May 6th, 2024
God has given our church enough ministerial vocations. Many of them have been given to women. Fatima Lee received one of those calls. Born in Hong Kong supported by a mother who believed in education, Fatima’s call to serve God was shaped when as a young women she left Hong Kong to study theology at Louvain in Belgium. Her vocation to serve the church was put on hold when she married Bernard and together they raised their two sons, eventually settling in Toronto. In the course of time she found her way back into ministry and served the People of God in a parish for many years. The sudden death of her husband eight years ago resurrected her original vocation to be a missionary. When the Archdiocese of Toronto invited local priests to serve in the north, Fatima asked Bishop Kasun if they would sponsor a layperson.
Six years ago she began a new chapter in the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith. She serves as the Diocesan Religious Education Coordinator, creating and offering sacramental preparation programs for catechists, working with lay leaders and on various projects for the Bishop.
But her true heart’s work is as the spiritual leader of Village of Gameti where she shares reflections on scripture and leads their Sunday communion service whenever she can.
When I first visited the village with her, I thought of the winter north as something similar to their picturesque winter castle festival. The ice road is seen from the air as a straightforward, simple, smooth drive. But accompanying Fatima this year, I have begun to see that ministering in the north is a mix of breathtaking beauty and heartbreaking challenges.
On Wednesday of Holy Week, we drove the 300 km six-hour winter ice road to Gameti. Driving the winter ice road captures ministry in the north better than any other experience. We went through sections of forest surrounded by skeletons of trees destroyed by the fires.
Across vast frozen lakes where you could look down at a meter of the bluest ice fractured by fissures reflecting the sunlight at all angles.
Later using her hand drawn map of Mageti, Fatima explained the many different family ties and connections and I caught a glimpse of their closeness as well as similar fissures and fractures running through the four generations who have settled there. Her love of these people and her desire to serve them has inspired her many trips to St. Paul’s church over these years.
We like to think of ourselves as Easter people, but the people of the North, in many ways, have bonded more with Good Friday. Last year, we celebrated Cory Junior’s baptism. This year, Chantal introduced us to the newest member of the family. Cai is only a month old, but he’s already been on the winter ice road returning after his birth in Yellowknife. There will be health challenges in Cai’s future, but for now, he is simply being loved. And Fatima will be there to support this family as they work through those challenges.
On Good Friday we learned that the winter road was closed to day time travel. That kind of setback is a familar event to this ministerial pioneer. Fatima has had to deal with having many of her hopes for growth closed for different reasons. On Easter Sunday, it snowed all afternoon, and the wind shaped new drifts in the yard outside the trailer. Thankfully the snow ended around 9 pm, and a guardian angel had left tracks for us to follow.
Gone was the beautiful clear ice.. the open skies. The lakes and the forest we travelled through were now snow-covered, and the night was silent.
Gazing out into the landscape lit only by our headlights, Fatima remarked that having faith and ministering in the north was like driving the winter road at night. You can only see what the headlights show you. Only by trusting and moving forward will you discover that God has prepared a path for you.
Written by Fr. Tim Boyle for Faithfully. Fr. Tim is the Vicar for Clergy for the Diocese of Calrgary, and he also serves as the Bishop’s Delegate.
| Posted in Events |
May 4th, 2024
Please join us to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the ordinations of Fr. Stephen Dunn, C.P. and Fr. Bernard McEachern, C.P. this Sunday, May 5th, 2024. There will be a reception after the 12:30PM Mass with an opportunity to congratulate Fr. Steve and Fr. Bernard on this milestone and to share our gratitude for all that they have contributed to the life of St. Gabriel’s Parish.
The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in our parish on Sunday May 19th, 2024 at 3:00 PM. In preparation for this Sacrament, a Confirmation retreat will be held here on Saturday, May 18th, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Candidates are reminded to bring a signed letter from their service Ministry Coordinator or a parent stating the completion or anticipated completion of volunteer service hours.
May 6th – May 12th, 2024
MONDAY – LYDIA MCGRANN – Requested by Ron & Anne Ackber TUESDAY WEDNESDAY – LAU KOON TING ✞ – Requested by Linda Law & Family THURSDAY – ALEMMA THOMAS ✞ – Requested by The Family FRIDAY – THE DESTITUTE, THE SICK, AND THE DYING – Requested by Lydia McGrann SATURDAY – RICHARD – Requested by Jack & Wanda Wrobel SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – FR. JOSEPH PAUL ✞ – Requested by Sophie & Candida Pereira SUNDAY – 12:30 PM
6th Sunday of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 10.25-26, 34-35, 44-48 2nd Reading: 1 John 4.7-10 Gospel: John 15.9-17 – No Greater Love
As stewards, we are called to befriend Christ and lay down our lives for Him for there is “no greater love than this.” Since it’s unlikely that we’ll be called to martyrdom, we are instead called to lay down our lives by sacrificing our own wills and own comforts for the sake of the Kingdom. Let us strive to accomplish this through a renewed commitment to stewardship.
Live the Gospel by supporting our vulnerable brothers and sisters.
We call upon your compassionate hearts to support ShareLife. Through your love, Catholic agencies bring the hands of Christ to the most vulnerable members of our community.
Thus far we have raised $36,905 toward our goal of $193,500. Please give at the parish using a ShareLife envelope, online through our parish website, or at sharelife.org/donate.
Weekend of May 12th, 2024
Chalice is coming to St. Gabriel’s Passionist parish! Canada’s largest Catholic Child Sponsorship organization will provide you the opportunity to begin a relationship with a child in the developing world through the benefits of Child Sponsorship. It is a powerful way to reveal God’s love for those most in need. Please visit chalice.ca for more information about Chalice and its mission.
Saturday, May 11th, 2024, 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Hosted by Father Ed Murphy at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church – 3220 Bayview Ave. