September 22nd, 2019
Around the world young people are staging demonstrations on what they call ‘Fridays for the Future’. It is a concerted effort of these young people to sensitize men and women and children and especially politicians to the realities of climate change, a change that is effecting and will affect the lives of all of us in not too many years from now.
Many of these demonstrations are inspired by the young Danish activist Greta Thunberg who sailed from Denmark to New York to speak at the United Nations Climate Action Summit tomorrow, a meeting President Trump will not attend. These world-wide protests are meant to send a message to politicians to take climate change seriously and to work toward keeping global warming to a maximum of 1.5 Celsius.
Ms. Thunberg says that these worldwide demonstrations are meant to hold those who are the most responsible for the global crisis accountable. Well that’s all of us, not just politicians. This present crisis didn’t just happen yesterday. Scientists had been warning us for years about global warming and climate change. We’ve been warned many times that we humans have to live with the limits of Earth’s resources, resources that are not equally shared by the human family. There are the haves and the have nots, we’re among the ‘haves’. We are living on a sick planet, a planet polluted and diminished by toxic air, polluted water and toxic soil. The destruction of the manmade fires destroying the rain forests in Brazil and Indonesian are a crime against Earth and humanity. And it’s all for profit. Our own Mayor tells us something we already know, ‘in the past few years our city has been dealing with the effects of more flooding, our city in getting hotter, wetter and wilder and our climate risks are increasing.
What has all this got to do with today’s gospel? Just go to the words of the rich man who caught his steward abusing his trust and stealing; ‘you can be steward no longer.’
In one of the stories of creation found in the Book of Genesis we’re told of God deciding,’ let us make humankind in our own image and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and over all the wild animals.’ One of our hymns sings,’ made us lords of all creation, everything is ours to use and abuse. These texts have given humankind a twisted attitude toward God’s good creation. We exploit nature, abuse nature, even try to control nature. We humans believe we are over and above nature. That’s our ingrained mindset and that’s why humanity, us, are in the mess we are in.
The human family is enmeshed in the life systems of Earth. As I’ve said before ‘The earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth and what we do to the 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.
You can be steward no longer – that might be the message of the countless young people from around the world to us. We’ve blown it and they’ve been part of that by their own lives styles and throw away mentality. Hopefully their sense of social justice and ecological awareness, their concern for the future of the planet and their future will have an impact on the leaders of the world meeting at the UN. Hopefully.
| Posted in Homily |
Before and after all masses today, all members of St. Gabriel’s community (whether a single person, two spouses, or a family) are encouraged to sign up for a specific sitting time to have their 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 still some sitting times on October 9th, 10th, & 11th (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday). As well new appointment times are now available on Wednesday & Thursday (October 23rd & 24th) and on Wednesday & Thursday (October 30th & 31st). Sitting times will be on the quarter hour starting at 2:30 PM until 8:30 PM and on Saturday from 10:00 AM until 3:15 PM
We need many more parishioners to register for the Parish Directory in order to make it successful – no one is too old or too young! Please consider signing up today.
If you are attending St. Gabriel’s on a regular basis, but have not formally registered at the Parish office, you are encouraged to do so.
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.
September 23rd to September 29th
MONDAY – GERRY HATCH – Requested by his Family TUESDAY – AURITA FERNANDES – Requested by Tony Fernandes WEDNESDAY – RENATO BELLISARI – Requested by Chiara & Tina Intini THURSDAY – KENG OWYONG – Requested by Helen Owyong FRIDAY – MARION & BOB DESROCHES – Requested by Mark DesRoches SATURDAY – JOHN POWELL – Requested by Pat Kathleen Olden Powell SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – FRANK YORKE – Requested by the Scanga Family SUNDAY – 12:30 PM
Sunday September 29th after the 10:30 Mass
On 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.
St. Gabriel’s Church September 24th 25th and 26th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Registration for children who wish to receive the Sacraments of First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation will be held at St. Gabriel’s Church on the following dates:
Tuesday, September 24th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM Wednesday, September 25th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM Thursday, September 26th from 7.30 PM to 9:00 PM
Please Note: A copy of the child’s Baptismal Certificate is required if registering for First Communion or Confirmation. A fee of $30 is required at registration for Confirmation to defray related costs.
Sunday September 29th
The theme announced by His Holiness Pope Francis for the 105th World Day of Migrants and Refugees is “It Is Not Just About Migrants.” In his message, Pope Francis reminds us that “the presence of migrants and refugees, is an invitation to recover some of those essential dimensions of our Christian existence and our humanity that risk being overlooked in a prosperous society. That is why it is not just about migrants. ‘
“For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?’ (Matt: 5:46).”
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 Sr. Maria Lucia 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 Sr. Maria Lucia at 416-221-8866. Classes for them will begin in October.
