June 12th, 2021
Last Sunday people were shocked by the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves of Indigenous children who were students at a residential school in B.C.
These unnamed, unknown children were forcefully removed from their mothers and fathers, they were punished for speaking their mother tongue, forced to wear uniforms, forced to eat new food, denied contact with their parents and suffered physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
This Sunday we’re stunned by the violent deaths of a Moslem family run down as they enjoyed an evening stroll on a London street.
Both tragic events point to the evil effects of the virus of racism a virus far more deadly and destructive that the present virus Corvid 19 that is presently holding our lives at a standstill.
The antivirus to racism is the God given commandment ‘love one another as I’ve loved you’. It doesn’t seem to be working in the human family. Racism, bigotry, intolerance still have the upper hand in our inter-human relationships
Jesus often uses agricultural imagery in his teaching. In today’s gospel he uses the imagery of the smallest of all seeds, a seed that sprouts and grows, independent of the farmer’s efforts to the greatest of all shrubs offering its branches to nesting birds.
Seeds, let’s call them attitudes or mindsets are sown in our lives within our own family life. We pick up these mindsets and attitudes almost by osmosis. These attitudes can be the virus that blights the way we see and relate to men and women of another race, another color, another religion, another life-style such as members of the Gay communities. These attitudes, these mindsets keep us from seeing the goodness, the dignity, the worth of men and women and even children different from ourselves.
This virus of racism can cause us to see others as less than ourselves. Corvid 19 has spread around the world causing millions of deaths. Racism is pandemic, it’s everywhere, and it’s in the air we breathe. People may protest, I’m not a racist but let’s face it; we all are to one degree or another. We’re all suspicious of, leery of ‘The other’, the different, and the strange. They speak differently, they dress differently, they live differently, they believe differently they love differently.
There is a saying; denial ain’t just a river in Egypt’. When it comes to the virus of racism, are you in denial, am I in denial about having this virus? Probably yes.
As we continue to celebrate this Mass we pray, we plea for the grace to love, accept, respect the ‘other’, the different, the strange as the crucified Christ loves, respects and accepts us, as we are, warts and all.
| Posted in Homily |
June 5th, 2021
| Posted in Events |
At this time public Masses are still temporarily cancelled. Our priests will continue to celebrate private Mass daily for the intentions of parishioners and for those suffering from COVID-19.
The Church will be open for private prayer during office hours, 8:30 AM to 12:00 Noon, and 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday. The Church will not be open on the weekend. Each Saturday, Fr. Paul or Fr. Brando will celebrate Mass which will be shown on our website.
Visits to the Parish Office are by appointment only. Please call 416–221-8866 to make an appointment.
June 7th, 2021 to June 13th, 2021
There are no announced Masses this week.
Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto are encouraged to read Cardinal Collins’ latest Pastoral Letter, “Heart Speaks to Heart”, a deep reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Visit www.archtoronto.org/sacredheart to read the letter and to access numerous resources that can be used in the home, school or parish setting. The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is observed in 2021 on Friday, June 11 and you are encouraged to offer a special focus on the Sacred Heart in the month of June. The theme of the Sacred Heart, however, is pertinent throughout the year and the resources, prayers and reflections are helpful tools to utilize year round.
“At this time of global pandemic, we pray for the sick and the suffering, for all of us who feel fear and anxiety.
We thank all those who are in the frontline – doctors, nurses, medical and hospital staff, care workers, family members, friends, and strangers – we pray for their safety, health, and strength.
We pray for those responsible as decision-makers and law enforcers, that they may be guided in their choices and actions, to be unselfish and magnanimous.
We pray that the scientific community may find ways to “contain the pandemic and defeat its deadly power”.
For Mother Earth, we pray that she may recover from the exhaustion and devastation caused by humanity.
And we pray that people, while exercising precaution and social responsibility, may reach out to the weakest and most vulnerable, showing compassion and care through creative ways.”
Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay
Living the Gospel by supporting the Deaf community
ShareLife funded agencies have been working on the front line of the Covid-19 pandemic. One of them, Silent Voice, has been continuing to offer programs in ASL (American Sign Language) to the Deaf community.
“You are indeed agents of change, enabling Silent Voice to provide entirely accessible programming, in ASL, that open the world to vulnerable Deaf adults, youth, children, and their families.” — Kelly MacKenzie, Silent Voice
Sunday, June 20th is the next ShareLife Sunday. Please give generously.
By Sunday, June 27th 2021
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 24 casseroles for May. For June, you may bring in your frozen casseroles before the last Sunday in June (June 27th) for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. Let’s see if we can increase that number!
The need is very great especially right now with Covid19.
The casseroles are easy to make and we have the recipes and casserole pans right here in the Parish Office. The recipes are also available on the Parish website. If you require more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Your food donations are very much appreciated.
Rosalie Hall assists young parents and their children to realize their potential through the provision of a wide range of child development, community, residential and educational services.
Good Shepherd provides hot meals and shelter for the homeless in our city as well as a chance to start again through the Resettlement or DARE Programs.
Your food donations are more important than ever as Covid 19 continues and numbers of needy people continue to increase. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired
India is reeling from a devastating COVID-19 outbreak. In recent days, the country has been reporting more than 400,000 of new cases and 4,000 deaths every 24 hours. International observers expect that the actual numbers are significantly higher.
The medical system, funeral services and other social supports are unable to meet the country’s needs at this time.
The Archdiocese of Toronto will send donations through Development and Peace to Caritas Internationalis, an international confederation of Catholic humanitarian organizations that is already in India helping those who are suffering during this COVID-19 outbreak.
To learn more about Caritas’ work in India, please watch the video: http://bit.ly/CaritasIndiaRelief
Those wishing to help may do so in the following ways:
Online through the Archdiocese of Toronto website: www.archtoronto.org
By phone through the Development Office at416-934-3411
Through the parish, making cheques payable to: St. Gabriel’s Passionist Parish – India’s COVID-19
Donations to India Covid 19 Relief Fund – $50
Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Call 1-855 581- 9580
The Friendly Neighbor Hotline Is an organization mobilizing volunteers to deliver groceries and medication to seniors who have trouble going to the stores by themselves. The seniors just have to call the number, they can also register online. They place their order by phone (8 items max) and say how they want to pay, then sends a message to the pool of volunteers who indicated they can do deliveries in the senior’s ward. When a volunteer responds that he or she can do it, FNH sends a message to the volunteer with the shopping list. After delivery, the volunteer gets reimbursed by the organization who collects the money from the senior.”
Catholic Family Services of Toronto is now offering online quick access single sessions. Single-session counselling is a quick and effective way for individuals, couples or families to address a mental health or relationship concern.
To arrange for a session, please contact: info@cfstoronto.com or 416-921-1163 or 416-222-0048. Leave us a message with your name, email and phone number, and a staff person will contact you.
Clients who are interested in pursuing other or additional services in the agency have the option to access our ongoing counselling, wellness or group programs.
Counselling fees are charged according to a client’s income level. No one is denied service because of their inability to pay fees.
Your parish has been there for you and your family during the most important moments of your lives. Help you’re your Catholic community active and alive for years to come.
Please consider your parish in your will or through a planned gift. A bequest is a beautiful way to express your faith and gratitude for a lifetime of blessings – a lasting legacy of love that will help the Church continue with its many ministries.
For more details, please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 or contact Peter Okonski, Manager of Planned Giving and Personal Gifts at 416 934 3400 Ext. 519 or by email at development@archtoronto.org.
All calls are confidential.
| Posted in Bulletin |
June 1st, 2021
As communicated last week, the provincial government released its “Roadmap to Reopen” on May 20, 2021. In summary, places of worship are restricted to a 10 person maximum until Step 2, expected in early July 2021, with the exception of outdoor services that are permitted in Step 1. In a meeting with the Premier’s office, I made very clear our dissatisfaction regarding the hard cap of 10 in light of the fact that non-essential retailers will be permitted to open at 15% capacity as of Step 1 (expected mid-June) and 25% capacity for Step 2.
In March of this year, many of you wrote or encouraged your parishioners/colleagues to participate in the “A Place to Worship” campaign, when we found ourselves in a similar situation. A simple website helps to facilitate a message to Premier Ford and local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP).
If, by the end of this week, there are no changes relating to places of worship in the “Roadmap to Reopen”, we will, once again, ask parishioners to connect with their MPP as part of a new campaign. Additional details regarding the logistics as well as appropriate communication will be shared with you shortly. Many faith communities from throughout the province have expressed an interest in participating in this initiative.
We have also received numerous inquiries regarding the possibility of outdoor Masses at parishes in the archdiocese, as is permitted by the provincial government in Step 1. We are in the process of preparing recommendations regarding outdoor liturgies. If the province chooses not to make changes to current restrictions, guidance regarding outdoor Masses will be provided to parishes by June 1, 2021.
I recognize the fluid nature of the situation and once again, appreciate your patience as we advocate for places of worship and prepare plans for the days ahead. We will continue to keep you updated with the latest information. Be assured of my ongoing gratitude and prayers.
Saint Michael the Archangel, pray for us.
Sincerely in Christ, Thomas Cardinal Collins Archbishop of Toronto
May 31st, 2021
On behalf of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), I express our deepest sorrow for the heartrending loss of the children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School on the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation.
The news of the recent discovery is shocking. It rekindles trauma in numerous communities across this land. Honouring the dignity of the lost little ones demands that the truth be brought to light.
This tragedy profoundly impacts Indigenous communities, with whom many people across this land and throughout the world now stand in solidarity.
As we see ever more clearly the pain and suffering of the past, the Bishops of Canada pledge to continue walking side by side with Indigenous Peoples in the present, seeking greater healing and reconciliation for the future.
We lift up prayers to the Lord for the children who have lost their lives and pledge our close accompaniment of Indigenous families and communities.
May our Creator God bless all of us with consolation and hope.
+ Richard Gagnon Archbishop of Winnipeg and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops 31 May 2021
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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Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk