July 5th, 2020
All his life Jesus wanted to be identified with the little people of the world. He came from a backwater village of Nazareth. Remember Nathaniel’s crack, ’can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ His father was a carpenter and Jesus probably learned the trade.
During his ministry Jesus rubbed shoulders with people of privilege, he accepted their hospitality. He challenged their lifestyles and their attitudes; their taking the first place at banquets and first seats in the synagogues and making a big show of their donations to the temple. But basically he walked with and shared his wisdom with merchants and fishermen and shepherds, with husbands and wives, the sick and the frightened, the lost and confused.
Close your eyes and image Jesus with those people, the simple folk of the land. He stands among them and opens wide his arms in welcome and says these words; come to me, come to me all you who are weary and find life burdensome and I will give you rest.
Come with your anxieties about your health and the health of those you love. Come, stressed out as you are with this isolation and social distancing.
Jesus invites us to yoke ourselves to himself promising that his yoke is easy, his burden light. He compares his yoke to that of the Pharisees, the keepers of the Law. Jesus accused these strict keepers of the law they lay heavy burdens on people and will not lift a finger to lighten the load. His yoke is easy, his burden light. Our only shared burden is to love one another as we’ve been loved.
To be yoked with Jesus is to allow him to our companion on our own personal journey. To be yoked to Jesus is to be willing to be willing to let his will make a difference in what we choose and do.To be yoked to Jesus is to make a difference in the way we treat other people. To be yoked to Jesus is to make a difference in the way we handle conflict in our lives. To be yoked with Jesus is to make a difference in the way we are there for friends and strangers who need our support. To be yoked with Jesus is to make a difference in the way we face our own struggles and weaknesses. To be yoked to Jesus is to make a difference in the way we approach God in prayer.
At this Mass, as we receive the Body of Christ may we be graced to accept Christ’s gracious invitation- take my yoke upon you – then we’ll never walk alone.
| Posted in Homily |
June 28th, 2020
This Sunday’s readings invite us to reflect on another dimension of our lives, that of hospitality. In our first reading a wealthy woman convinced her husband that they show hospitality to Elisha so that he could have a place to stay and a meal to eat and a bed to rest. Elisa responds to their goodness by promising them a future son.
How good are we as a society at welcoming people into our company? We Canadians have a pretty good track record, beginning with accepting refugees from the Hungarian revolution in 1956. Then we welcomed people fleeing the collapse of Vietnam. As a parish family we’ve welcomed refugees from Syria and Iraq.
Jesus told the men he was sending as sheep among wolves that they would face hostility from many people but then added ‘he who welcomes you welcomes me and he who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. There is a ripple effect there.
Every day we can be challenged by the demands of hospitality, this demand of welcoming others into our lives.
The present social turmoil in the States about the prevalence and the impact of racism on the lives of millions of Black and people of colour can be the occasion for us to face the reality of this sin in our own lives. We shouldn’t be too smug about this.
To quote an American Black person, most white people go cradle to grave in racial segregation. Most white people do not have authentic sustained relationships across race, particularly with black people. I’m not talking about acquaintances. Show me your wedding album. That is a truer measure of who is in your friendship circle and sitting at your table.
Racism is an attitude of mind; it’s something we pick up by osmosis from family members and people with whom we grow up. Racism diminishes us as persons because it blinds us to the dignity and worth of our equals. We are all children of God.
In our opening prayer we prayed we not be wrapped in the darkness of error but that we always stand in the bright light of truth. He who welcomes you welcomes me and he who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
A question; how valid is the welcoming mat at our door?
June 27th, 2020
This is the last full bulletin until the Labour Day Weekend in September.
Announced Masses for July and August will be posted on the website. Any information concerning the Church and Covid 19 will also be published We wish you all a happy, healthy and safe summer!
Wednesday, July 1st is Canada Day.
The office will be closed on Wednesday for the holiday. There will be no 9:00 AM Mass on July 1st.
June 29th to July 5th, 2020
MONDAY – TA FAMILY – Requested by Veronica Do TUESDAY – BERNADETTE HIGGINS – Requested by Agnes Gaughan WEDNESDAY – CANADA DAY – No 9:00 AM Mass THURSDAY – DELPHINE OAKIE – Requested by the Family FRIDAY – CATHERINE MINNAN WONG – Requested by Noreen Chen SATURDAY – GUS & MARIE CALDERONE – Requested by their Family SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – YUNG-NIEN HSU – Requested by the Family
Meetings in preparation for the R.C.I.A. (Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults) will begin in October. These meetings are for persons interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith. The exploration may lead the candidate to seek baptism and become a member of the Catholic Christian community; or for Christians already baptized into another Christian denomination, the reception into the Catholic Church.
