this message with other Catholics you know!
Sunday, November 2nd,from 2-5 PM Temple Har Zion 7360 Bayview Ave. (north of Steeles)
Co sponsored by Temple Har Zion and Thornhill United Church . The theme is Social Justice with different faiths’ perspectives and will include displays from agencies working to help the poor etc. as well as a program for children on bullying. The program ends with a pot-luck vegan supper. If coming, please bring a dish to share with other participants but with absolutely no meat, poultry, eggs, fish, dairy products or alcohol due to dietary laws and no nut products as many people are allergic to these. All are welcome. Please RSVP to Nora at 416-218- 0680 by October 27th. See the poster on the bulletin boards for more details.
Thinking about the priesthood? Wondering what it might be like? Then “Come and See” is for you! November 7th to 9th, 2008, there will be an opportunity for young men of 18 years or older to visit our Archdiocesan Seminary in Scarborough. This weekend will provide time for prayer, reflection and information on becoming a Catholic priest. If God is calling you, say yes… and Come and See. Those interested are asked to speak with their Pastor or contact the Office of Vocations for further information at 416-968-0997.
The Archdiocese of Toronto wishes to invite all families to participate in the annual All Souls’ Day Mass on Saturday, November 8 at 2:00 PM in the following location: Holy Cross Cemetery, Thornhill, 905-889-7467 Liturgy in English and Italian All are welcome.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 2:00PM Blessed Trinity Parish Hall History Buffs and Seafarers will be interested in Dr. RolySalvas’ presentation on “The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald” All are invited.
Mini Renewal Presentation: November 4, 2008 at 8:00PM. Spiritual Health and Clinical Depression Dr. Ken Fung, MD New Beginnings Weekend Retreat November 14, 15 & 16 2008 Scarboro Missions, 2685 Kingston Road, Scarborough Finding closure and starting a new chapter in life is easier if one draws strength from one’s own spirituality. For more information, please contact New Beginnings at 416-921-1163, Ext.2246
Staged as a traditional variety show, SHOWCASE features all the singing, dancing and theatrical pieces CCAA is known for, in addition to an exciting Art Gallery and Marketplace of mixed media works created by past and present visual artists from the school. It is the major fundraising initiative at Carter for the 2008-2009 school year. When: Friday, November 7th,, Saturday, November 8th Gallery Viewing 6:30 PM Gala Show 7:30 PM Where: The Cardinal Carter Theatre 36 Greenfield Avenue (East of Yonge Street,1 Block North of Sheppard) For ticket information, please contact the school at 416-393-5556 x0 or by e-mail: friendsofcarter@gmail.com
Presentation Date: November 8th at 10:00AM. Topic: Lessons for Everyone from the Life and Ministry of St. Paul Speaker: Most Reverend Peter Hundt, SSL, DD. Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto Location: Radio Maria, 1247 Lawrence Avenue W. For more information, please call the station at 416-245-0200 or email at info@hmwn.net
Advanced Math/Science * Enriched Curriculum * Nationally Recognized Athletics * Dynamic fine Arts* Genuine Advisory and Character Education Program. Mass is celebrated every Tuesday and Thursday. School Chaplaincy provided by Fr. Basil Breen (retired diocesan priest) Public Showcase and Open House Saturday, November 8, 2008 11:00 AM – 1:00PM Robotics, Mathematics and History Open Houses every Thursday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Private tours available on request.
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