March 28th, 2020
Today’s gospel tells the awesome story of Jesus calling his close friend Lazarus from the tomb to life. All this was done so that God may be glorified.
We hear this story every year. Lazarus and Mary and Martha were close friends of Jesus. He and his disciples visited their home on other occasions. This time was different. Lazarus was seriously ill. Martha and Mary sent word to Jesus, ‘come quickly, the family needs you.’ Jesus delays and arrives four days after his friend’s death. Both Martha and Mary let Jesus know they are annoyed with him. ‘If you had been here our brother would not have died.’ Together they go to the tomb and Jesus weeps. He then tells them to roll away the stone that blocks the entrance to the fetid tomb. He calls Lazarus to come out. Lazarus hears the call and comes out and all are amazed.
These are stressful and tense filled times for all of us. We can’t meet friends for coffee and a chat. We can’t mingle with friends and neighbours. Restaurants and bars are no-go zones. It’s rough. Who’d ever imagine we’d come to such a place?
Do you remember ever saying to yourself,’ Oh for some peace and quiet, oh to be alone for just a bit’? Well it’s here, here in spades. It’s stressful.
Hopefully the time will come when this necessary separation from others will come will be over. Hopefully the time will come when Jesus will call each one of us, as he called Lazarus, out of our tombs of isolation and lonely confinement and restore us, as he restored Lazarus, to our friends and neighbours. Was it Joni Mitchel who sang, ‘you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone’? We know now the pain of separation. When all this is over, and it will be, may we be blessed with a deeper appreciation of how our lives are blessed with the people we so often take for granted.
Pray for the sick and the doctors and nurses and their support staffs who are under so much stress these days. May they be blessed with patience and courage.
| Posted in Homily |
March 22nd, 2020
Are you going stir crazy? Do you feel the walls are closing in around you? Do you ‘just want to get out the house? These are hard times for everyone. Are you one of those people who are off the job because the place where you work has been closed down? Are you lucky enough to be able to work from home? Will we ever get back to normal? Let’s hope not. Even though we were not locked in our homes we were locked into IPad and so many other technologies that isolated us from inter-personal relationships with one another.
You’ve heard me say different times that ‘we did not weave the web of life; we are strands in the web and what we do to the web we do to ourselves.’ We belong to the family of life, even the virus family. One author I read put it this way,
“In a globalised world our lives are so intertwined that the idea of viewing ourselves as islands – whether as individuals, communities, nations, or a uniquely privileged species – should be understood as evidence of false consciousness. In truth, we were always bound together, part of a miraculous web of life on our planet and, beyond it, stardust in an unfathomably large and complex universe.”
Today’s gospel from John tells of Jesus curing a man who was blind from birth. Maybe we could ask the healing Jesus to cure us of our failure to see our interconnectedness with all the life forms on Earth; our failure to see we are kin with all life. May we be blessed to see we are not islands nor are we meant to be rugged individuals. We are family and as family we care for one another. Just give a shut-in friend a phone call, the sound of the human voice is better than an e-mail.
We’re all in this together, the loneliness, the frustration, and the anxieties that are part of all our lives. So, we pray for and we reach out to one another. We are family!
March 21st, 2020
Contact Your Member of Parliament!
New Euthanasia Legislation Introduced in Canada
Legislation that would expand access to euthanasia in our country has been introduced by the federal government. Among the alarming changes are amendments to expand euthanasia to those without a terminal illness, including those with disabilities. Only 30 per cent of Canadians have access to quality palliative care which would significantly reduce the number of people wanting to end their lives. Every life has value – visit www.helptheliving.ca to send a letter (prepared for you) to your Member of Parliament. The process takes less than 5 minutes. More information can also be found at: www.archtoronto.org/euthanasia. We continue to pray and advocate for the vulnerable among us.
“In view of the requirements of the Government of Ontario, during this medical emergency, beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020, I instruct that all public Masses be cancelled, both during the week and on the weekend. Churches will be available for individual private prayer.
The priests of the archdiocese will celebrate Mass every day privately for the intentions of the people.
The faithful will be able to watch, via livestream, a Mass which will be celebrated every day at 7:30 a.m. at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, which will be followed by the Angelus and the Rosary. I will personally celebrate this Mass as much as is possible. This Mass, Rosary and Angelus will also be available on the Archdiocese of Toronto’s YouTube channel for those who cannot join at 7:30 a.m. These Masses and prayers will be offered for the intentions of everyone as we go through these trying times.
In addition, Mass will be broadcast daily on Salt & Light Catholic Media Foundation, VisionTV (Daily TV Mass) and EWTN.
Baptism – At this time, communal celebrations of Baptism are not allowed. Individual Baptism is allowed with immediate family and following the regulations established by the health authorities.
RCIA – I dispense the catechumens from the scrutinies. Information will be sent out later on the Triduum and reception into the Church.
First Holy Communion, First Reconciliation and Confirmation will be postponed for the duration of the emergency.
Sacrament of Reconciliation – Communal celebrations of the Sacrament of Reconciliation are not allowed at this time. All those who wish to receive the sacrament should contact a priest. The sacrament is to be celebrated not in a confessional but rather in another location, where confidentiality may be ensured and where the distance required by the health officials can be maintained.
