December 10th, 2006
Advent is a season of waiting – we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior. We do wait – but the one for whom we wait is someone who has already arrived – we wait for someone who is with us always. True we wait for, we prepare for the feast of Christmas – when we celebrate an event that happened over 2000 years ago, an event that fulfilled the hopes and dreams of all those who accepted Jesus as the Messiah. We wait for the final coming of Jesus at a date and time unknown to us.
The truth is we wait for someone who has already arrived, someone who is always with us – our Emmanuel. Maybe we can think on this – we wait for One who waits for us to recognize Him in others. Let’s go back to the question I ask the children in school, ‘what do you have to do if you want to see Jesus’ – look at the person next to you. If we don’t see Jesus in that person, we don’t see Him at all. We have to take seriously the words of Jesus, “whatever you do to one of these the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you do to me.”
Our opening prayer prays – remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy – not the Christ who came 2000 years ago, not the Christ who will come at a time known only to God – but the Christ who is in our face, the Christ who is in every person who comes into our lives – friend or stranger.
A number of years ago there was book of reflections on the Stations of the Cross written by a woman name Carol Houselander. The reflection on the eighth station – Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem – has Jesus saying – ‘don’t weep for me as I suffered two thousand years ago, weep for me as I suffer now in my brothers and sisters who come into your life.
Maybe we could hear Jesus saying to us in the season of waiting – don’t wait to greet me, welcome me, accept me -as you celebrate my birthday – greet me, welcome me, accept me as I come to you in every person you meet, whether that person is a close friend or a total stranger.
What are the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy? What are the things that hinder us from recognizing and accepting Christ in every one we meet and doing this with joy? Using the imagery of John the Baptist we can ask ourselves ‘what are the mountains and hills, the valleys and crooked ways that block and hinder us from seeing and accepting and respecting Jesus in every one we meet?
Could it be that we can’t handle strangeness, difference, diversity, could it be that we can’t cope with different opinions, insights and so we are closed to men and women of different faiths, cultures or life styles? Do we allow ourselves to be hindered by the mountains and hills of bigotry and prejudice?
There is a blight on our Canadian history in the remark of McKenzie King when he heard that a boat filled with Jews trying to escape Nazi Germany had been turned away from our shores – he is supposed to have said – one Jew is too many. That’s an awful thing to day about any race.
Do we allow the mountains and valleys and crooked ways of resistance and resentment toward immigrants prevent us from accepting these good people who come to this land seeking a better life, a better future for their children? These are good people having the same hopes and dreams our ancestors had when they came to Canada. Do these mountains and valleys and crooked ways hinder us from receiving Christ with joy as we meet Him in these good people?
Do we find ourselves using words like ‘these people’ as we lump the homeless, the street people, young people in gangs – lump all together as the problem people in society? Surely these attitudes hinder us from receiving Christ with joy – for ‘these people’ are as precious to Christ as we are.
Continuing this Mass, entering more deeply into this time of waiting – we can pray for ourselves and for each other that with the help of God’s grace we will remove those attitudes and mind sets that hinder us from receiving with joy the Christ who is in our face in every person who comes into our lives.
| Posted in Homily |
Download the Christmas Schedule in MS Word. (This document opens in a new window.)
Each year, young people Grade 3 and up form a special choir. Children must be at church by 6:00PM on Christmas Eve. THERE IS ONLY ONE PRACTICE AND IT IS MANDATORY. PRACTICE IS ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17th FROM 2:00 TO 4:00 PM. Please call Marilyn Calderone at 905-889-6856
S.K. to Grade 5 children are invited to participate in the pageant. Please call Anne Murphy at 416-512-0340. Children must be able to attend the DRESS REHEARSAL on SUNDAY DEC. 17th FROM 2:00 to 4:00PM.
on their successful Craft and Bake Sale. Thanks to all those who supported them in this annual event.
The notice in the bulletin concerning the use of an Automatic Debit System was offered as a possibility by our Financial Council. The response for the most part has been negative so they have decided to shelve the idea for the time being. Thank you to those who responded to the questionnaire.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26th – BOXING DAY 2:30 – 7:00 PM at ST. GABRIEL’S CHURCH. Will you help by donating the “Gift of Life?”
Total: $10,734.27
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A special thank you to all those who contributed so generously. Your financial support will provide the elderly and infirm priests with the means to lead a dignified life after many years of service to us.
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 incl. taxes Teas: Priced by variety
My apologies for the confusion in last week’s bulletin. Our January dates will be in next week’s bulletin.
“How are our Christian life and ethics similar to those of other faith traditions? How are they different?” DATE: TUESDAY EVENING, December 12th TIME: 7:30 – 9:00PM PLACE: Library
The Cardinal Carter Academy Singers are pleased to present “A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” in our Church on Wednesday, December 20th at 7:30 PM. This celebration of Christmas follows the traditional format made famous by King’s College, Cambridge. The story of our salvation, from the fall of humanity, to the promise of the prophecies, to the birth of Jesus, is proclaimed in scripture and song. Over one hundred and twenty young singers offer anthems, hymns and carols. Be with us for this beautiful, prayerful and inspiring start to the holidays. Admission: $10 Children 12 and under free.
