November 19th, 2006
| Posted in Events |
Today’s reading can be unsettling and disturbing. We hear about the disintegration of the world in the most graphic of terms. As usual we have to put these readings into context. Daniel wrote about 200 years before the birth of Jesus. At that time, the Greeks occupied the land and they were trying to unify their empire by imposing Greek thinking and beliefs on everyone. In Daniel’s time, it was a crime to practice the Jewish faith and many died for doing so. We know this from the Book of Maccabees and the story of the mother of seven sons whom she encouraged to die rather than deny their faith. Though Daniel writes of a future time what he is trying to do is encourage the people of his time to be faithful to the teaching and traditions of their ancestors. Those who are faithful would be vindicated.
The same is true of Mark – the people of his time were suffering under the persecution of Nero and many were dying for the faith and so Mark too points to a time of deliverance when all will be made right and good and faithful people would be vindicated by the victorious Christ.
We’ve all experienced occasions in our lives when we felt our world was fall apart – we couldn’t cope with what was happening around us – we were swamped with anxieties. It may have been the shattering news of serious illness, the sudden death of a spouse or a child – the loss of a job and career, the ending of a marriage or an important relationship or it could be a sense of being betrayed or let down by someone in whom we really trusted. And yet when we look back we see that we’ve come through these hard times and have moved on, better persons for having endured them.
In a way it’s the make up of the very process of life itself – death and resurrection. There was a book out years ago called ‘Passages’ and it dealt with the different critical phases we go through in life – times of crisis which can become times of growth. The author uses the example of the lobster to make her point. For a lobster to grow it has to shed the very shell that protects it because that shell is hampering its growth – and as its new shell grows to fit its growing body the lobster is in a state of total vulnerability – but unless it sheds its old protective shell and faces that time of danger – it will die, crushed by its old shell. Its very vulnerability is its source of growth and life. When we reflect on our lives we can see how our personal crises image this example of the lobster. We are strong and have the ability to move on in and thru times of vulnerability and struggle.
Today’s readings are very fitting for our parish family – we’ve had our own cataclysmic events. We’ve grieved over the loss of a church that was our home for over 50 years, a church in which we celebrated countless baptisms, wedding and funerals, a church in which we gathered for Sunday Mass for years. It was hard to say good bye – I know many in the parish felt uprooted, some told me of how they cried when they saw our old church demolished – it hurt them to see this happen. I understand this. As I mentioned before, it was traumatic to celebrate the morning Masses and see, even as I celebrated, the demolition of a church and monastery that have part and parcel of my life since 1960. It was truly an “ending”.
But today we celebrate a new day and a new church. Cardinal Ambrozic will dedicate our new church this afternoon. It’s a new beginning but with links to our past – we still celebrate at the same altar, baptize at the same baptismal font, reverence to the same tabernacle, sit in the same pews and most importantly pray and praise with the same good people.
In this new space and place we will try, as we did in our old place, to believe, belong and become. We will struggle together to grow to full maturity in Christ and come to a deeper reverence for the beauty of God’s good creation and grow in our awareness of our place within the life communities of Earth and do what we can by simplifying our life styles to bring about the healing of the Earth.
So as we continue this Mass we pray for ourselves and for each other that, in an attitude of gratitude, we will give thanks to God for bringing our parish family to this day and this space.
| Posted in Homily |
Today, Sunday, November 19th Cardinal Ambrozic will be with us to consecrate our New Church at a Mass. This ceremony will take place at 3:00PM. We are expecting that our General Superior from Rome will be with us as well as our Provincial Superior from the States. ALL are welcome to attend this important event in the life of our parish. In place of a collection at this special Mass and to share the joy of this celebration in a practical way, we ask you to bring toothbrushes and toothpaste, razors and shaving cream, combs and shoe laces. These items will be sent on to be used at the Good Shepherd Centre. Reception will follow.
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: $10,499.93
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 15th (to be repeated on November 22nd) TIME: 10:30 AM to noon PLACE: Gabriel Meeting Room
This presentation will also be offered on Tuesday evening November 21st 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
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 the weekend of 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 next weekend November 25/26 after all the Masses. The draw will take place 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.
Your prepared chicken rice casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses next weekend for delivery to the 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.
is having a General Meeting, Elections and Wine and Cheese Social on Tuesday, November 21st at 7:30PM in the Parish Hall.
Theology on Tap is a thought-provoking social evening for adults(18-39 yrs) where a speaker provides opportunity for discussion. On Monday, November 27th, from 7:00 – 9:00PM, Sr. Sue Mosteller, CSJ will speak on “Life, Spirit, and the Trapeze”. 39 Prince Arthur Ave. (Bloor and Bedford). For information, please contact Vanessa Nicholas at 416-222-1426 ext. 276.
This Ecumeical 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.
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.
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.
Ebony carvings and beautiful batiks from Africa will be on sale at a gala sale of arts and crafts to support the Missionaries of the Precious Blood St. Gaspar Elementary School in Tanzania on Thursday, November 30th from 7-9:30 PM at the Meridian Banquet Hall, 2301 Keele Street (south of Lawrence). Tickets are $15 and include hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary drink. Please call 416-653-4486 to order tickets or for more information. Lots of ideas for those on your Christmas list!
| Posted in Bulletin |
November 12th, 2006
It will help to understand today’s short gospel if we put it in context. Jesus came to Jerusalem in triumph – the crowds greeted Him with Hosannas, spreading branches on the road – calling out, blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord. It’s what we call Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. In the days between this triumph and the tragedy of Good Friday, Jesus spent a lot of time in the temple. He drove out the money changers and reminded the people the Temple was a place of prayer not a market place. The priests and scribes and Pharisees challenged Him, ‘by what authority do you do these things.’ In Mark’s gospel we read of them confronting Jesus in different ways – the Pharisees wanted to know if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar – the Sadducees challenged Him on the resurrection of the dead – the lawyers wanted to know if it was lawful to divorce – all this was building up to the moment when the Chief Priest would decide, ‘it is better that one man die than that the whole nation should perish.’
Jesus joins that long line of prophets who exposed the false piety and corrupt practices of religious leaders who took advantage of their positions to exploit the poor. He goes after the Scribes for devouring the houses of widows. From what I’ve read, it seems the Scribes were given a kind of executive care for the resources of widows and were stealing from the very ones they were supposed to be helping. Much like some lawyers today who are caught embezzling estates they were meant to manage.
One consideration we can give to today’s gospel is that maybe Jesus is attacking the very religious system that takes money from a person like this widow and uses it to support people like the scribes who go around in their long robes – a dress code that sets them apart from poor peasants who make up the majority of the population.
Today’s gospel is often used to encourage people to donate to the church. Many denominations call this Stewardship Sunday. Are we good stewards of the funds we collect? Are we using our resources to further the good works of the gospel?
I remember visiting a priest up north who had just taken over a parish and was anxious to make all things new, beginning with the rectory, which he referred to as early muskoka boat house. Showing me around his refurbished home we came to his ensuite which had a Jacuzzi with gold faucets. I mentioned in passing that it was priests like him that caused the French Revolution. That was the end of the tour.
As Passionists, I think we have practiced good stewardship in using our resources here at St. Gabriel’s. The decision to build this new church which is energy efficient and environmentally friendly came about as we looked at the physical condition of the old church, which was impossible to heat and had so much wasted space. We considered as well, the planned development of the whole neighbourhood – the plan to put 10,000 units on the south side of Sheppard between Bayview and Leslie plus other developments in the area. We decided to replace rather than waste your money trying to repair the old church. You make these kinds of decisions yourself when you look at your automobile and ask the question, “should I put more money into this heap or buy a new car?”
With the money realized from the sale of our property and the help of all those who were part of our Heritage Program we now enjoy this beautiful church. No money from the sale of our property went off to some bishop in the States as our present local councilor maintained in the local press.
Stewardship has to do with what we do with the resources of the parish. We use these resources to hire a parish manager and secretary, a maintaince staff, and we use these resources too in hiring qualified people to provide the parish with the important ministry of adult education, education in the faith and preparing people to be received into the church, preparing children for the sacraments and education that springs from the very nature of our new church – and awareness of and sensitivity to our relationship with the rest of God’s good creation. The greening of this sacred space is meant to foster the greening of those who gather here.
Another thought about today’s gospel and the widow’s mite. Jesus had nothing in common with the opulence of the temple, the pomposity and superficiality of the religious leaders who challenged Him. Of all the religious and pious people He met in the temple that day, the widow was the only one with whom He could identify. In a matter of days He, like her, would be asked to give up His whole livelihood – He would be asked to give His life to God, holding nothing back – He would imitate the widow’s radical trust in Go’s care for her – His last words would imitate her total giving when she dropped her two pennies into the box – words, spoken in trust of God’s presence and care – “into Your hands I commend My spirit”.
In continuing to celebrate this Mass I want to thank you for your great support of the parish and promise you that with the guidance of the parish financial committee we will use our resources wisely – may we all see in this widow, who gives all she has as an example of generosity – may we follow her example by being generous in any way we can – to God and to all those who come into our lives.
On SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19th, Cardinal Ambrozic will be with us to consecrate our new church at a Mass. This ceremony will take place at 3:00PM. We are expecting that our General Superior from Rome will be with us as well as our Provincial Superior from the States. ALL are welcome to attend this important event in the life of our parish. In place of a collection at this special Mass and to share the joy of this celebration in a practical way, we ask you to bring toothbrushes and toothpaste, razors and shaving cream, combs and shoe laces. These items will be sent on to be used at the Good Shepherd Centre. Reception will follow.
Thanks to the young people of our Youth Group for the wonderful Haunted House they built for the children of the parish. They really enjoyed it.
Thanks too to Alex Seredenko for the awesome recital he offered the parishioners last Sunday afternoon. Those who attended were thrilled with Alex’s performance.
Out of consideration for those who are celebrating Mass with you, please keep your child with you at all times and prevent them from running loose out into the open space. Children are bound to get restless and noisy. Again, out of consideration for those around you, just take them out to the ‘gathering space’ and help them to settle down. We are happy to have the children here, but they should not be allowed to disrupt those around them and the Mass itself. Fr. Paul
Total: $9,628.13
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 15th (to be repeated on November 22nd) TIME: 10:30 AM to noon PLACE: Come to the Parish Office
We hope the discussions will be informative and enjoyable. We are also prepared to offer this series of presentations on alternate Tuesday evenings for those interested, beginning NOVEMBER 21st at 7:30 PM. If you wish to attend Tuesday evenings, please phone Mary Landry at 416-293-3760.
On TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 14th, 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: Come to the Parish Office
CHRISTIAN MAGLIOCCO RACHEL MORGAN MEIERS DARWYN WING-HAY CHANG JOHNNY WONG MADELEINE DI-LEO SAMANTHA DEBORAH SMITH MATTHEW STEVEN TRAPPER SMITH DAVID MICHAEL PERRY WILLIAM MICHAEL GOWLAND ARIANNA PUI ZI HAU JOHN LIONEL TUPAZ
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 the weekend of 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! Thank you for caring for those who always cared for us!
are selling their annual raffle tickets today after all the Masses. The draw will take place at their CHRISTMAS CRAFT & BAKE SALE being held Saturday, December 2nd from 1:00 to 6:00PM and Sunday, December 3rd from 8:00AM to 2:00PM. Donations of crafts and baked goods are most welcome. Also volunteers would be greatly appreciated to help with the craft show. Please contact Linda 416-226-4645 or Bernadette 416-226-0100.
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
St. Gabriel volunteers have been serving lunch to our less fortunate sisters and brothers at the Good Shepherd Centre for over seven years. We are trying to develop a roster of volunteers who are willing to serve on the second Monday of the month. Then we will have more flexibility for volunteers who can come only on an irregular basis. A ride will be provided form the Church or you may come independently if you work downtown. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Lily D’Gama at 416-733-3949.
A special thank you to all those who donated so generously to the Thanksgiving Food Drive for the Good Shepherd Ministries.
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.
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St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk