October 7th, 2018
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 8th at 9:00 AM. The Parish Office will be closed on Monday.
Thank you to all the Parishioners who helped to make Fatima’s reception a memorable one. For those who set up and cleaned up, for those who baked, we truly appreciate your support. We wish Fatima every success in her new position.
Fatima also wishes to thank the Community of St. Gabriel’s for the blessings and prayers she has received.
The Youth Group will be having a silent auction on October 13th and 14th to raise funds for their attendance at World Youth Day in Panama this coming January. They are currently accepting donations for the auction (tickets, computers, memorabilia, artwork etc.) If you would like to donate, please contact the Youth Minister at sgpyouthgroup@gmail.com or call 416-221-8866. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
October 8th to October 13th
MONDAY – THANKSGIVING DAY – Mass at 9:00 AM TUESDAY – IAN MAGUIRE – Requested by Christine & Roland Kilchling WEDNESDAY – ANNIVERSARY – Requested by the Burke Family THURSDAY – MARION DESROCHES – Requested by Mark DesRoches FRIDAY – ROSARIO CORTEZ – Requested by Zenaida Cortez SATURDAY – PASQUALE GATTI – Requested by Linda Gatti & Family
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.
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.
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 were very much appreciated by the young families and homeless of Toronto.
October 13th from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
St. Augustine’s Seminary, 2661 Kingston Road
St. Augustine’s Lay Spiritual Formation program presents the first annual Day of Reflection for Men entitled “Jesus Christ, Timeless model for Men of Today” It will run from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM and includes Mass in the chapel. The presenter will be Fr. Seamus Hogan.
The cost, which includes lunch, is $50.
For more information, please call 416-261-2529 or email layspiritualformation@sastoronto.org.
October 14th at 9:30 AM on Salt + Light TV
Blessed Oscar Romero will be canonized in Rome on Sunday, October 14th. The Mass will be broadcast at 9:30 AM on Salt + Light Television. To celebrate, Toronto-based Romero House has organized a number of local events, running from Thursday, October 4th to Sunday, October 28th. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/OscarRomeroCanonization
Thursday, October 18th at 7:00 PM
St. Edward the Confessor Church, 75 Churchill Ave
Catholic Family Services of Toronto, St. Edward the Confessor Parish and their CWL Council will host the 9th Annual Mass to End Woman Abuse on Thursday, October 18that 7:00 PM.
This annual event is intended to raise awareness about abuse of women and girls. Prior to the Mass, brief presentations will be made about our Violence Against Women programs. After Mass, there will be a gathering with light refreshments in the church hall. We invite you to join us as we take action in the fight to end women abuse. For event information, email info@cfstoronto.com or call 416-921-1163.
Weekend of October 19th to 21st, 2018
Celebrate your love and take a fresh look at your marriage! Spend a very special weekend together. A Weekend of discovery…a lifetime of love! Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a weekend getaway that helps married couples rediscover themselves as individuals and as a couple. The Weekend format helps couples communicate openly and honestly without group sharing, therapy or marriage counseling.
The Upcoming Weekend will be October 19thto 21st, 2018
For more information and application, please go to www.wwme.org or contact Gerard & Marge McCauley at gerard.marge@rogers.com or (905) 792-1925.
Saturday, October 20th from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM St. Bonaventure’ Church
St. Bonaventure CWL will hold their Annual Flea Market on Saturday, October 20th from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Come and see the treasures of all kinds. There will also be a live auction. Don’t miss it!
1515 Bathurst Street at St. Clair Avenue West Thursday, October 18th & Tuesday, October 23rd From 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
The Office of Admissions of St. Michael’s College School is now considering applications for September 2019. St. Michael’s College School is the only independent Catholic school for boys from Grade 7 to Grade 12.
Open Houses for interested parents and their sons will be held on Thursday, October 18th and Tuesday, October 23rd from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM at the school. While St. Michael’s College is an independent School, we offer a generous bursary program that provides financial aid to qualifying student.
Beginning Saturday, October 20th from 9:45 to 12:00 Noon Blessed Trinity Parish
Join the Kolbe “Know Your Faith” series for a 5 week study on the Gospel according to St. Matthew, Part 1. Through prayer, study and informative DVDs deepen your awareness of God’s merciful love in your own lives. Classes will begin at Blessed Trinity Parish ON Saturday, October 20th at 9:45. For more information, please go to www.kolbeapostolate.com.
Weekend of November 2nd to 4th St. Augustine’s Seminary
The Office of Vocations is hosting a Come & See Weekend for men 17 years and older, at St. Augustine’s Seminary from Friday, November 2nd at 6:30 PM. to Sunday, November 4th, until 1:30 PM. This weekend invites single Catholic men to cultivate a deeper prayer life and relationship with Jesus Christ; leading to a better discernment of God’s call for their lives. There will be time for prayer, reflection and information on the process of becoming one of Christ’s disciples as a Catholic priest. Register online at www.vocationstoronto.ca. Registrants 17 years old require parental consent. For more information, please call 416-968-0997 or email: vocations@archtoronto.org.
The Eco-Sabbath Reflection on Sunday, October 7th, at 11:30 AM, will feature St. Gabriel’s garden, including a tour of the north garden. Everyone is welcome.
North Garden Update Mulching of the pathways is in progress. Additional fruit-bearing trees and shrubs will be planted before month-end.
Workshops: A schedule for fall/winter workshops will be posted here soon.
For information on the Garden Ministry, contact Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.
| Posted in Bulletin |
September 30th, 2018
Would that all God’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his spirit on them. It is good to remember that prophets were not those who foretold future events. Prophets were men and women who called the community to be faithful to the call and message of God, right here, right now.
No one has a corner of God’s love and grace. There are men and women in every Christian community who imagine they have such a corner and they often belittle the good works of others. The truth of the matter is that the Holy Spirit is within every child of God and it is good for each of us to be alert and respectful of the working of the Spirit even within people with whom we do not agree. I often drive by Peoples Church on Sunday and see the people streaming into it and the thought that comes to my mind is – here God is glorified and praised. Not as we glorify and praise here at St. Gabriel’s, but glorified and praised none the less.
Here is a Christian community that supports needy families in the community just as you good people.
I don’t know about you but I am so proud of Pope Francis, for all the pressures on him as he faces and copes with the scandals bishops and priests have brought upon our church, he is still a prophet, a man who challenges our fidelity to teaching of Jesus.
His talks to world leaders or to people gathered in St. Peter’s square has the same message; recognize and respect the human dignity of the person in front of us, whether that person is a CEO or a street person. Time and again he stood with the poor, the dispossessed and the oppressed men and women of the societies in which we live. No one was surprised when, as a prophet, he asked that people put aside political and business interests and admit to the ecological and environmental crises developing around us. As prophet Pope Francis called us to respect life in all its stages. He calls for an end to the death penalty and the worldwide sale of military arms. In all his speeches his main concern was for the poor, those who wait for crumbs to fall from the tables of the prosperous. Economically it is called ‘The trickledown theory.’
I think Pope Francis has done us proud. I think he echoes the words of Moses, ‘would that all God’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his spirit on them.’ Would that each one of us had the courage to be prophets and speak the truth to bigots and prejudicial men and women who belittle men and women of other faiths, cultures and life styles. Would that each of us were prophets and ask the men and women running for office in on coming elections, what is the track record of their party as regards justice for support affordable housing, employment for our young people, care for our veterans, support for welfare recipients, and so many other serious social concerns that are part and parcel of lives of Canadians.
In one of his talks Francis tells us ’we need to avoid a common temptation now a days; to discard whatever proves troublesome and face the issues that stare us in the face. Remember the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you have them do unto you.’
Several times Pope Francis asked people to pray for him and then he added, ‘if you do not believe in God and do not pray please send kind thoughts my way.’ He certainly needs our prayers and kind thoughts in these challenging times.
As we continue to celebrate this Mass may we all keep Pope Frances in our thoughts and prayers. We pray for ourselves that we have the boldness to be prophets – speakers of God’s truth when, in the different circumstances our own lives, we are challenged to be so.
| Posted in Homily |
September 29th, 2018
As you know, Fatima Lee is leaving us to work in the far north. We would like to thank her for her years of dedication and commitment to her work here at St. Gabriel’s Parish. We wish her every success in her new venture. She will certainly be missed.
This Sunday, September 30th there will be a commissioning of Fatima during the 10:30 AM Mass. Following the Mass, there will be a reception in the Gathering Space.
October 1st to October 6th
MONDAY – WILLIAM & MARJORIE ALLEN – Requested by Doug & Rosemary Pollock TUESDAY – KARLA CASTAGNA – Requested by Wai Chin & Paul Hwang WEDNESDAY – JUDY WHITE – Requested by Margaret Leckie THURSDAY – JOHN & MYRTLE ROGERS – Requested by their Family FRIDAY – MARIA BORINI – Requested by Renato Bellia & Family SATURDAY – GUS CALDERONE – Requested by Marie Calderone
“Those who sing pray twice.”
Our senior choir practices on Tuesday evenings, from 7:30 to 9:00 P.M. and leads community song at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass.
Our junior choir practices on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 PM and leads the music at the 12:30 PM Mass.
We always welcome new voices and hope you will consider joining us! For more information, please contact Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041.
Sunday September 30th after the 12:30 Mass
This Sunday, September 30th 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
St. Gabriel’s Church Saturday, October 6th from 2.30 PM to 4:00PM.
Registration for children who wish to receive the Sacraments of First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation will be held at St. Gabriel’s Church on: Saturday, October 6th from 2.30 PM to 4:00 PM.
Please Note: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.
Friday, October 5th from 9:30 AM to 12 Noon
English: Rosary – Saturday, October 6th at 3:15 PM in the Gabriel Room. Chinese Rosary -, Sunday October 7th in the Gabriel Room
For information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
Sunday, October 7th 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.
You can make a difference in the lives of the hungry and homeless this Thanksgiving by participating in the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive.
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!
Thursday, October 4th at 7:00 PM
Brebeuf College is holding an Open House for students who are entering high school. It will be held on Thursday, October 4th 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.
St. Joseph Morrow Park is holding an Information Night for students who are entering secondary school. It will be held on Thursday, October 4th 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.
October 13th from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM St. Augustine’s Seminary, 2661 Kingston Road
The cost, which includes lunch, is $50. For more information, please call 416-261-2529 or email layspiritualformation@sastoronto.org.
Thursday, October 18th at 7:00 PM St. Edward the Confessor Church, 75 Churchill Ave
The Upcoming Weekend will be October 19th to 21st, 2018
Thank You!
A huge thank you to all who donated plants to our new garden, and to those who planted them! Take a moment to check out the new garden strip near the entrance to the underground parking. With a little TLC it will be a lovely spot come spring.
Workshop Reminder Sunday from 1:30 to 3:00 PM with Cameron September 30 Cultivating Mushrooms (Oyster)
The Eco-Sabbath Reflection on Sunday, Oct. 7th, at 11:30, will feature St. Gabriel’s garden, including a tour of the north garden. Everyone is welcome.
September 23rd, 2018
In today’s gospel we hear Jesus predicting for the second time his future fate, ‘The son of man will be betrayed into the hands of men and they will kill him.’ In last week’s gospel we heard Peter saying, ‘God forbid Lord this must never happen to you.’ Peter and the others couldn’t image that the man they saw as their Messiah, their liberator, would suffer such a fate. This must never happen to you.
Jesus is one of a long line of righteous men who challenged by the example of their lives the infidelities of their religious leaders, lives that scandalized the little people of the land.
In our first reading from the Book of Wisdom we hear of the resentment of a group of unfaithful people toward a righteous man who struggled to be faithful to God. He is charged with making life inconvenient to them, opposing their actions, exposing their sins against the law.
This is how the religious leaders and scholars saw Jesus as a know nothing. They challenged his teaching, said his miracles were acts of the devil and resented his friendship with tax collectors and prostitutes. How could such a person claim to be a teacher of the Law, how dare he challenge their authority, how dare he question their authenticity?
Like the people in our first reading the religious leaders were determined to discredit Jesus. They bribed one of his own to betray him. Once they had him in their power they had a phony trial loaded with false witnesses. Using the Roman authorities they brought Jesus, this inconvenient man to Calvary to test what will happen at the end of his life and condemn him to a shameful death. “If you are God’s son come down from the cross and we will believe.’ Inconvenient to the end Jesus prayed ‘father forgive them for they know not what they do.’
Things don’t change. Men and women who speak out for justice and fairness for workers or people on welfare, people who support families who are in need of affordable housing, people who support senior citizens in need of help, health care workers who care for young men and women struggling with addictions, all these caring people are dismissed by the powers that be as bleeding hearts, commies, socialists, do gooders. Like Jesus they are inconvenient, bothersome to people in power, people who can affect a change.
We’ve been blessed with inconvenient heroes in our time, Martin Luther King. Archbishop Romero, Mother Teresa and nameless others who worked and suffered and died trying to uphold the dignity of all men and women. People who died trying to save the forests and rivers and mountains from greed and avarice of big corporations.
They were all an inconvenience to the powerful politicians or the wealthy corporations or the masters of commerce.
They are all brought to a shameful end but they were the witnesses to God love for the poor and oppressed.