Gabriel Room Saturday, September 28th at 2:00 PM
“Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” Romans: 10:17
Are you a good story teller? Would you like to share with others? On Saturday, September 28th at 2:00 PM join the Lectors to learn more about the ministry at a workshop in the Gabriel room. The workshop will provide time for lectors to share their experience and learn some of the best kept secrets of proclaiming the Word. Those who would like to join this ministry are asked to RSVP to the Parish office by September 23rd, 2019.
Last week, Hurricane Dorian devastated the Caribbean nation of the Bahamas, and caused significant damage in Nova Scotia and along the Atlantic coast of the United States.
The hurricane moved excruciatingly slowly across the Bahamian island of Abaco, leaving most buildings and infrastructure destroyed. More than 70,000 people in the Bahamas are expected to need emergency assistance, including food, shelter, electricity and safe drinking water. A still unknown number of people are missing and at least 50 people dead — a number that is expected to rise quickly over the coming weeks as more bodies are recovered.
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:
Online through the Archdiocese of Toronto website: www.archtoronto.org
By phone through the Development Office – 416-934-3411
Through the parish, making cheques payable to: St. Gabriel’s Parish – 2019 Hurricane Dorian – Disaster Relief
You can make a difference in the lives of the hungry and homeless this Thanksgiving by participating in the annual Good Shepherd Ministries 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.
Urgently needed items include: rice, pasta and pasta sauces, peanut butter, jam 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.
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, 2019, 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 School is holding an Open House on Thursday, October 3rd at 7:00 PM for students who are entering secondary school. Parents/Guardians and students are invited to attend. Join them at 211 Steeles Avenue East, just west of Bayview on the south side of Steeles. They can be reached at (416) 393-5508.
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.
Congratulations to Olga Bonilla, the winner of our blueberry pie raffle! Thank you to everyone who generously helped us raise $339 for supplies for our Good Shepherd community garden.
On Sunday, September 29th, from 1:30 to 3:00 PM in the Gabriel Room, 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.
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.
| Posted in Bulletin |
September 15th, 2019
Luke tells us that the Pharisees were shocked and resentful that Jesus welcomes and breaks bread with such losers as these tax collector and sinners.
Jesus still does. At this Eucharist he breaks bread and offers it to us with the words, take and eat, this is my body. Jesus shares a cup of wine with us; take and drink this is my blood. Can we see ourselves in the wandering, confused and lost sheep? Can we see ourselves in that lost coin? Can we see ourselves in that spoiled selfish son who wanted to be free of any restraint any responsibility and do our own thing? Yet the sheep is found and the coin is found and the son comes to his senses and comes home. The shepherd calls others to rejoice with him and his found sheep. The housewife shares her joy with her neighbours when she finds her lost coin. The father throws a party to celebrate his mixed-up son’s return. There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God what was lost is found.
As I’ve said before we’re not bad people we’re mistake making beings and sometimes we do mean and spiteful things. Sometimes we say cruel and spiteful things to family members or fellow workers. Sometimes we belittle men and women because of their race, their faith or their lifestyles. Sometimes we resent all those strangers wanting to come to Canada to find a new and better life. Sometimes we are that lost sheep, that lost coin or that lost son. Our great consolation and wonder is that Christ is the presence of God in his human form seeking for us and saving us finding we who were lost.
In this Eucharist we give God thanks for God’s love and mercy toward all us mistaking making beings. We thank Christ for finding us and welcoming us home again and again and again.
September 14th, 2019
At all Masses this weekend and the next two weekends, all members of St. Gabriel’s community (whether a single person, two spouses, or a family) are encouraged to sign up for a specific sitting time to have their 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.
The initial portrait sitting days will commence during the week of October 7th to 12th (Monday to Saturday). Sitting times from Monday to Friday will be on the quarter hour starting at 2:30 PM until 8:30 PM and on Saturday from 10:00 AM until 3:15 PM.
If you are attending St. Gabriel’s on a regular basis, but have not actually completed a registration form at the Parish office, it is encouraged that you do so as soon as possible.
September 16th to September 22nd
MONDAY – ROYSTON & LIBERATTA PINTO (for their 25th Anniversary) – Requested by Royston Jr. & Raphael TUESDAY – LUKE VUKOVIC – Requested by his Family WEDNESDAY – MARIA REIS & DARKO SEIFERT – Requested by their Family THURSDAY – CATHERINE MINNAN-WONG – Requested by her sister Noreen FRIDAY – FIORE GIANNOTTA – Requested by Lina Giannotta SATURDAY – GORDON OATWAY – Requested by Pat Oatway & Family SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE VILLAMOR FAMILY – Requested by the Villoria, Hale & Kipp Families. SUNDAY – 12:30 PM –
St. Gabriel’s Church September 19th, 24th 25th and 26th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Thursday, September 19th from 7:30 to 9:00 PM Tuesday, September 24th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM Wednesday, September 25th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM Thursday, September 26th from 7.30 PM to 9:00 PM
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.
