October 13th, 2019
It is no coincidence that our scripture readings for today tell of people who were grateful for the gifts with which God blessed and changed their lives. Tomorrow we celebrate our Thanksgiving Day when we gather as families to give thanks.
It might be a good idea if before we began our Thanksgiving meal we might take turns mentioning gifts for which we are thankful. You may feel uncomfortable about doing that, but give it a try. We can say ‘thanks’ for the gift of ourselves, the gift of the members of our family, the gift of our grandparents, certainly for the food we eat and those who prepared it. Then we have the gift of our health, our ability to see and speak and hear. We are blessed with the gift of our mobility. Not to mention the gift of our employment and the gift of our talents. We are blessed with the gift of living in this great land of Canada. Let’s face it, so often we take these gifts for granted and like the nine lepers we never think of saying ‘thanks’.
As I’ve mentioned at different times it would be great if would develop and maintain an attitude of gratitude.
We thank God for the gift of faith that brings us here this morning. Our celebration of our Mass this morning is known as our Eucharist and Eucharist is Greek word for thanksgiving. Here we give God our father/mother thanks for God’s gift to us in the passion, death and resurrection of God’s son Jesus. Here we give thanks to Jesus who gave his life for each of us by his painful and shameful death by crucifixion. St. Paul reminds us that one might give his life for a good person but that what proves that God loves us is that we were still sinners Christ died for us.
We give thanks for the gift of the bread of life we receive at this Eucharist. We give thanks for this parish family of St. Gabriel’s.
One of the saints is supposed to have said.’ If the only prayer we said was ‘thank you’ that would be enough.
God grant us all a safe and grateful and happy thanksgiving.
| Posted in Homily |
October 6th, 2019
Today’s gospel is made up of some sayings of Jesus that were remembered by the early church. The Apostles request, ’increase our faith’ has no connection with Jesus’ sayings about the master and slave.
Maybe one the reasons this request of the apostles, ‘increase our faith’ was remembered was because of the persecutions the early followers of Jesus were suffering. As Jesus warned those who would follow him,’ you will be put out of the synagogue, handed over to the authorities by family members and friends. They would be seen as traitors to the faith of your ancestors.’
Increase our faith. Faith is far more than an intellectual understanding of the truths of our Catholic/Christian faith. Faith is God’s gift to us; we don’t earn or deserve it. Paul tells us that before the world began God chose us in Christ to be his adopted sons and daughters. We are chosen.
Another way of looking at faith is that we trust the truth of Jesus’s words and promises. When Jesus told the people, ‘my flesh is real bread and my blood is real drink’ many of his friends walked with him no more. Jesus challenged Peter,’ will you also go away?’ Basically Peter’s response was,’ I don’t know what you’re talking about but I trust that you have the words of everlasting life, I’m staying.’
And so we ask increase our faith in your real presence as we hear those familiar words ‘take and eat, this is my body, take and drink this is my blood. Bread is more than bread, wine is more than wine; they are the body and blood of the Christ who died for us.
How many times and in how many circumstances in our lives, when nothing makes sense and we see life as so unfair do we ask in some way or another ‘increase our faith’, give us the strength to trust? When we’re faced with the serious illness of ourselves or a family member or friend and we need the strength to say, ’thy will be done.’
Increase our faith, give us the strength to trust, as we struggle with the unfairness of the death of a family member or friend and we ask the question that has no answer, why?
Increase our faith; give us the strength to trust as we struggle to keep our heads above water as we cope with debts or increased rents or unfair wages or the loss of a job.
Increase our faith; give us the strength to trust our vocation as parents as we try to support sons and daughters through their struggles with maturity even though they are convinced we don’t know what we’re talking about.
Increase our faith, give us the strength to trust, as we struggle to forgive a family member of a friend who has wronged us or betrayed our trust. Remember Jesus telling Peter he should be willing to forgive not seven times but seven times seventy
Increase our faith give us the strength to trust as we struggle with our addictions to drugs or alcohol or pornography, when we find ourselves taking one step forward then two steps back
Increase our faith, give us the strength to trust, as we struggle to hold on to our faith as Catholics, embarrassed with the sexual abuse scandals that plague our church and the failure of our bishops as they tried to sweep these crimes under the carpet
We pray that our crucified Lord will restore and increase the faith of so many people, especially young adults who have so easily dismissed the faith in which they were raised. A faith not always positively or evenly clearly taught them.
We all need the honesty of that man in the gospel whose honest reply to Jesus’ question, ‘do you believe I can do this’? Lord, I believe, help the little faith I have.
After the completion of portrait reservations last weekend, 257 sitting times have been reserved. Confirmation of the sitting times for the six days from Monday, October 7th to Saturday, October 12th were sent out by email this last week.
If you missed signing-up and still wish to do so, as of October 1, 2019, there were 14 sitting times still available on the following days as shown below: Monday, October 7th – 3:30 PM Friday, October 11th – 6:45 pm Thursday, October 24th – 4:45 PM & 5:00 PM Tuesday, October 29th – 4:15 PM, 4:30 PM & 4:45 PM Thursday, October 31st – 3:30 PM, 3:45 PM, 4:00 PM, 4:15 PM, 4:45 PM, 5:00 PM & 5:30 PM
Please call the parish office to request a sitting time. Do not be disappointed!
Sunday, October 6th after 12:30 PM Mass
The St. Gabriel’s Youth Group will be having their kick-off meeting on Sunday, October 6th after the 12:30 PM mass. Join us for an afternoon of games, worship, food and fellowship. Come join us and bring a friend. New members from Grades 6-12 are welcome!
The Local Health Initiative Network will be offering a 4-session Spiritual Care Visitor Training at Markham Stouffville Hospital on October 17th 24th, 31st and Nov7th, 2019. This is a mandatory training for all those who are interested in visiting the sick at a hospital or for those who are homebound. If you are interested, please contact Sr. Maria Lucia at 416-221-8866.
October 7th to October 13th
MONDAY – STEPHEN & CECILIA HUH – Requested by Bona Oh TUESDAY – SARAH RAMON – Requested by Mary Anne Barnes WEDNESDAY – BISHOP JOHN MICHAEL SHERLOCK – Requested by Margaret Anne Leckie THURSDAY – FRIDAY – LAU KOON TING – Requested by Linda Law & Family SATURDAY – VICTOR PAUL – Requested by Sophie & Candida Pereira SUNDAY 10:30 AM – ROSALINA REMENTILLA – Requested by the Family SUNDAY 12:30 PM –
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 the Parish Office at 416-221-8866.
If you have, or know of, school age children (ages 7 to 14) who wish to prepare for Baptism, please contact the Parish Office at 416-221-8866. Classes for them will begin after Thanksgiving.
If anyone missed the three evenings of Sacramental registration but wish to have their child receive the sacrament of First Communion, Confirmation or Reconciliation, please come to the parish office as soon as possible.
A copy of the child’s Baptismal Certificate is required if registering for First Communion or Confirmation.
$30 is required at registration for Confirmation to defray related costs.
The Toronto Catholic District School is looking for occasional/supply Educational Assistants. The requirements for an interview include a Grade 12 diploma. If you are interested in applying, please email your covering letter with resume and contact information to Antonella De Roma (antonella.deroma@tcdsb.org), the school principal at St. Gabriel’s Catholic School who will forward the information to the Human Resources department for a possible interview.
October 6th to 12th, 2019
During National Catholic Health Care Week, October 6 – 12, we give thanks for the courageous gift of Catholic health care. Whether it be in hospitals, community health centres, nursing homes, and long-term care homes. Catholic health care works to provide purpose-driven care with compassion and innovation. Each year, Catholic health care providers serve more than five million people in need. Every person who contributes to working in Catholic health care is living out the healing ministry of Jesus Christ and we give thanks for the thousands of physicians, nurses, employees, and volunteers who give of themselves to care for all in need.
You can make a difference in the lives of the hungry and homeless this Thanksgiving by participating in the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive.
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.
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.
Urgently needed items include: rice, pasta and pasta sauces, peanut butter cooking spices hot chocolate powdered milk black/Orange Pekoe tea ground or instant coffee, sugar cookies and crackers, vegetable oil jams canned tuna, soups, stews, meats, fruits and vegetables Please no fresh or frozen foods.
We thank you for your generous support!
The bridge group which meets at St. Gabriel’s Parish is looking for bridge players and “subs” on Thursday afternoon from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. For more information, please call Anne Deck at 416-221-8248.
Monday, October 7th at 4:45 PM
St. Augustine’s Seminary, 2661 Kingston Road
Inviting men in Grades 12 and older to come and experience seminary life. The evening will include Mass and supper with the seminary community followed by a short talk by Fr. Chris Lemieux. Please register online at www.vocationstoronto.ca.
For more information, please contact the Office of Vocations at: 416-968-0997 or email: vocations@archtoronto.org.
Wednesday, October 9th From 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
131 Farnham Avenue
On behalf of the De Le Salle College Community, we would like to thank you sincerely for considering “Oaklands” for your son or daughter. With its rich history in the City of Toronto dating back to 1851, De La Salle has provided a human and Christian education to thousands of young men and women who continue to live out the school’s motto of “Enter to Learn. Leave to Serve.”
Open Houses for interested parents and their daughters and sons will be held on Wednesday, October 9th from7:30 PM to 9:00 PM at the school. For more information, please contact the Office of Admissions at 416-969-8771.
Saturday, October 12 – 9:30 AM at Blessed Trinity Parish Hall
Women in the Bible played pivotal roles in Salvation History. They were used by the Lord in diverse ways to influence and fulfil His plans. This presentation will focus on some significant female “super heroes” of sacred Scripture and how God used them to make a difference. The session goes from after the 9 AM Mass until noon. $15 per person and a light breakfast will be provided.
Contact: Kay by phone at 416-357-5378 or by Email: kaymax@sympatico.ca
Tuesday, October 15th – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Blessed Trinity Parish Hall
This night will feature personal stories of spiritual searching that have led each of our speakers “home” to the Catholic Church. Coming from different backgrounds and cultures, they will share how God led them through various religious affiliations to find their identity and centre in Jesus in the church. We will also feature some Jewish testimonies of faith, including St. Teresa of Avila, whose feast day it is. All are welcome.
CONTACT: Fellowship of St. Joseph – Association for Hebrew Catholics – EMAIL: ahctoronto@gmail.com
Closing of Diocesan Investigation Process Sunday, October 20th at 4:00 PM
The Passionist Sisters would like to invite all the good people of this parish to the closing of the diocesan investigation process for Sr. Carmelina Tarantino of the Cross. We would like to share our joy for this great event with you and hope that you might attend. Please come and see the wonders the Lord has worked for those who believe in Him. The event will take place on Sunday, October 20th at ST. Leo’s Church, 277 Royal York Road (south of QEW) at 4:00 PM. His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Collins will preside over the Celebration.
Friday, October 25th (7:30 PM) to Sunday, October 27th
Manresa Jesuit Retreat Centre 2325 Liverpool Rd., Pickering
“A contemplative approach to making decisions” Decisions, Decisions – Yes, No, maybe? with Fr. Henk van Meijel SJ. Step forward to a restful weekend of open fields and fall colors, away from the frenzy, to hear God’s gentle whisper. Private room, Mass, spiritual direction and more – even a movie night!
Contact: Mary at 416-497-7059 EMAIL: pilgrimagecanadianshrines@gmail.com, registration@manresa.ca / 905-839-2864
After a summer of beauty and bountiful harvests, October is the month when we put the gardens to bed and we could use your help. Please check this spot next week for activities and dates when you can get involved.
For more information on the Garden Ministry, visit the parish website at https://stgabrielsparish.ca/ministries/garden-ministry/ or email Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com
| Posted in Bulletin |
September 29th, 2019
We’re all so familiar with this parable of the rich man dressed in purple and fine linen and feasted sumptuously every day.
Then there is poor Lazarus, a derelict covered with sores hoping to feast on the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. How we live, the decisions we make have consequences. Both men died. Lazarus lives in the bosom of Abraham. The rich man goes to hell. The rich man wants Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brother not to live as he did. Not possible. If they haven’t learned how to live from the teachings and example of Moses and prophets like Amos they won’t listen to someone like Lazarus.
I think a modern version of this parable happened this past week at that United Nations conference of global warming. The modern Lazarus was the teenager from Sweden, Greta Thunber. In today’s parable Lazarus says nothing, but Greta castigated world leaders for the failure to face our reality of global warming, melting glaciers and rising sea levels, and changing weather systems. She warned these people of power that we are on the verge of massive extinctions. Greta accused them of giving lip service to these realities and of not living up to promises they’ve made to change things. She told them all they were interested in was economic gains and business as usual.
Speaking on behalf of young people around the world she told these world leaders; ‘The eyes of all the future generations are on you, her voice quivering with rage. If you choose to fail us, we will never forgive you.’
Greta was applauded by many and dismissed by others, President Trump and the Prime Minister of Australia, a country that is one of the world’s greatest exporters of coal, dismissed her as a seeker of publicity. Greta’s words to people of power brought thousands of young people in cities all across Canada to march on Friday seeking a healing of the earth.
Will we ever see the day when the powerful listen to the powerless, the haves hear the cries of the have nots?
Pope Francis recently spoke these encouraging words;
“With honesty, responsibility and courage we have to put our intelligence at the service of another type of progress, one which is healthier, more human, more social, more integral and capable of placing economy at the service of the human person, building peace and protecting the environment.”
But the climate crisis will require not only an ethical vision but a religious one. Throughout human history, religion has motivated people to do extraordinary things, sometimes bad but also good. The cathedrals of Europe were begun and mostly built by people who never saw their completion. How do you motivate someone to take the first shovel of dirt for a building that will not be completed for centuries?
The same can be asked about our response to the environmental crisis we as members of the human family are facing? What can we do to avoid a calamity that will face future seventh generations from today? Let’s go back to those people who broke ground for the cathedrals of old. They would never see the completion of their labor but they believed in what they were doing. As men and women of that same Catholic faith any effort each one of us makes to live simply that others may simply live is an act of faith in a future we’ll never see, but a future of a healed and healthier earth that we will leave to future generations. Like Lazarus and the rich man our ways of living have their consequences.
We encourage you to sign up for a specific sitting time to have your portrait taken by a professional photographer to be included in the 2020 St. Gabriel’s Pictorial Directory which is expected to be completed and distributed in early 2020. Each family or person photographed will receive a FREE Directory and a FREE 8″ x 10″ colour portrait.
There are approximately 65 spaces still available on October 23rd, 24th, 29th, 30th and 31st. Please consider signing up after Mass this weekend in order to make the Directory a success – no one is too old or too young!
Presented by the Ministry for Maturing Adults St. Gabriel’s Passionist Parish Beginning October 3rd from 9:30 to 11:30 AM
“The life story programme provides an opportunity to stop, take stock, and look back over the process of life in order to gain deeper understanding, clearer perspective and a more integrated view. Undertaken from a faith perspective, it is a search for evidence in your life that God has been with you and is still with you.” Dr. Richard Johnson
Sr. Mary Rose Marrin CSJ will facilitate the reflection on life experience in each decade of life and from these reflections, the participants will write stories that are significant to them. Later on each person will choose what they wish to share from their personal reflection and writing.
The group will meet for a total of 8 sessions on consecutive Thursdays beginning October 3rd to November 21st from 9:30 to 11:30 AM. The cost for the workbook is $20.
Please register by contacting Sr. Maria Lucia at 416 221 8866.
Sunday, October 6th after 12:30 Mass
The St. Gabriel’s Youth Group will be having their kick-off meeting on Sunday, October 6th after the 12:30 mass. Join us for an afternoon of games, worship, food, and fellowship. Come join us and bring a friend. New members from Grades 6-12 are welcome!