Each one of us, in one way or another is called to be an inconvenience, a pebble in a shoe. We are called by our crucified Christ to be an inconvenient man or woman and speak out and work for the dignity of every person as He did when he identified himself with the little people, the powerless, the exploited men and women of his time.
We are called to be an inconvenient man or woman when we challenge people who stereotype good people because of their place of origin or their faith or the sexual orientation.
Today’s scripture challenges each one of us to be inconvenient, a bother and be a living example of one who tries and maybe not always succeed to love others, respect others,support others, forgive others as Christ as done so to us.
September 22nd, 2018
As you know, Fatima Lee is leaving us to work in the far north. We would like to thank her for her years of dedication and commitment to her work here atSt. Gabriel’s Parish. We wish her every success in her new venture. She will certainly be missed. On Sunday September 30th there will be a commissioning of Fatima during the 10:30 AM Mass. Following the Mass, there will be a reception in the Gathering Space.
Calling all youth grades 6 and up! The St. Gabriel’s Youth Group is now welcoming new members. Our first meeting will be held this Sunday September 23rd at 1:30 PM. We hope to see you there!
The Youth Group will be having a silent auction on October 13th and 14th to raise funds for their attendance at World Youth Day in Panama this coming January. They are currently accepting donations for the auction (tickets, computers, memorabilia, artwork etc.) If you would like to donate, please contact the Youth Minister at or call 416-221-8866. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
September 24th to September 29th
MONDAY – MOLLY BURKE – Requested by her Family
TUESDAY – RENATO BELLISARI – Requested by Chiara & Tina Intini
WEDNESDAY – JESUS CIMAFRANCA – Requested by Swetenia Aglosolan
THURSDAY – ANNE McCANN – Requested by Carolyn & Bill Markle
FRIDAY – JENN BLAIR COLLINS – Requested by Christine & Roland Kilchling
SATURDAY – FOR THE INTENTIONS OF WANDA WROBEL – Requested by the Parish Staff
Our senior choir practices on Tuesday evenings, from 7:30 to 9:00 PM and leads community song at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass. Our junior choir practices on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 PM and leads the music at the 12:30 PM Mass.
We always welcome new voices and hope you will consider joining us! For more information, please contact Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome Phoenix Raphael Pollastrone who received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, September 16th, 2018. Congratulations to him and his Family!
On Sunday, September 30th 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.
Thursday, September 27th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM, Saturday, October 6th from 2.30 PM to 4:00PM.
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:
Thursday, September 27th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM, Saturday, October 6th from 2.30 PM to 4:00 PM.
Please Note: 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.
Began Sunday, September 9th 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 next class will be this Sunday, September 23rd at 10:00 AM.
Please note that a separate Sacramental registrationform is required if your child will receive the sacraments of First Communion, Reconciliation or Confirmation during the 2018/19 year. These forms are also available in the parish office.
Good Shepherd provides hot meals and shelter for the homeless in our city. Rosalie Hall assists young parents and their children by providing a wide range of child development, community, residential and educational services.
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.
Your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses next weekend. Each month, the casseroles are picked up early on Monday morning for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are needed to help feed the hungry in our city. We encourage you to pick up a copy of a casserole recipe and a pan and give it a try. Three recipes are available on St. Gabriel’s web site. Printed copies of the recipes are also available in the Parish Office. For more information, you may contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.
Tuesday, September 25th at 7:00 PM
Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home, 211 Langstaff Rd. East, Thornhill
Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Services invite you to join them at Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home for upcoming seminars. You will learn how to explore your grief, experience healing and renew your faith. The seminar will take place on Tuesday, September 25th at 7:00 PM. Please RSVP to 416 733-8544 ext. 2047.
St. Joseph Morrow Park is holding an Information Night for students who are entering secondary school. It will be held on Thursday, October 4th 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.
Thursday, October 18th at 7:00 PM St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church,
Celebrate your love and take a fresh look at your marriage! Spend a very special weekend together. A Weekend of discovery…a lifetime of love! Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a weekend getaway that helps married couples rediscover themselves as individuals and as a couple. The Weekend formathelps couples communicate openly and honestly without group sharing, therapy or marriage counseling.
For more information and application, please go to or contact Gerard & Marge McCauley at or (905) 792-1925.
Workshop Reminders – Sundays from 1:30 to 3:00 PM with Cameron
September 23rd Attracting Bats, Bees Birds and Other Beneficial Wildlife
September 30th Cultivating Mushrooms (Oyster)
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