Adult Catholics who have not received the sacrament of Confirmation but who wish to do so are also encouraged to attend these sessions.
As well, these meetings may be an opportunity for “Born Catholics” to deepen their understanding of our faith. Very often, especially for those of us who received our religious instruction at an early age, we tend to grow physically, mentally, psychologically etc., but the understanding of our faith does not grow correspondingly. The RCIA may serve as a good opportunity for us to ask questions and to develop a more adult understanding of our faith.
If you are interested in joining the RCIA meetings or if you would like to have more information about it, please contact Sr. Maria Lucia at 416-221-8866.
Weekday Mass have resumed at 9.00 in the morning here at St. Gabriels.
In accordance with the guidelines established by the Province of Ontario and the Archdiocese of Toronto, attendance at Mass is limited to 30% capacity of the church, while at the same time, ensuring a 2m (6ft) physical distance requirement.
In light of this limitation, a reservation system has been implemented for attending weekend Masses. This reservation system is on our website. If you do not have access to a computer or encounter any problems reserving your seat, please call the parish office.
For the health and safety of all, before you come to Mass; Please check temperature of all family members who are coming to Mass. If any member has a fever, please remain at home,
If you have any of the following symptoms, Cough, fatigue, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, muscle aches, loss of taste or smell, headache, runny nose, sore throat, chills and shakes, please stay home;
If you have travelled abroad, has been in contact with someone who may have COVID-19, or show signs or symptoms of COVID-19 within the last 14 days, please stay home.
It is highly recommended for you to wear a face mask when you come to Mass, for the health and safety of our worshipping community. More information will be provided when you return to the Church
As we are reopening the Church for Masses, disinfecting the pews and high touch areas is one of the many measures to keep our Church safe for everyone. Any parishioner who wants to volunteer their time in disinfecting the pews after each weekend Mass can sign up by sending an email with your name and contact details, indicating which Mass you would be available for, to stgabrielsparish@bellnet.ca
For the latest update from the Archdiocese of Toronto, please visit: www.archtoronto.org/covid19
Living the Gospel by supporting missions in the Global South
The Pastoral Mission Fund supports 226 projects in 25 countries in the Global South. These projects include programs run by the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary in the remote Colombian village of El Pozon. In this village marked by killings and disappearances, the sisters provide food, job training, and hope – through prayer meetings, Confirmation classes and Bible studies. A grant from the Pastoral Mission Fund is helping the sisters conduct their important pastoral and mission work.
Please make a sacrificial gift to ShareLife through your parish or sharelife.org
Your gift to ShareLife is helping!
Did you know that while parishes remain closed, ShareLife agencies are as busy as ever? That’s because those who are poor and marginalized are disproportionately affected during a crisis. Your support of ShareLife ensures Catholic agencies can continue their work on the front lines, helping the many people who are suffering. Please give securely online at sharelife.org/donate.
Each month food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Until we receive an update on food collection, we cannot accept any food donations at this time.
While we wait for updates from these outreach ministries, let us always be mindful of what they do.
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.
Attention high school graduates:
If you’re headed to university or college in the fall, campus ministry is waiting for you! Check it out at: www.chaplaincyconnect.ca!
Bereavement/Separation/Loss Support Group
Dealing with a breakup or the loss of someone close to you is difficult in the best of times – trying to do so in the midst of a pandemic makes everything that much tougher.
Fortunately, Catholic Family Services of Toronto have a ministry dedicated to assisting those who have suffered a loss through separation, divorce, or the death of a loved one.
Our New Beginnings program is offering bi-monthly support sessions. This closed support group allows us to work together to explore our grief, experience healing, and renew our faith.
For more information or to get yourself registered, please reach out to Arcangelo Limanni at alimanni@cfstoronto.com or call (416) 921-1163, ext. 2225.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, Catholic Family Services have moved their counselling and psychotherapy services online in an effort to continue to help their clients who are struggling with their mental well-being in this difficult time.
If you are suffering from mild to moderate mental health issues or are experiencing difficulty in your relationships, we encourage you to reach out to them and take a step towards a happier and healthier life. Catholic Family Services offer a variety of services, so whether you are an individual, couple, or family, their counsellors will explore your concerns with you and help you work towards your goals.
Sessions are conducted through the OnCall Health platform, which provides you and your counsellor with a secure and private video connection, since your privacy and confidentiality is of the utmost importance to them. To learn more about these counselling services or to find out how you can get started, please visit the Catholic Family Services of Toronto website at: https://www.cfstoronto.com/client/cfs/cfs_lp4w_lnd_webstation.nsf/page/Counselling+Program!OpenDocument
Our Church resumed weekend Masses last weekend. You may drop your offertory envelope in the collection baskets when you enter the Church, or at the parish office during parish office hours.