September 30th to October 6th
MONDAY – FOR THE INTENTIONS OF WANDA WROBEL – Requested by Parish staff TUESDAY – IN THANKSGIVING TO ST. GABRIEL’S PARISH – Requested by Robert Cordy & Family WEDNESDAY – ALL SOULS IN PURGATORY – Requested by the Nguyen Family THURSDAY – SIL RE PARK – Requested by Moon Young Park FRIDAY – CATHERINE MINNAN-WONG – Requested by her sister Noreen SATURDAY – GUS & MARIE CALDERONE – Requested by their Family SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – INTENTIONS OF SERENA MEHARCHAND – Requested by Friends in the Music Ministry SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – 25th ANNIVERSARY of PETER & ANA BASCOM – Requested by the Family
Sunday September 29th after the 10:30 Mass
This Sunday, September 29th there will be an altar server welcome back and retraining session after the 10:30 Mass. Every altar server is invited. Interested boys and girls, ages 9 and older, who are willing to train to be an altar server are very much welcome. Refreshments will be provided.
Friday, October 4th from 9:30 AM to 12 Noon
English: Rosary – Saturday, October 5th at 3:15 PM in the Gabriel Room Chinese Rosary – Sunday, October 6th at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room
For information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
Sunday, October 6th 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.
All are welcome to attend.
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 have, or know of, school age children (ages 7 to 14) who wish to prepare for Baptism, please contact Sr. Maria Lucia at 416-221-8866. Classes for them will begin after Thanksgiving.
Urgently needed items include: rice, pasta and pasta sauces, peanut butter cooking spices hot chocolate powdered milk black/Orange Pekoe tea ground or instant coffee, sugar cookies and crackers, vegetable oil jams canned tuna, soups, stews, meats, fruits and vegetables Please no fresh or frozen foods. We thank you for your generous support!
In an effort to support those have been most directly impacted by Hurricane Dorian, the Archdiocese of Toronto is accepting funds that will be sent through our Catholic relief partners. Contributions can be made by those wishing to help in the following ways:
The bridge group which meets at St. Gabriel’s Parish is looking for bridge players and “subs” on Thursday afternoon from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
For more information, please call Anne Deck at 416-221-8248.
Thursday, October 3rd at 7:00 PM
St. Joseph Morrow Park is holding an Information Night for students who are entering secondary school. It will be held on Thursday, October 3rd at 7:00 PM.
Parents/Guardians and students are cordially invited to attend. Join them at 3379 Bayview Avenue, just south of Steeles on the east side. For more information please call 416-393-5516.
Brebeuf College is holding an Open House for students who are entering high school. It will be held on Thursday, October 3rd at 7:00 PM. Parents/Guardians and students are cordially invited to attend. Join them at 211 Steeles Avenue East. They can be reached at 416 393-5508 for more information.
Are you new on campus and looking for a place to belong? Check out Catholic campus ministry! Find your Catholic home on campuses in the GTA and across Canada by connecting at www.chaplaincyconnect.ca.
Friday, October 25 to Sunday, October 27 – 7:30 PM
Manresa Jesuit Retreat Centre 2325 Liverpool Rd., Pickering With Fr. Henk van Majel, SJ.
“A contemplative approach to making decisions” Decisions, Decisions – Yes, No, maybe?
Step forward to a restful weekend of open fields and fall colors, away from the frenzy, to hear God’s gentle whisper. Private room, Mass, spiritual direction and more – even a movie night!
On Sunday, September 29th, from 1:30 to 3:00, Cameron Couchman, a familiar face from previous workshops and on-site in the gardens, will lead a workshop on Seed-Saving. Topics covered will be identifying plants that have set seed and are ready for harvest, collecting and storing seeds as well as cold stratification and mimicking natural processes to promote germination. We will meet in the Gabriel Room but dress for the outdoors.
For more information on the Garden Ministry, visit our website at https://stgabrielsparish.ca/ministries/garden-ministry/ or email Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.
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