December 1st, 2019
There are times when reading the scriptures of the day and preparing a sermon there might be a phrase that sparks an idea on what one might speak about.
Today such a phrase was in Paul’s letter to the Romans when he calls them to wake from sleep. He might have been speaking of their sleep, their avoidance of the challenge he’s put before them that they ‘put on the Lord Jesus Christ.’ He challenges them to lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light. These are symbolic words but words that can still make us think about our own struggles to ‘put on Christ’, our struggles to be a Christ-like person.
Dare we ask ourselves, what is our sleep, our drowsiness from which Paul shakes us to wake up to the teachings and example of Jesus? What is our drowsiness that lulls us into a dullness of indifference, insensitivity to the wants and sufferings of those closest to us, our family members and friends? Paul calls us, shakes us to wake up to the wants and sufferings of men, women and children we don’t even know. Faithful to the teachings of Christ Paul challenges us to wake up to the reality that these needy but neglected men women and children are our brothers and sisters in our human family, that they are our brothers and sisters in the family of the church.
Recently world scientists told the leaders of the world they are failing to live up to their commitment to face the reality, the dangers of climate change. In other words; ’wake up’, time is running out.
We all know that our lives as Christian men and women is a life of tension. The good that we would, we do not. The evil that we would not do, that we do. The grace and presence of Jesus Christ will see us through if we are open to Christ’s presence in our lives. Christ will shake us, wake us to lay aside the works of darkness, our deep sleep of indifference and help us put on the light, the light that shows us our obligation to the needs and the sufferings of neglected seniors, the sick and suffering, the working poor, the homeless street people living and struggling in our own city.
At this Mass we ask for the grace of courage and concern to wake up from our sleep of indifference and put on our Lord Jesus Christ and be attentive to the good people who need our love and our help be they family, friends or total strangers.
May we put on the Lord Jesus Christ and learn to love as he loved, learn to forgive as he forgave and learn to heal hurts as he healed. As often as we are there for family, friends, or strangers we are there for Christ. May we be blesses to be awake to all the possibilities of doing good that come our way today
| Posted in Homily |
Friday, December 20th from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Saturday, December 21st Vigil Mass – 4:30 PM Office Open – 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Sunday, December 22nd 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM Office Open – 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM
CHRISTMAS EVE – Tuesday, December 24th No 9:00 AM Mass 5:00 PM Family Mass – Carol Singing 8:00 PM Adult Choir – Carol Singing 12:00 AM Midnight Mass – Contemporary Group Office Open – 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM
CHRISTMAS DAY – Wednesday, December 25th 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM Office Open – 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM
BOXING DAY – Thursday, December 26th Office Closed No 9:00 AM Mass
REGULAR SUNDAY MASSES Saturday December 28th Vigil Mass – 4:30 PM Sunday, December 29th, Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM Office Open – 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM
NEW YEAR’S EVE – Tuesday, December 31st No 9:00 AM Mass Vigil for Feast of Mary the Holy Mother of God 5:00 PM Mass Office Open – 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM
NEW YEAR’S DAY – Wednesday, January 1st Feast of Mary the Holy Mother of God Mass at 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM Office Open – 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM
The St. Gabriel’s Youth Group will be selling hand-painted Christmas ornaments this weekend in the Gathering Space. All proceeds will support the youth’s annual attendance at the Steubenville Catholic Conference in July 2020. Please support our youth!
St. Gabriel’s Church, Saturday, December 14th 7:30 PM
Christmas, Christmas time is near! Come join the Seraphim & Cherubim – Men’s’ Chorus and Women’s Chorus singing the Christmas songs you love as part of their All You Need is Love concert series. Bringing our friends together to sing songs that touch our hearts is celebrating what the season is all about. Never a typical Christmas concert and always full of surprise tunes and reimagined classics. Ticket prices: Adults $20, Children $5. Proceeds are in support of Thalassemia Foundation of Canada.
December 2nd to December 8th
MONDAY – JOSEPH LUAN NGUYEN – Requested by the Nguyen Family TUESDAY – DANIEL MORIARTY & DAVID SHELDRICK – Requested by Teresa Sheldrick WEDNESDAY – CATHERINE MINNAN WONG – Requested by her sister Noreen THURSDAY – MARIA DIDIODATO – Requested by the Family FRIDAY – NICOLA VUKOVIC – Requested by his Family SATURDAY – GUS & MARIE CALDERONE – Requested by the Family SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – KAZ SWIDERSKI – Requested by Carol & Hugh MacKenzie SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – THANKSGIVING TO GOD FOR EVERYTHING – Requested by the Chiu Family
Friday, December 6th from 9:30 AM to 12 Noon
Saturday, December 7th at 3:15 PM – Library
Christmas Eve, 5:00 PM Mass
The Children’s Family Mass is on Christmas Eve at 5:00 PM. There will be a rehearsal on Sunday, December 22nd from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM for any young people, Grade 3 and up, who would like to sing in the choir. There will also be a rehearsal on the same day from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM for any children from S.K. to Grade 5 who would like to participate in the Nativity pageant. Please mark your calendars!
During our Development of Peace meeting in late October, we discussed about the fact that many issues and concerns have arisen and continue to arise since we started this committee years ago as well as the place of D & P in our parish. We deemed it wise to heed the challenge of Pope Francis to follow the signs of our times and thus, broaden the scope of parish commitment to social justice. In consultation with Fr. Brando, we are changing the name of our committee to that of Social Justice and Integrity of Creation (SJIC). This committee will serve as the umbrella for the expanded number of social justice initiatives we will undertake as a parish family which will include the D & P projects.
As mentioned in last week’s bulletin, the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (D&P) will kick-off its campaign for the next two years starting this Fall 2019, the project called For our Common Home which is inspired by the papal encyclical, Laudato Si’ – On care for our common home. This fits in very well with the eco-theology thrust of our Passionist parish whose primary motivation is to establish a link between the sacredness of the gathered community of Faith and the sacredness of the Earth which is our common home.
The first year of the campaign will be dedicated to the Amazon in recognition that a future for the Amazon is a future for all. In a world where natural resources are ruthlessly exploited for commercial gain; where environmental degradation threatens the health and survival of the Amazon’s flora, fauna and people; and where “development” benefits the rich to the detriment of the poorest, we must act! The Amazon plays an essential role for all of humanity. By defending its people and their way of life, we are securing a future for the Earth and its people.
Please lend your voice in defending the defenders of the Amazon and committing to care For our Common Home by taking part in the following:
Sign or write Solidarity Letters addressed to two threatened Amazonian communities in Brazil. In addition to reassuring the communities that their struggles are not solitary, these letters will be used to press the Canadian and Brazilian governments to assert their rights.
Go to https://www.devp.org/en/campaign/forourcommonhome or take home the reading materials provided which show a deeper understanding of the Amazon; its role in maintaining the health of the planet; and the threats faced by its forests, rivers and people. It also outlines the campaign’s advocacy strategy, including questions to ask Members of Parliament and much more.
Saturday, November 30th to Sunday, December 15th
During Advent, the Society of St Vincent de Paul, St. Gabriel Conference will have a Giving Tree in the Gathering Space.
The tree will be decorated with gift tags. Each tag will have the gender and age of a child. We invite you to take a tag, buy a gift or a gift card of about $25 for that child and return the unwrapped gift, with the tag attached, to the box provided in the Gathering Space. If you choose an older child, please buy a gift card. Return it with the tag to the Parish Office. If you are a knitter, there will be mitten tags. Please take one and return mitts to the box in the Gathering Space.
At this time of the year, we are also thinking of the young mothers and babies of Rosalie Hall. If you wish to help, you may choose a “Christmas Stocking” from the tree to purchase pyjamas or undershirts for babies, age 6 months to 4 years. Unwrapped Items with the original stocking tag attached can be left in the box provided near the “mitten” tree no later than Sunday, December 15th. Toys or books for these little ones would also be appreciated.
For the Moms, we are suggesting gift cards from Tim Horton’s, Walmart or MacDonald’s. These can be placed in the envelopes provided and brought to the Office. Thank you for your generosity.
Available weekend of Dec 7th and 8th, 2019
As many of you know, Fatima Lee, who was formerly a member of our pastoral team, has served as a missionary in the Diocese of Mackenzie in the Northwest Territories for over a year now. The Diocese is home to many isolated indigenous communities.
On the weekend of Dec 7 and 8, volunteers will be selling beautiful 2020 calendars from the Diocese of Mackenzie at the parish. This beautiful and unique calendar showcases photos of lovely landscape captured by Bishop Jon Hansen on his many missionary trips in the Diocese.
It is hoped that through the sale of these calendars, funds will be raised to support the travel of priests and pastoral workers of the diocese to the remote communities. Since this Diocese of 1.5 million sq. km has only seven priests serving, many of the isolated communities will have Mass only three or four times a year. Except in the deep of winter, each time the priests or pastoral workers would have to fly in and out of these communities. It is notoriously expensive to fly in the north.
Please consider supporting the Diocese of Mackenzie. The calendars, at $20 each, are great for personal use; they will also make wonderful gifts, since they are unique and not easily available elsewhere.
Saturday November 30th to Sunday December 15th
We will be having a Christmas Toy Drive again this year for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society. You can help by dropping off an unwrapped new toy for a child, age newborn to12 years old. Containers will be set up at the doors of the Church on Saturday, November 30th and will remain there until Sunday, December 16th.
Last weekend, 47 casseroles were collected for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. This Christmas season, more volunteers are needed. If you require more information please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
Blessed Trinity Parish, December 5th, 7:00 PM
St. Joseph Morrow Park and Brebeuf College School are hosting a joint celebration of Advent Lessons & Carols on Thursday, December 5th, 7 PM at Blessed Trinity Parish. All are welcome. Come and enjoy the beautiful readings and hymns of this season. Refreshments will follow in the hall.
Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Your food donations are very much appreciated.
Good Shepherd provides hot meals and shelter for the homeless in our city. Rosalie Hall provides a wide range of child services for young parents and their children.
Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your ongoing support of these important centres.
The Catholic Women’s League of St. Edward’s Parish is in need of donations of wool to knit scarves and toques for the homeless and baby clothes for the stillborn. Any donations will be greatly appreciated. Your donations, labeled CWL, can be left in the St. Gabriel parish office. Thank you for your support and God Bless!
Offertory envelopes are now available in the Gathering Space. Please pick yours up as soon as possible. If you do not have offertory envelopes but would like a box, let the Office know and we will prepare a box for you.
If you do not use envelopes, PAG or Donate Now for your offertory giving, but put an unidentified offering into the basket, you cannot receive a tax receipt for income tax purposes. Under the Canadian Income Tax laws, a donor is entitled to an income tax credit against income taxes payable based on a tax receipt from a registered Canadian charity like St. Gabriel’s parish. You should consider using envelopes for your offertory giving, no matter the amount of your weekly donation.
| Posted in Bulletin |
November 24th, 2019
When we think of kings we think of pomp and circumstance. Think of the grandeur of a coronation, of the lavish ceremony of opening the house of parliament. It is all so grand.
Today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King, Christ our king. And how does our gospel present him. A cheap politician wanting to keep the favor of an angry mob instead of seeing justice done and release an innocent man, shows Jesus to the mob with the mocking words, ‘behold your king.’ Jesus the King stands before the crowd wearing the purple of monarchy and a mock crown of piercing thorns, holding a stick as his sceptre totally mocked, totally humiliated. The crowd yells, away with him, crucify him; we have no king put Caesar.
The cross of Jesus bears the title, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.
