October 20th, 2019
As the Israelites crossed the Jordon they really were invading other people’s land; today we’d call it a land grab’. So it’s not surprising that the local people resisted them. Amalek, their local leader fought to protect their land. Our first reading tells of this battle between Joshua and Amalek and the role Moses played in the battle.
We’re told that as long as Moses, who was watching the battle, held up his staff the battle favored the Israelites. Eventually Moses grew tired and arms slipped and then things went in favor of Amalek.
Moses’ friends Aaron and Hur sat him down and held up his arms the rest of the day and Joshua won the battle.
What can this short reading say to us, what can it ask of us? Simply put, are we there for those who need our support, our understanding or our strength?
Think for a second; are there family members or friends who could use our presence, our understanding and support in their times of struggle? It could be a student, stressed out by overdue assignments or exams or a friend with a hard earned college of university degree who can’t find the job in his or her field. Do you know of a friend desperate to find a work and needs some encouragement? Is there a family member of friend who has just gone through a divorce and would appreciate you just being there? Or do you know someone struggling with a debilitating disease of any description? Do you know of anyone struggling with an addiction? Do you have a neighbour who is homebound and would love a visit? Do you know of a grieving parent, a grieving spouse or a grieving son or daughter who is at a loss to accept the death of the one they loved
Any of these people are like the weary Moses who needs his or her Aaron and Hur to steady and support them as they face their struggles, their hurts or their disappointments. Our words or advice may not be needed but our presence is.
There was a song out years ago that sang this challenging question; ‘where you when I needed you?’ A question; could a family member of a friend sing these words to anyone of us?
| Posted in Homily |
Those parishioners who registered for this Wednesday and Thursday (October 23rd & 24th) to have their portrait taken for the 2020 Photo Directory should have received an email notification during the last week. Please ensure that you fulfill your commitment to attend so that all allocated appointments are kept.
October 20th Second Collection
There will be a second collection today for the Evangelization of the Nations, otherwise known as World Mission Sunday. This is a worldwide collection for the missionary church and it is our opportunity to assist at-need Catholic communities globally. Offerings are combined with offerings from other Catholics around the world and distributed to missions and dioceses. We are called to share from our abundance with those less fortunate who lack the basic essentials to know, love and praise our God. Thank you for your support of this important work.
November 9th & 16th, 2019 – St. Gabriel’s Parish
The second of the two new ministries we are launching in our parish community is the Bereavement Ministry. The Bereavement Ministry is also known as the Ministry of Consolation. Training is required for those who are interested in becoming a part of Bereavement Ministry Team. The Bereavement Ministry Training is designed for those who are ministering to the bereaved in a parish setting. New and seasoned parish bereavement ministers and volunteers are invited to join others in an interactive, two-day faith-based educational and spiritual learning opportunity.
We are pleased to announce that the upcoming Bereavement Ministry Training this fall will be hosted by St. Gabriel’s Parish. The training dates will be held on November 9 and 16, 2019 (both Saturdays). The sessions will start from 9:30 AM and will finish at 4:00 PM on both dates. Participants are required to attend both Saturday sessions. Registration deadline is Saturday, November 9th, 2019. There is no cost to attend the training sessions; however if you wish to purchase the optional participant workbook, that would be $45 (with the cheque made payable to R.C.E.C.) Refreshments will be provided but please bring your own lunch.
The training will explore ways to begin a Bereavement Ministry in the parish or enhance your present bereavement ministry programs. If anyone is interested to become part of the Bereavement Ministry Team of our parish, please contact Sr. Maria Lucia at our Parish Office no later than November 1st so that she can register you at the archdiocesan office responsible for the training program. Come, learn, and share how the Christian faithful comfort mourners with words of faith and support and with acts of kindness!
Cardinal Collins has requested that a weekend Mass attendance count be conducted annually in all parishes and missions of the Archdiocese. This year the attendance count will continue on the weekends of October19th /20th and 26th/27th. The purpose of the count is to have a more accurate assessment of the number of people attending Mass on a weekend.
As with last year, when you come in for Mass, you may notice a few “counters” clicking on tally counters at the doors of the church. The counters will be doing their jobs in a way as discreetly and non-intrusively as possible.
October 21st to October 27th
MONDAY – KENG OWYONG – Requested by Helen Owyong TUESDAY – ROMULO CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ – Requested by Rosa & Romulo Gonzalez WEDNESDAY – GIOVANNI, MARIA & FRANK PUGLIESE – Requested by Rose Pugliese THURSDAY – LEENA PEREIRA – Requested by the Pereira Family FRIDAY – DELPHINE OAKIE – Requested by the Family SATURDAY – MICHAEL McDONOUGH – Requested by Vivian McDonough SUNDAY – 10:30 AM INTENTIONS OF FRANK PALMERI – Requested by the Au Family SUNDAY – 12:30 PM VERNON MULHALL – Requested by Vivian Mulhall McDonough
The R.C.I.A. (Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults) sessions have commenced. Please pray for all our R.C.I.A. participants that they may patiently persevere in their spiritual journey. You may use this short prayer.
Prayer for the Journey of Faith: Loving God, bless those who are moving forward into the fullness of faith in You and full communion in the life of our Catholic Family. Protect them on their journey. Reveal to them the love of Your Son Jesus. Empower them with the gifts of Your Holy Spirit. May their journey to deepen their faith be fruitful and enriching. We offer this sacrifice of prayer for them, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
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 have commenced.
Thursday, November 7th at 7:30 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church
There will be a meeting here at the Church on Thursday, November 7th at 7:30 PM. for parents of children wishing to receive their First Communion in 2020.
Please exercise your right to vote in the Federal election on Monday. Polls are open in the Eastern Time Zone from 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM.
Each month the food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.
Good Shepherd provides hot meals and shelter for the homeless in our city.
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.
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
Friday, October 25 to Sunday, October 27
Celebrate your love and take a fresh look at your marriage! The Worldwide Marriage Encounter movement is hosting a weekend experience for couples to refresh their marriage. Running from Friday, October 25 through Sunday, October 27 at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Mississauga.
For more information, please contact Marge & Gerard at: (905) 792-1925 or gerard.marge@rogers.com.
Sunday, October 27th (2:30 PM)
Mosaic Interfaith invites you to attend the next presentation in their series “From Abraham: Three Faiths” to take place in St. Luke’s Catholic Church, 39 Green Lane, Thornhill on Sunday October 27 from 2.30 PM to 4.30 PM.
The subject is “How can we reform our tradition and still be loyal to that tradition?” Panelists, as before, are Rev. Canon John Hill, Rabbi Michael Stroh and Dr. Liyakat Takim from Christianity, Judaism and Islam respectively. See flyer on bulletin boards. For more information or to RSVP, call Nora 416-218 0680.
Sunday, October 27th (7:00 PM)
Temple Har Zion invites Mosaic Interfaith to celebrate Simchat Torah at 7360 Bayview Avenue, Thornhill at 7:00 PM on Sunday, October 27th. Simchat Torah literally means “Rejoicing of?[with the] Torah” and is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of new cycle This is a joyous occasion and there will be music, dancing and singing.
For more information, call Nora 416-218 0680.
Friday, November 1st to Sunday, November 3rd at St. Augustine’s Seminary
Inviting single Catholic men 17 years and older, to cultivate a deeper prayer life and relationship with Jesus Christ; leading to a better discernment of God’s call for their lives. A time for prayer, reflection and information on the process of becoming one of Christ’s disciples as a Catholic priest. The weekend begins at 7:00 PM on Friday and ends at 1:30 PM on Sunday. Register online at www.vocationstoronto.ca. Registrants 17 years old require parental consent.
For more information, please contact the Office of Vocations at 416-968-0997 or email vocations@archtoronto.org.
Sunday, November 3rd, at 3:00 PM
St. Paul’s Basilica, 83 Power Street
The Mass of Memory is dedicated in memory of the many victims of the Irish Famine of 1847 who died of typhus on arrival in Toronto. 861 people were buried in the then St. Paul’s Catholic Cemetery and 281 were buried in St. James Anglican Cemetery.
Sacred/Celtic music prelude by The Irish Choral Society of Canada starts at 2:30 PM with a reception to follow after the Mass.