For ticket information please contact Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041 or marilyncalderone@rogers.com
This Ecumenical Service is arranged by the Bayview Sheppard Ministerial and the Chaplaincy of North York General Hospital, of which St. Gabriel’s is a part, in the hope that the night of Christ will bring peace and comfort to those who have experienced personal loss and for whom Christmas may be a most difficult time. This will take place at Advent Lutheran Church, 2800 Don Mills Road, North York on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12th at 7:30 PM.
We are inviting families to assist us 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 our families. If you are willing to adopt-a-family or provide a donation please contact Seta at 416-395-1507.
for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society. Can you help by dropping off an unwrapped new toy for children 0 -12 years old? It would be very much appreciated. Containers will be set up at the doors of the Church UNTIL SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17th.
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, canned salmon, canned meats, canned fruit juices, powdered soup base, hot chocolate, cooking spices and cold breakfast cereals. Kindly leave donations at the doors of the Church in the designated containers. You have always supported these efforts generously, please keep up the good work.
Your donations to the St. Vincent de Paul boxes after Mass enable us to help those in need. At this time of the year, we try to provide a little extra so that we may add to their Christmas celebration.
December 15th & 16th at 7:30 PM – at Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts. This is their major fundraising Varity Show featuring music, dance, drama, film and visual art. For tickets call 416-393-5556 (ext. 85654) or email: cardinal.carter@gmail.com
“POT LUCK SUPPER” ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12th at 6:00PM at Blessed Trinity. Bring a friend, a favourite dish to share, decorate and wear a Christmas hat and come and sing-a-long and have a “merry time”. Please bring a canned good or non-perishable item for the Good Shepherd. All ladies of the parish are invited.
| Posted in Bulletin |
December 3rd, 2006
Today we begin a new liturgical year. When you stop to think about it our church life is out of sync with our home and work life. Living our home and work life we are just getting ready for the final blast of Christmas and all the shopping and chaos that entails. Then we start all over again with New Year’s Day.
But in our church life we start all over this Sunday -this is new year’s day in our life within the church.
One of the features of New Year’s Day is the sense we have that our new year will be different from the old, will be better than the old. We all live with the human struggle described so truthfully by St. Paul, “the good that I would, that I do not and the evil that I would not do, that I do.” So we get into making resolutions – more exercise, better diet, more time with the family, better work habits, better control of my temper. In other words, ‘I’m going to give it another try.’ And that’s what St. Paul is writing about in his letter to the Thessalonians – give it another try. So often our home and work lives and our church lives slip into ruts and rotes – there can be a slovenly sameness to our lives. Same old, same old.
Paul brought these good people to the faith -but he wanted more of them – he wanted them to increase and abound in love for one another – he wanted there hearts to be strengthened in holiness and to live as to please God – as they were doing – but Paul wants them to do these things more and more. He must have sensed they were slipping into to ruts and routines in living their faith – they’d lost the excitement and enthusiasm of their first faith. Paul encouraged them to increase and abound in love – he wanted their hearts to be strengthened in love – basically Paul wanted them to move on. Paul was never one for stagnation – for the status quo.
Five weeks from now we’ll probably all be making New Year’s resolutions – we do it every year. Maybe today – our church life’s New Year’s Day we can make resolutions as well. We can resolve to try – to try – to increase in love for one another – this may mean we try to right past wrongs, heal old hurts, it may mean we try to forgive as we’ve been forgiven, it may mean we try to be more accepting of people who think and live differently than ourselves.
On this our New Year’s Day we can resolve to try – to try – to strengthen our hearts in holiness. This may mean that we listen more attentively to God’s word as we listen to the scripture or when spend some time in peace and quiet. It may mean we try – try – to grow to that full maturity in Christ, a maturity to which we are all called – It may mean we try – try – to be more Christ like in the way we relate to members of our families, people with whom we work, people who come into our lives in the course of a day.
On this our New Year’s Day – looking at the four weeks that are to come – weeks of the usual frenzy of Christmas preparation and celebration – weeks that can distract us from the truth that Jesus is the reason for this season – weeks of frayed nerves and busy schedules – we can continue to celebrate this Mass praying for ourselves and for each other that each of us resolve to try to live each day of our lives so as to please God – as in fact we are trying to do.
Total: $11,308.85
NEW CHURCH – OLD AND NEW IDEAS
This fall we will look at our new “green” church from different perspectives, including: “Who started us in this direction? Why did we choose this way of placing the pews, the altar, the pulpit (ambo)? Do we as Catholics have any tradition linking ecology and religion?” — and any other questions you may have. Each topic will be repeated the following week. You are invited to join us on: DATE: Wednesday, NOVEMBER 29th (to be repeated on December 6th) TIME: 10:30 AM to noon PLACE: Gabriel Meeting Room
This presentation will also be offered on Tuesday evening December 5th at 7:30PM We hope the discussions will be informative and enjoyable.
On TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 28th, we will begin with the topic: How is our Christian life and ethics similar to those of other faith traditions? How are they different? TIME: 7:30 – 9:00 PM PLACE: Library
DATE: TUESDAY DECEMBER 5th or WEDNESDAY December 13th at 10:30AM in the Gabriel Room
Many parishes have adopted an “Automatic Debit” system. This is the same method used by utilities such as Bell Canada and Ontario Hydro whereby bills are paid monthly by a pre-authorized withdrawal from your bank account.
In addition to making giving easier for you, Automatic Debit would provide many benefits to the parish, in terms of efficiency and budget forecasting. You would never need to remember your envelope – and for those who still like to deposit in the basket, we would provide reusable cards stating – “I give by Automatic Debit”.
We would like to understand the level of interest in the Automatic Debit system at St. Gabriel’s. Please answer the following questions, and include this paper with your next collection – Thank you.
PLEASE CHECK “YES” or “NO”: I would use Automatic Debit for my collection contribution. YES __________ NO __________
SATURDAY DECEMBER 2 FROM 1:00-6:00 PM AND SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 FROM 8:00-2:00 PM. THIS WEEKEND, ST. GABRIEL’S CRAFTERS ARE HOSTING THEIR CHRISTMAS CRAFT & BAKE SALE IN THE GABRIEL ROOM AFTER ALL THE MASSES. RAFFLE TICKET DRAW WILL TAKE PLACE SUNDAY AFTER THE 12:30 PM MASS. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS WORTHWHILE EFFORT!
The Cardinal Carter Academy Singers are pleased to present “A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” in the Church on Wednesday, December 20th at 7:30 PM. This celebration of Christmas follows the traditional format made famous by King’s College, Cambridge. The story of our salvation, from the fall of humanity, to the promise of the prophecies, to the birth of Jesus, is proclaimed in scripture and song. Over one hundred and twenty young singers offer anthems, hymns and carols. Be with us for this beautiful, prayerful and inspiring start to the holidays. Admission: $10, Children 12 and under free. For ticket information please contact Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041 or marilyncalderone@rogers.com
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 65 casseroles for November. For December, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of DECEMBER 30/31 for delivery to the Centre. More volunteers are encouraged to become active in helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. Please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
invites you to celebrate Human Rights Day (December 10th) after the Masses on DECEMBER 9th & 10th by signing a petition or postcard or sending a greeting card to a human rights defender or prisoner of conscience.
November 26th, 2006
This past Sunday we had a great celebration in the dedication of our new church by Cardinal Ambrozic. The Cardinal was most gracious in his remarks on the Passionists and the Parishioners of St. Gabriel’s. Thank you to all who were involved in any way in making this celebration the awesome event it was.
There is 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 this book. They will be remembered at all the Masses celebrated in November.
Total: $10,063.43
The Shepherd’s Trust is an Archdiocesan retirement program that provides elderly and infirm priests with the financial support they require to lead a dignified life after their many years of service to us. This collection will take place in our parish this weekend, November 25/26. 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! Donations may also be sent directly to the Shepherds’ Trust office at 1155 Yonge Street, Suite 603, Toronto, ON. M4T 1W2 at anytime throughout the year or through the website: www.shepherdstrust.org. Thank you for caring for those who always cared for us!
are selling their annual raffle tickets again today after all the Masses. The draw will take place next weekend at their CHRISTMAS CRAFT & BAKE SALE being held on Saturday, December 2nd from 1 PM to 6 PM and Sunday, December 3rd from 8 AM to 2 PM. Donations of craft items and baked goods are most welcome. Also volunteers to help at the craft show would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Linda 416-226-4645 or Bernadette 416-226-0100
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2006 @ 12:30 PM
has been cancelled for Sat DEC 2nd due to the Craft Show.
will meet on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3rd at 4:00 PM in the Library.
will take place on FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2nd from 9:30 AM to 12 noon. If you wish to spend some time in adoration during these hours, please indicate the time when it would be convenient for you on the forms inside the Church.
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. The next gathering will be held on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3rd in the Worship space beginning at approximately 11:30 AM (after the 10:30 Mass).
This Ecumenical Service is arranged by the Bayview Sheppard Ministerial and the Chaplaincy of North York General Hospital in the hope that the night of Christ will bring peace and comfort to those who have experienced personal loss and for whom Christmas may be a most difficult time. This will take place at Advent Lutheran Church, 2800 Don Mills Road, North York on Tuesday, December 12th at 7:30 PM.
Your donations to the poor boxes after Mass throughout the year are very important in enabling us to help those in need. At this time of the year, we try to provide a little extra for families and others that we help. Your generosity as you leave Mass would help us add something to their Christmas celebration.
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