January 1st, 2020
| Posted in Events |
December 29th, 2019
“The most beautiful thing that God made, was the family. … All of the love that God has in Himself, all of the beauty that God has in Himself, all of the truth that God has in Himself, He gives to the family.” Pope Francis
Heavenly Father, you have given us the model of life in the Holy Family of Nazareth. Help us, O Loving Father, to make our family another Nazareth where love, peace and joy reign.
December 30th 2019 to January 5th 2020
MONDAY – DOREEN YOUNG – Requested by Noreen Chen TUESDAY – NEW YEAR’S EVE – No Announced Mass WEDNESDAY – NEW YEAR’S DAY – No Announced Mass THURSDAY – ALL WHO ARE IN HOSPICE & ARE ILL – Requested by Mary & Ravi FRIDAY – CATHERINE MINNAN WONG – Requested by Noreen Chen SATURDAY – GUS & MARIE CALDERONE – Requested by the Family SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – JOSEPH D’GAMA – Requested by the Family SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – ELENA D’ANTUONI – Requested by Humberto Holanda
NEW YEAR’S EVE – Tuesday, December 31st No 9:00 AM Mass
Office Open – 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Vigil for Feast of Mary the Holy Mother of God 5:00 PM Mass
NEW YEAR’S DAY – Wednesday, January 1st
Office Open – 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Feast of Mary the Mother of God Mass at 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM
Parking at ground level is limited to 51 spaces. Do not park in front of the Church since this is a fire route and must be kept clear. There is plenty of space in the underground parking lot.
Additional parking is available on the east side of Elkhorn Public School and in the bus loop. The school requests that we do not park on the grass Please follow the instructions of the attendant.
Many thanks to the Elkhorn Public School for allowing us the use of the school property.
Sunday, January 5th 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, January 3rd from 9:30 AM to 12 Noon
English: Saturday, January 4that 3:15 PM in the Library Chinese: Sunday, January 5th at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room.
For further information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
Sunday, January 26th, 2020 at 7:00 PM Yorkminster Park Baptist Church 1585 Yonge Street, Toronto
“They showed us unusual kindness” cf. Acts 28;2
His Eminence Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, will reflect on the Word of God with other Christian leaders. For more information, please contact ecumenical@archtoronto.org or 416-934-3400, Ext. 527.
All are welcome.
Listening to God’s Voice When Facing a Decision
Monday, January 27th, 2020 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
The Duke of York Pub, 39 Prince Arthur Dr., Toronto
Join Kevin Kelly, SJ, a Deacon of the Society of Jesus, as he shares his insights into listening to God’s voice when facing a decision. All young adults, ages 19 to 39 are invited to join the Sisters of St. Joseph on January 27th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM for an evening of faith, food , fun and fellowship!
Your offertory envelopes are now available in the Gathering Space. Please pick yours up as soon as possible.
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 offertory envelopes, enrolling in Pre-Authorized Giving (PAG) or Donate Now via Archdiocese of Toronto’s online giving for your offertory giving no matter the amount of your weekly donation.
If you do not presently have Offertory envelopes and would like to have a box, please let the office know and we will prepare a box for you.
Please note: All donations for 2019 must be received in the Parish Office by Monday, December 30th, 2019 to be included in your 2019 Tax Receipt.
| Posted in Bulletin |
There was a song out years ago title; ’No one know what goes on behind closed doors.’ There is something called the hidden life of Jesus. We’ve just celebrated his birth. Today we hear of the family’s flight into Egypt to avoid a jealous king. January 1st we celebrate Jesus’ circumcision. The next we hear of Jesus was when he was 12 years old and driving Mary and Joseph crazy as he disappeared in Jerusalem for 3 days. Then there is silence til Jesus shows up where John the Baptist is baptizing in the Jordon and a voice sounds from heaven,’ this is my son, the beloved, in him I am well pleased.’ In all those years we have no idea what went on behind closed doors.’ And it really isn’t all that important. What is important is what Jesus said did in his public life and his passion death and resurrection.
Today is the feast day of the Holy Family. There was only one holy family and they had their problems and sorrows. They lived in the small community of Nazareth. Joseph was a carpenter; there may have been many times he was out of work. Like every Jewish boy Jesus was expected to follow his father’s trade.
We are all family, we belong to the human family, we belong to the family of the church and we belong to the family of all the life forms on planet earth. All these families have issues. For our own personal families the saying ‘no one knows what goes on behind closed doors is true. We keep our troubles to ourselves. Unfortunately the troubles of our family of the church are on the news constantly, sexual abuse and cover ups. Unfortunately our problems as a member of the family of all life on Earth are either being denied or put off to the next global meeting on global change. The latest in Spain was a bust. We seem to be in denial.
On September 1st of this year Pope Francis called for a world day of prayer for the care of creation. Here are some of the things the pope said when establishing that day;
Now is the time “ to reflect on our lifestyles, and how our daily decisions about food, consumption, transportation, use of water, energy and many other material goods, can often be thoughtless and harmful.”
Now is the time, “to abandon our dependence on fossil fuels and move, quickly and decisively, towards forms of clean energy and a sustainable and circular economy. Now is time to learn from “indigenous peoples, whose age-old wisdom can teach us how to live in a better relationship with the environment.”
Pope Francis is buoyed up by the fact that many young people all over the world are making their voices heard and calling for courageous decisions”,and he stresses that we owe them real answers, not empty words, actions not illusions.”
Realistically he says that ‘tragically, the human response to this gift of creation has been marked by selfishness and a greedy desire to possess and exploit, no matter what the consequences. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors. But the doors of climate change are wide open; look at the fires in Australia and California, the droughts in Africa or the rains and high tides in Europe and closer to home the climate changes in the Artic.
We need this year to be more aware on the reality of the mess our life family on Earth is in. Can we begin a new year with a deeper appreciation of the truth of these words you’ve heard before; the Earth does not belong to us, we belong to Earth and what we do to Earth we do to ourselves. We did not weave the web of life; we are a strand in the web and what we do to the web we do to ourselves. We are family with all other life forms on Earth and family must come first.
| Posted in Homily |
December 22nd, 2019
Matthew’s gospel presents us with a teenage girl and a teenage boy invited into the mystery of what John describes his gospel, ‘and the word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.’ The young Mary and Joseph had no idea what was ahead for them’ yet both these young people said in their own way, ‘let it be done to me.’ Both these young people made their lives available to God. When Mary heard about her Cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy she went in haste to see if she could be of help.
In the days to come things didn’t work out too well for Mary and Joseph, in fact everything got botched up. Instead of the support of their families as their baby’s birth drew near, they found themselves facing a treacherous journey during the last stage of Mary’s pregnancy. In Bethlehem they would have no suitable place to stay, any family or friends around for support. Their earliest days of parenthood would be full of fear and flight. Eventually Mary and Joseph found themselves to be strangers in a strange land.
The Irish have a tradition of what is called the Christmas candle. In many homes on Christmas Eve a single candle was placed in the window. It stayed lit all night. If the Holy Family had no place to stay, if a homeless person had no place to stay, the Christmas Candle was a message that they would find welcome and comfort in that home, no matter how poor it might be.
As all of us prepare for the great celebration of the birth of Jesus it would be a blessing for us all to have a Christmas candle, a message of welcome to the many immigrants and refugees who want to come to Canada and start a new life, a life free of oppression and persecution, free of civil strife, as many of our own families in years past.
Different groups and some politicians want us to believe that hordes of illegal people are sneaking into Canada and we’ve had enough immigration. It’s called xenophobia, a fear of the stranger. A mindset totally opposed to the spirit of Christmas.
As we prepare to welcome the birth of Jesus wouldn’t be a Christmas blessing if our hearts, our mindsets were free of bigotry and prejudice towards men and women of different cultures, different life styles or different faiths.
In all nativity cribs we see the infant laying in a manger his arms wide open welcoming each one of us into his life and love. Wouldn’t it be a Christmas gift to each of us if Christ blessed us with the gift of openness and acceptance for all those men, women and children from distant lands who come to Canada and into our lives?
It would be a Christmas blessing if each one of us was a Christmas Candle of welcome, not just to Jesus, but to every person who comes into our lives,
Wouldn’t be a special Christmas if each one of us was a Christmas candle, a shining light of welcome
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
December 23rd– December 29th, 2019
MONDAY – SHANNON OLDEN – Requested by Kathleen Olden-Powell TUESDAY – Christmas Eve WEDNESDAY – Christmas Day THURSDAY – Boxing Day No 9:00 AM Mass FRIDAY – ERNEST RICKETTS – Requested by His Family SATURDAY – CARMELA GRECH CAIA – Requested by The Grech Family SUNDAY – 10:30 AM MASS – DOREEN YOUNG – Requested by Noreen Chen SUNDAY – 12:30 PM MASS – MICHAEL KIM & EUJUNE KIM – Requested by Veronica Moon
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
Additional parking is available on the east side of Elkhorn Public School and in the bus loop. The school requests that we do not park on the grass
Please follow the instructions of the attendant.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Thank you, good people, for your overwhelming generosity this Christmas season.
Thanks to you, St. Gabriel’s was able to provide toys, food and gifts to Rosalie Hall, the Catholic Children’s Aid, the Good Shepherd Centre and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
A special thank you to our neighbours the St. Gabriel’s Village Condos for their generous support of our food and toy drives. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated!
Each month, the 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.
Your food donations are more important than ever as the winter begins and numbers of needy people continue to increase. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your generous support.
Envelopes are available at the Parish Office if you need one.
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