When Pilate asked Jesus, are you a king Jesus answer I am but by kingdom is not of this world, my kingdom does not imitate the kings of this world. I am king of the poor, the disposed, the homeless, I am the king of the immigrant, the un-employed, the exploited worker, I am king of the widow and the orphan, I am king of the sick and infirmed, and I am king of the nobodies of this world. I am king of the faithful husbands and wives; I am king of loving parents and their children. I am king of the men and women who staff food banks and out of the cold shelters; I am king of those who care for the street people. I am king of any man or woman who stands for truth and life, I am king of people of holiness and grace, I am king of those who foster justice love and peace.
Behold our crucified king hanging naked and bleeding from his throne; his cross. And we are his faith subject, faithful followers when try as best we can when we are there for people in need and when we are accepting of men and women of a different faith, a different political opinion or a different lifestyle from our own. On his cross Jesus Crucified, Jesus our King with his arms stretched wide welcomed his fellow victim as he welcomes all who are open to his invitation; come to me.
We know Christ is our King we our arms, our hearts and our minds are open wide to receive other men and women who think differently, believe differently or live differently than ourselves.
A Book of Remembrance has been placed on the altar for the month of November. You are invited to write the names of your deceased relatives and friends in the book. They will be remembered at all the Masses celebrated in November.
The St. Gabriel’s Youth Group will be selling hand-painted Christmas ornaments next weekend – November 30th and December 1st – in the Gathering Space. All proceeds will support the youth’s annual attendance at the Steubenville Catholic Conference in July 2020.
Please support our youth!
Christmas, Christmas time is near! Come join the Seraphim & Cherubim – Men’s’ Chorus and Women’s Chorus singing the Christmas songs you love as part of their All You Need is Love concert series. Bringing our friends together to sing songs that touch our hearts is celebrating the season is all about. Never a typical Christmas concert and always full of surprise tunes and reimagined classics. Ticket prices: Adults $20, Children $5. Proceeds are in support of Thalassemia Foundation of Canada.
November is “Make a Will’ month! Have you considered remembering your parish in your will? The Church is where we experience many important moments in our lives. 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. When making your will, please consider a bequest to St. Gabriel’s Passionist Parish. For more information, please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 or the Development Office of the Archdiocese at 416-934-3411, Ext. 519.
November 25th to December 1st
MONDAY – FILOMENA DA SILVA – Requested by the Maria Da Silva TUESDAY – ARMAND OAKIE – Requested by the Oakie Family WEDNESDAY – DECEASED FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE ROSARY GROUPS – Requested by the Linda Law THURSDAY – TONINO DIDIODATO – Requested by the Family FRIDAY – ELIO RANCATI – Requested by his Family SATURDAY – GIUSEPPINA SMERIGLIO – Requested by Lina Giannotta SUNDAY – 10:30 AM FRANCES EATON – Requested by Kathleen Olden-Powell SUNDAY – 12:30 PM 50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY OF MIKE & BETTY MULLEN – Requested by Kathy
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome the following children who received the Sacrament of Baptism on November 17:
Liv Valentina Barrios Marcela Ferreira Mateo Meneguzzi Florez Taia Kai Forbes Daniella Jade Salangsang
Sunday, December 1st at 11:30 AM in the Gabriel Room
On the first Sunday of each month, the Passionist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality facilitates a 30 minute reflection and discussion prompted by the readings for that Sunday’s liturgy… The guided reflection brings an ecological perspective to the readings. All are welcome.
Friday, December 20th from 3:00 to 6:00 PM
Individual reconciliation will be held on Friday, December 20th from 3:00 to 6:00 PM
The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace is the member organization in Canada of CARITAS INTERNATIONALIS, a Confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations working on behalf of the poor and oppressed in 198 countries and territories. It is one of the largest NGO networks in the world. It has chosen to call its campaign for the next two years starting now, For our Common Home, inspired by the papal encyclical, Laudato Si’ – On care for our common home.