Proceeds from this celebration go to the Children’s Breakfast Club Program of St. Paul’s Basilica.
Sunday, October 27th after 10:30 AM Mass
The Garden Ministry will be teaming up with the Youth Group after the 10:30 AM mass on October 27th to plant tulip, daffodil, snowdrop and grape hyacinth bulbs in various locations around the property.
| Posted in Bulletin |
October 13th, 2019
O, heavenly Father: We thank thee for food and remember the hungry. We thank thee for health and remember the sick. We thank thee for friends and remember the friendless. We thank thee for freedom and remember the enslaved. May these remembrances stir us to service, that thy gifts to us may be used for others. Amen.
Mass will be celebrated on Thanksgiving Day, Monday, October 14th at 9:00 AM.
The Parish Office will be closed on Monday.
St. Paul of the Cross was the founder of the Passionists in the year 1720. Born in northern Italy in 1694, Paul experienced conversion at the age of 15 and began a lifetime of devotion to prayer life as a soldier but left after one year. Six years later, having had several visions, he determined that his vocation was to found an order dedicated to the Passion of our Lord. Officials declared the visions authentic and Paul withdrew to write a rule. He was joined by his brother, who remained with him for the rest of his life. By 1747, the Passionists had three houses and were preaching missions throughout Italy. At the time of his death in 1775, Paul was establishing a congregation for Passionist nuns.
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.
(Presented by Ministry with Maturing Adults)
The 8-sessions Life Story Program started last October 3rd, 2019 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM in the Gabriel Room. Sr. Mary Rose Marrin, CSJ, who is facilitating the programme, stated that this is the largest group that had attended her session! The programme will involve the participants to reflect on their life experience in each decade of life and from these reflections, the participants will write stories that are significant to them. Often times, after jotting down and reflecting such stories and events in their lives, participants find healing and joy, and discover God in the small and daily events in their lives.
May our participants continue their endeavours and may they find healing, peace, and joy in recognizing that God is touching and journeying with them in their daily lives!
October 14th to October 20th
MONDAY – THANKSGIVING DAY – Mass at 9:00 AM TUESDAY – NORRIS WHITFIELD – Requested by Jack & Margaret Murray WEDNESDAY – INTENTIONS OF MARIE SWANT – Requested by Marie Swant THURSDAY – SEE HIM CHIU – Requested by the Chiu Family FRIDAY – VINCENT HA – Requested by Laura, Sylvia & Valerie Ha SATURDAY – PASQUALE GATTI – Requested by Linda Gatti & Family SUNDAY 10:30 AM – FREDERICO BILLEDO – Requested by the Billedo Family SUNDAY 12:30 PM – NARCISO CORTEZ – Requested by Zenaida Cortez
Thursday, October 17th at 7:30 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church – Gabriel Room
There will be a meeting in the Gabriel Room on Thursday, October 17th at 7:30 PM for parents of children wishing to be confirmed in 2020.
The R.C.I.A. (Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults) sessions started last Saturday, October 5, 2019 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Library. Please pray for all our R.C.I.A. participants that they may patiently persevere in their spiritual journey. You may use this short prayer.
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.
The Toronto Catholic District School Board is actively recruiting for the positions of Supply Education Assistant, Occasional Library Technician and Supply Secretary on an immediate needs basis. A minimum of grade 12 or Ontario equivalency is required for the first and third positions and a minimum of a college level diploma is required for the Occasional Library Technician.
For more information, please visit www.tcdsb.org/careers. Email inquiries can be sent to hr.recruitment@tcdsb.org. Applications will only be received at www.ApplyToEducation.com.
Thank you so much for your overwhelming support of our Thanksgiving Food Drive for the Good Shepherd Centre and Rosalie Hall.
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.
Your donations are very much appreciated by the young families and homeless of Toronto.
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 by email: ahctoronto@gmail.com
Friday, November 1st to Sunday, November 3rd
at St. Augustine’s Seminary
With harvest season drawing to a close, we will be moving the community garden boxes off the patio where they now reside. It appears that the patio and the adjacent cement wall hold too much heat for some crops like tomatoes and cucumbers. Extra hands would be most welcome!
Please join us on Saturday, October 19th at 9:30 AM.
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.
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.
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