You may donate by credit card through Donate Now. A link on our website will show you how to do this.
You may also consider changing your offertory giving to monthly Pre-Authorized Giving. Forms are available at the Parish office or on-line at the Parish website in the “Weekly Giving” section under the Finances tab.
| Posted in Bulletin |
June 21st, 2020
June 22nd to June 28th, 2020
MONDAY – TUESDAY – WEDNESDAY – ALEXANDER TA – Requested by Veronica Do THURSDAY – JUANITO G. GAVIETA & MA. ROSARIO A. CALIMBAS – Requested by Estrella Gavieta & the Luke Family FRIDAY – KENG OWYONG – Requested by Helen Owyong SATURDAY – DOREEN YOUNG – Requested by Noreen Chen SUNDAY – NO INTENTIONS
When this is over, may we never again take for granted a handshake with a stranger conversations with neighbors a crowded theater Friday night out the taste of Communion a routine checkup the school rush each morning coffee with a friend the stadium roaring each deep breath a boring Tuesday life itself. When this ends, may we find that we have become more like the people we wanted to be, we were called to be, we hoped to be. And may we stay that way – better for each other because of the worst. Amen Laura Kelly Fanucci
Weekday Mass have resumed at 9.00 in the morning as of June 17th.
In light of this limitation, a reservation system will be implemented for attending Masses. This reservation system will be available on our website. If you do not have access to a computer or encounter any problems reserving your seat, please call the parish office.
For the health and safety of all, before you come to Mass;
Please check temperature of all family members who are coming to Mass. If any member has a fever, please remain at home, If you have any of the following symptoms,
Cough, fatigue, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, muscle aches, loss of taste or smell, headache, runny nose, sore throat, chills and shakes, please stay home;
As we are reopening the Church this weekend for Masses, disinfecting the pews and high touch areas is one of the many measures to keep our Church safe for everyone. Any parishioner who wants to volunteer their time in disinfecting the pews after each weekend Mass can sign up by sending an email with your name and contact details, indicating which Mass you would be available for, to stgabrielsparish@bellnet.ca
Our Church resumed weekend Masses this weekend. You may drop your offertory envelope in the collection baskets when you enter the Church, or at the parish office during parish office hours.
Today’s gospel is from Matthew and his telling of Jesus choosing the 12 disciples and sending them out to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. They are to proclaim the good news that the kingdom of God is near. Jesus warns them that they are to expect opposition from the religious authorities just as he did. They are not to fear those who could kill their bodies but they are to fear those who can kill their souls. What are the forces and who are the people in our lives today that can kill our souls?
We are to fear those forces or attitudes of indifference in our lives that can kill our sense of love and justice. We should fear those mindsets which we pick up from our upbringings and our friendships that numb us to suffering and injustices good people endure every day of their lives. Pope Francis calls it a global indifference, dullness to sufferings of good hard working men and women victims of social injustice, exploitation and racism.
Any mindset or attitude that lets us see another person as less than ourselves, less than a beloved son or daughter of God, less than a brother or sister of the Christ who died for all of us is a mindset that is fatal to our souls. It deadens the life of God in us.
These past weeks TV stations have covered worldwide stories of people protesting police brutality toward Blacks and other people of color. The outrage originated from a TV coverage of a police officer knelling on the neck of a black man during an arrest. A Black man begging, ‘I can’t breathe.’ A black man who died!
It was like a shot heard around the world. Enough of this brutality.
People everywhere have taken the action of bending the knee to show their rejection of acts of violence sprung from racist attitudes, by people with authority over another person.
Bending the knee is an act of resistance to any abuse of power, sprung from racism, be it by police officers, or people in power in the business world or medical profession, the teaching profession, or in the church. Bending the knee is a rejection of the inbred racism that affects all of us, the way we see people different from ourselves either by way of race, religion or sexual orientation.
Jesus tells us ’nothing is covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing is hidden that won’t be exposed to the light of day. This is so true in our day. Cameras are everywhere
Do not fear those who kill the body, fear those who kill the soul.
Pope Francis’ reaction to George Floyd’s killing speaks to every one of us, “we cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to be defenders the sacredness of every human life”.
Do not fear those who kill our body but fear those who kill our soul, those who lure us into a sense of indifference to the social ills that surround us, or lure us into a sense of superiority over other people. These kill our soul.
As we continue this Mass we pray for every person who is a victim of racism and bigotry, may they never lose sight of their own dignity.
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