April 12th, 2020
Celebration of Easter morning Mass at St. Gabriel’s Parish, on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020.
| Posted in Events |
I’m beginning to plan this Easter sermon on the cold but sunny Good Friday. A blue sky gives me a lift. We know there will be no Easter Masses. We know we will not enjoy the uplifting music our choir sings. We know we won’t be greeting fellow parishioners with a cheerful ‘Happy Easter’. Right now we have to say,”I’m not up to it.” We have to admit we’re trying to cope with this necessary isolation. Our walls are closing in. Maybe some of us are struggling with depression or discouragement. Some of us are lucky enough get out of the house for a walk and many of us feel the walls are closing in on us. We long to hear the phone ring or the doorbell. There will be no family gatherings to celebrate this day. We wonder when our own Good Friday will end.
The meaning of these holy days were summed up by St. Paul in his letter to the Christian community in Philippi when he wrote that Jesus did not consider his equality with God as something to clung to. He emptied himself of his divinity and took to himself our humanity, becoming as we all are and became a slave, a slave obedient even unto death, death on a cross. Because of this emptying God has exalted him and give him a name above all other names so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend and every tongue should confess the Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Read these words again and again.
Easter is always the feast on which we celebrate the victory of life over death. The victory of love over hatred. The victor of justice over injustice. The victory of acceptance and welcome over exclusion and rejection. The victory of self-giving over selfishness.
May we be blessed to see these victories in the lives of overworked doctors and nurses and their assistants and kitchen staffs and cleaning staffs in our hospitals and the first providers such as ambulance drivers, policemen and women and firemen and fire women. Good people putting aside their own safety and the safety of their families, their own weariness, their own family concerns, their spare time to be there for men and women and children in need of their expertize.
May we celebrate Easter in gratitude to such men and women who are living examples of the love Jesus showed each one of us as he endured his passion and death and his glorification in his resurrection. May we celebrate Easter being grateful to family members and friends and all who support us in these difficult times.
| Posted in Homily |
Alleluia! Alleluia!
We wish you all a very Happy and Holy Easter!
This year the celebrations and rituals of Holy Week have been like no other. This is a time of great stress, fear and, for many, loss.
Thank you to all those who sent messages of prayer and encouragement. Thank you for those in essential services who have risked their own lives to help those in need. Thank you to all who have followed the restrictions as we try to keep this pandemic under control. Let us pray that we will all soon be together again.
April 13 th to April 19 th , 2020
MONDAY – EASTER MONDAY TUESDAY – ARMAND OAKIE – Requested by the Family WEDNESDAY – ELSA D’SOUZA – Requested by her Family THURSDAY – EAMON GAUGHAN – Requested by the Gaughan Family FRIDAY – EDGARDO RECANA – Requested by his Family SATURDAY – LEAH FERNANDES – Requested by George & Lynette Fernandes SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – SHELLA TANG – Requested by Amy & Michael Tang – 12:30 PM – DOREEN YOUNG – Requested by Noreen Chen
Living the Gospel by supporting vocations
“The financial help provided by the people of God through ShareLife plays a significant part in my vocation. Without ShareLife, I would not be able to complete my studies and go on in my formation. Thank you very much for being instrumental in the hands of God and His Church, so that His word could come true in my vocation.” – Deacon André Luis de Lima, priest in formation at Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary
Parishioners can still contribute by credit card through the ShareLife website, or by mailing or dropping off or mailing their contribution to the parish office
Each month food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Unfortunately, with the current COVID-19 situation, 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.
At a time like this it can be uncomfortable to talk about giving. Our primary concern is the health and well-being of our parishioners. However, these difficult circumstances show just how important the offertory is to the life of our parishes.
The reality is that our parishes rely on the support of their parishioners to operate – parish salaries, programs and ongoing operating costs (heating, water, electricity, etc.) are funded through the generosity of its parishioners. It will be a challenge for the parish to maintain operations without the weekly offertory collection. Although our Churches are closed, our outreach programs and pastoral presence remain active.
Because there will be no masses, there will no offertory collections taken up. You may, however, drop off your envelope at the parish office or mail it to the parish.
Monthly contributions to the Parish by monthly Pre-Authorized Giving or by credit card through “Donate Now” continue automatically.
Please consider changing your offertory giving, at this time, 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 |
April 10th, 2020
(adapted from Joyce Rupp, OFM, “Open the Door: A Journey to the True Self” p. 13)
Remember the Holy One is with you. Bring to mind this loving presence within you and around you as you pray the following:
Make a deep bow to the loving presence of the God in you.
(adapted from Pope Francis, Prayer to Mary, Woman of Listening)
Loving God, we ask You that – through Mary, a woman of listening, You open our ears; Grant us to know how to listen to the word of your Son Jesus Among the thousands of words of this world; Grant that we may listen to the reality in which we live, To every person we encounter, especially those who are poor, in need, in hardship.
Through Mary, woman of decision, Help us illuminate our mind and our heart, So that we may obey, unhesitating, the word of your Son Jesus; Give us the courage to decide, Not to let ourselves be dragged along, letting others direct our life.
Through Mary, woman of action, We obtain that our hands and feet move “with haste” toward others, To bring them the charity and love of your Son Jesus, To bring the light of the Gospel to the world, as you did. Amen.
I will return again to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face. In their distress they will beg my favour: “Come, let us return to the Lord; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
[New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSVCE): Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]
The love that Jesus has for us is selfless. He gave up His life for the love of humanity. And so is the love that Mary shared with her son – a selfless kind of love – and one the we, as mere mortals can and are capable of. This kind of love is eloquently explained by Joyce Rupp in her book Open the Door: A Journey to the True Self, when she writes:
“Selfless love is real. In spite of the horrors of war and other brutal ways that humans treat one another, love is possible. Unselfish people reside everywhere. They love unconditionally, dedicate themselves to alleviating suffering, are willing to give their all for one another, intent on being the life-givers and spirit-transformers. These are not do-gooders, holier-than-thou people. No, this kind of love is seared in trials, purified by personal, shaped by persistent rededication and self-giving that goes beyond required duty. Each day people on this planet open the door of their hearts and love pours forth. No matter how discouraged we might be get about the world’s violence and hatred, let us remember that generous love thrives in kind souls and express itself daily. Selfless love does not come about overnight. For most, it takes a lifetime of effort. Yet, not nothing is more central to Christian life than other-centered love.”
“Selfless love is real. In spite of the horrors of war and other brutal ways that humans treat one another, love is possible. Unselfish people reside everywhere. They love unconditionally, dedicate themselves to alleviating suffering, are willing to give their all for one another, intent on being the life-givers and spirit-transformers. These are not do-gooders, holier-than-thou people. No, this kind of love is seared in trials, purified by personal, shaped by persistent rededication and self-giving that goes beyond required duty. Each day people on this planet open the door of their hearts and love pours forth. No matter how discouraged we might be get about the world’s violence and hatred, let us remember that generous love thrives in kind souls and express itself daily.
Selfless love does not come about overnight. For most, it takes a lifetime of effort. Yet, not nothing is more central to Christian life than other-centered love.”
[Joyce Rupp, OFM, “Open the Door: A Journey to the True Self” p. 150-151]
During this difficult times, health care workers, first responders, and essential workers around the world have shown that kind of selflessness. Time and time again, many of them have succumbed to death along with the people they cared for and tried to save. The tiny virus that virally spread across the globe, irrespective of national boundaries and status in life is currently hard to contain. Researchers have burned many a candle watts to find a vaccine to contain if not to stop the virus that jumped species. We all have been asked to do our part in order to help with the containment of this pandemic through self-isolation, social or physical distancing, and outright community quarantine. We are all called to offer “unselfish giving and support” to stay within our homes and workplaces…”and other common places of personal encounter” in order to mitigate this pandemic and so that others might live. It is hard but we must trust that those health care workers and scientists know of what they speak of, and because they are putting their lives on the line for all of us. May we, like Mary, find a deep anchor in our faith in her Son, and in his Abba, that this too shall pass.
Perhaps one of the learnings we can take during this pandemic is that when human beings are sheltering ourselves in place, the earth is healing itself. There is less air pollution and smog in many metropolitan areas where less cars area on the roads and highways (take New York City, Rome, Parish, and Metro Manila as examples). Waterways are clearing (like Venice and Thames) and fish are seen to be coming back. Animals have been roaming about and exploring city streets now that humans have stopped encroaching in their natural habitats for the time being (check out the herds of goats, sheep, boars, and deer that have been on the news lately), etc. Eventually, I hope, nature’s healing will also bring about humanity’s healing as a result of this pandemic.
In closing, let us also ponder this inspirational poem written by Laura Kelly Fanucci during this covid pandemic:
“When this is over, may we never again take for granted: A handshake with a stranger, full shelves at the store, conversations with neighbors, a crowded theatre… 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.”
God of infinite mercy, we trust in you and your power working in us. Please hear and answer our prayers:
[adapted from Cynthia Serjak, RSM. A Prayer for Uncertain Times. (March 17, 2020). https://www.sistersofmercy.org/about-us/news-and-events/a-prayer-for-uncertain-times/; and from Fr. James Pizker, Intercessory Prayer during this Pandemic.]
God, we ask that all who are affected by this virus be held in your loving care. In this time of uncertainty, help us to know what is ours to do. We know you did not cause this suffering but that you are with us in it and through it. Help us to recognize your presence in acts of kindness, in moments of silence, and in the beauty of the created world. Grant peace and protection to all of humanity for their well-being and for the benefit of the earth. Amen.
[Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, A Covid Prayer]
(adapted from Pope Francis, Prayer to Virgin Mary for protection)
O Healing God, Through Mary, may you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick. At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith. You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need. We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the God’s will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen. We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
| Posted in Notice |
April 5th, 2020
Updates on any scheduled or planned activities will be provided as the information becomes available. Please continue to check in on our parish website.
April 6th to April 12th, 2020
MONDAY – REGINA TA – Requested by Veronica Do TUESDAY – KRISTOPHER TA – Requested by Veronica Do WEDNESDAY – JOSEPH ALEXANDER TA – Requested by Veronica Do THURSDAY – HOLY THURSDAY FRIDAY – GOOD FRIDAY SATURDAY – HOLY SATURDAY SUNDAY – EASTER SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – PRISCA CALAOR – Requested by Mila Cabanilla
As we approach the most sacred time of the year, adapted ceremonies of Holy Week and Easter proceed in accordance to the restrictions required at this time. Due to the current pandemic, the liturgical celebration of the paschal mysteries of Holy Week, the Triduum and Easter will be celebrated without the physical participation of the faithful.
You may follow this link to the Archdiocese of Toronto for livestream options of liturgical celebrations of the Holy Week, the Triduum and Easter.
https://www.archtoronto.org/media-centre/news-archive/chancery-news/how-to-watch-holy-week-in-the-archdiocese-of-toronto
Living the Gospel locally and around the world
“Last year, your generosity to ShareLife made a difference in the lives of over 140,000 people locally and countless more around the world. Thank you for helping so many people experience God’s love and compassion.” – Cardinal Thomas Collins
While we await for updates from these outreach ministries, let us always be mindful of what they do.
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