Marriage – Marriages without Mass may take place with the immediate family members, provided they follow the regulations established by the health authorities. The postponement of the wedding may be requested given these circumstances, but if this is granted there may be a need for revision of the canonical requirements.
Marriage Preparation is very important. At this time, however, marriage preparation classes are cancelled and pastors are to arrange for individual couples to be prepared properly for marriage.
Visits to the Sick and Homebound should continue as much as possible. As previously communicated, visiting clergy and volunteers should take direction from the health care facility. Parishes should also take care to contact the homebound and vulnerable.
Funerals – During this emergency, there will be no vigils or wake services. The Rite of Committal will take place with the immediate family at the cemetery. There will be no funeral Mass at this time, but we encourage the celebration of a funeral Mass at a later date when it is possible.
Parish Meetings and Events are cancelled at this time.
Parish Offices – While parish offices may offer more limited operating hours, they should maintain an active presence in the community and be accessible to the faithful. The Archdiocese of Toronto’s Catholic Pastoral Centre will also follow this practice, ensuring that offices remain accessible.”
As directed by Cardinal Collins, all communal celebrations of the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Marriage and Funerals are not allowed at this time.
Please contact the Pastor should you have plans for Baptism, Reconciliation, Marriage, Marriage Preparation or Funerals.
Please contact the parish office should you know of someone vulnerable or homebound that need assistance.
Emergency provisions are reviewed regularly in accord with the requirements of the public health officials and updates are provided at: www.archtoronto.org/covid19
This event scheduled for Sunday, April 26th from 2:00 PM to 5:00PM has been postponed.
Confirmation class on Saturday, March 28th from 2:00 to 3:30 PM is cancelled.
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome:
Norah Tze Ching Ho Aliyah Rachele Juliete Morrison Noah Finn Tarvairen
These children received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, March 15th. Congratulations!
March 23rd to March 29th, 2020
MONDAY – ABANDONED SOULS IN PURGATORY – Requested by the Nguyen Family TUESDAY – FR. STEVE, FR. BRANDO & THE STAFF OF ST. GABRIEL’S – Requested by a grateful Mother WEDNESDAY – EAMON GAUGHAN – Requested by the Gaughan Family THURSDAY – THANKSGIVING FOR THOSE CELEBRATING THEIR 75TH BIRTHDAY – Requested by Linda Law FRIDAY – INTENTIONS OF MARK DESROCHES – Requested by Mark DesRoches SATURDAY – DOREEN YOUNG – Requested by Noreen Chen SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – FERNANDO LASA – Requested by Ana Maria Lasa SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – MANUEL NUNEZ SANTA CRUZ – Requested by Jimena Nunez
With masses being cancelled across the country the Daily TV Mass offers Mass each day on television and the internet.
Vision TV Sunday – 8:00 AM Monday – Friday 8:00 AM & 12:00 PM Saturday – 8:00 AM & 9:30 AM
Salt + Light Sunday – 11:00 AM & 10:30 PM Monday – Saturday – 6:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, 10:30 PM
yesTV Sunday – 10:30 AM Monday – Saturday – 1:00 PM Internet
www.dailytvmass.com www.youtube.com/dailytvmass
How can you “Live the Gospel” when life is so busy?
Many people help those in need by volunteering at a local organization. But if your schedule doesn’t allow for it, you can still make a huge impact in your community by supporting ShareLife-funded agencies. Next Sunday is the first ShareLife collection. Over the next week, please reflect on your ability to “Live the Gospel” by making a sacrificial gift to our parish ShareLife campaign.
Next Sunday, March 29 is ShareLife Sunday. Please give generously.
We have already begun the preparation for the greatest feast of all: The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. During this time of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting, the Church endeavors to remind parishioners of the gift of Reconciliation, as a loving act through which the Father restores us to the fullness of life and to call them to full participation in the Holy Week and Easter liturgies. Our Day of Confession will be March 26th from 3:00 PM to 6:00PM. Please contact the Pastor for individual Confession.
Each month food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.
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.
Please check the expiration on food package to avoid passing food that has expired. Thank you for your generous support!
Delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre has been suspended for the time being. We will post a notice when the pick up resumes.
You may consider to prepare casseroles when pick up resumes, the three recipes are available on St. Gabriel’s web site. Printed copies of the recipes are also available in the Parish Office. For more information, you may contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.
For more information on the Garden Ministry, please email Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.
During this time of uncertainty, please remember that the expenses of operating and maintaining the church and its premises continue. Our Church remains open and our outreach programs and pastoral presence remain active.
Because there will be no masses, there will no offertory collections taken up.
Monthly contributions to the Parish by monthly Pre-Authorized Giving would have continued 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 |
March 17th, 2020
For more information, please read the March 17, 2020 Cardinal’s message on COVID-19 by clicking on the following link:
https://www.archtoronto.org/media-centre/news-archive/chancery-news/cardinals-message-on-covid19–march-17-2020
| Posted in Notice |
March 15th, 2020
Masses for the weekend of March 14 and 15, 2020 are cancelled.
You may view the Cardinal’s Message on COVID-19 by clicking on this link: https://www.archtoronto.org/media-centre/news-archive/chancery-news/cardinals-message-on-covid19
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