Sunday September 15th after the 12:30 Mass
This Sunday, September 15th there will be an altar server welcome back and retraining session after the 12:30 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.
Began last Sunday, September 8th at 10:00 AM St Gabriel’s School
Registration forms for the Children’s Faith Program are still available in the parish office. This program is for children of the Parish who attend public or private schools. Classes are held at St. Gabriel’s School every second Sunday. The second class will be next Sunday, September 22nd at 10:00 AM.
Please note that a separate Sacramental registration form is required if your child will receive the sacraments of First Communion, Reconciliation or Confirmation during the 2019/2020 year. These forms are also available in the parish office.
“Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” Romans: 10:17
The final total for this year’s ShareLife campaign is $183,975.10. Thank you for your generosity.
This Weekend, September 14th/15th
Spring Cleaning Year Round!
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is collecting gently used clothing, shoes, linens and household goods to support our neighbors in need or to be sold to help support their special works in the community this weekend, September 14th/15th
They cannot accept books, dishes, furniture, appliances, mattresses, construction materials or videos and cassettes. Please bring your donations and help others in your community.
The truck is open Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM and Sunday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Volunteers will be there to assist with loading before and after each Mass.
Wednesday, September 18th at 1:00 PM
The Milk Bag Workshops will begin again on Wednesday, September 18th. Please make sure the bags you bring are clean and flat in the box. This will be of great help to the weavers. For further information about this program please visit www.milkbagsunlimited.ca or contact Sharon Gusz at sharongusz@gmail.com.
Weekend of September 21st/22nd
Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend, September 21st and 22nd.
Regular ground coffee: $5.50 Decaffeinated: $6.00 Whole Beans: $5.50 Chocolate Bars: $4.50 incl. Taxes Hot Chocolate and Cocoa: $6.00 Teas: $4.25
Blueberry Pie Raffle Sunday, September 15th Gathering Space The Garden Ministry will be raffling a pie made with St. Gabriel’s own blueberries and baked by retired pastry chef, Regan Daley. Proceeds will go towards the purchase of tools and supplies for St. Gabriel’s Good Shepherd community garden. Tickets will be on sale after all masses this weekend.
Guided Tour of the Stations of Our Cosmic Earth Sunday, September 22nd, from 11:30 to 12:30 Gabriel Room: In solidarity with the Season of Creation and Global Climate Strike Week, September. 20th to 27th, Fr. Steve Dunn, of our local Passionist Community, will offer a virtual tour of the Stations which are located in the south garden. The Cosmic Stations situate the Cross amid the major transformation moments in the evolution of Earth. The stained glass originals of the Stations will be on display.
Seed-Saving Workshop Sunday, September 29th, from 1:30 to 3:00 PM Gabriel Room Cameron Couchman, a familiar face from previous workshops and on-site in the gardens, will lead the workshop. 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.
September 8th, 2019
In the near future we’ll be getting ready for an election and politicians of every stripe will be making promises of how they are going to make life better for all of us. Naturally they’ll try to outdo one another. No one will challenge us to tighten our belts and be prepared for leaner times. They’ll give lip service to the life and death reality of climate change. But as we all know, a politician and his promises are soon parted.
We read in today’s gospel that large crowds followed Jesus. They listened to what he had to say. Sometimes what he had to say was too much for them and we’re told that many of his disciples walked with him no more. Jesus let that be their decision but never watered down what he had to say. At the same time he didn’t want to let their enthusiasm carry them away when they saw exercise power over evil spirit, when he made a leper clean or a lame man dance, or a blind man see. He was there for everyone, rich or poor. Jesus hid himself from the men and women who wanted to take him by for and make him king. Jesus was not into popularity contests.
But Jesus let them know following him would not be a walk in the park. His words in today’s gospel are pretty harsh to our ears. His word ‘hate’ is out of sync with his other teachings about love and acceptance. Scripture scholars were telling us that the best translation of the word hate is prefer or choose.
Choosing Jesus is thus equivalent to letting one’s family go, letting popularity go, letting power or prestige go, letting the good life and the good times go and living a life of love and acceptance and service of others. Choosing to follow Jesus means we prefer him over wealth, power, popularity, pleasures.
In a way Jesus offers us an either or proposition. Of course family is important; of course financial stability is important, of course a career is important, of course friends are important. But if any of these compromise our relationship, our fidelity to Jesus, our Christ who died on the cross for us, they have to go.
It can be an issue we face many times in our lives in the choices we have to make. May we be strong enough, faithful enough to make the right choice by choosing Christ, who loved us and gave his life for us.
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