The first year of the campaign will be dedicated to the Amazon in recognition that a future for the Amazon is a future for all. The Amazon plays an essential role for all of humanity. By defending its people and their way of life, we are securing a future for the Earth and its people.
In a world where natural resources are ruthlessly exploited for commercial gain; where environmental degradation threatens the health and survival of the Amazon’s flora, fauna and people; and where “development” benefits the rich to the detriment of the poorest, we must act! Next week, please join us in defending the defenders of the Amazon and committing to care For our Common Home. The next step is to Take Action which we will do next week as part of our social responsibility. Please watch this space and listen to the announcements next week.
For November, your prepared frozen casseroles are being collected at the Masses this weekend for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are needed to become active in helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. Three different recipes are available in the Parish Office or online at the Parish website. Casserole pans are also available from the Parish Office. If you require more information please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
Commenced November 21st, 2019 and continuing through November 2020
St. Gabriel’s Parish has since its beginning in 1951 been staffed by religious from the St. Paul of the Cross Province of the Congregation of the Passion (the “Passionists”).
On November 21st there began a one year special Jubilee celebrating the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Congregation by St. Paul of the Cross in 1720.
Below is a prayer for the Province of St. Paul of the Cross commemoration of the Jubilee.
Lord, grant that on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Congregation, the Passionist Family may be dedicated to renewing its mission, and, through the intercession of our Mother of Sorrows and of St. Paul of the Cross, we may be able to take the following steps… From the foot of the Cross to collaborating with the God of compassion. from the grateful memory of the past to the Passion of Love for the Congregation. From contemplating Christ on the Cross to seeing Christ in the crucified. From desiring to be optimistic to trusting in the God of the Covenant. Look, look upon us with love. Look, upon us with compassion. Amen
November 17th, 2019
We are beginning to wind down the church’s liturgical year and soon we’ll be into Advent. Today’s gospel tells us something we already know, nothing last forever. The energy of our youth wears thin. The sharpness of our eyes dims. Our hearing fails. We need a walker to get around. We have to retire, we have to give up our drivers licence, and we have to lose our independence and go to a senior’s residence. This is the reality of some of us right here, right now and it will be the reality of all of us sooner or later.
For the Jews the Temple was the mainstay of God’s presence to God’s people. It was their national treasure. Yet Jesus tells the people who boasted of its beauty the terrible, the unthinkable news that the day would come when it would be brought low, not one stone upon another. It’s like asking us to imagine St. Peter’s in Rome being reduced to rubble and who is to say that will never happen? Jesus speaks of future wars and the breakdown of society but he tells us, “Do not be perturbed. These things are bound to happen.” Bound to happen! Life is bound to be this way. Jesus is not speaking about the end of all times, but the condition of every time and the condition of every life. Things change and things pass away.
There is one constant in our ever- changing lives of which we can depend; what stands for ever is God’s love for each of us, a love proven in the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus our Christ. Do we open our lives to that love is the important question.
Our life project is to return that love in and through our relationships with all the men women and children who come into our lives, be they friends or strangers. And that’s not easy. It’s difficult to break out of our own worries and concerns and be open to the worries and wounds of other people. Our constant challenge is how we respond to the poor, the naked, the homeless, the strangers, the weak and broken men women and children who come into our lives. Are we there for them as Christ is here for us?
Everything that Christ predicted has taken place and is taking place and will continue to take place. God speaks to us in the events of our lives, not that God causes the event but God is with us in the ways we cope the joys and hurts of our lives.
The Gospel tells us that we can accept today’s crises — from the personal to the cosmic as God-given occasions of grace and opportunities to give witness. Christ promises to be with us, if we will only rely on him.
When we face our own diminishments the question to ask ourselves is not why, but how, how am I going to handle this; will I let this event sour my life or will I accept it as a challenge to grow in my trust and faith in the God who loves me, in the Christ who died out of love and care for me.
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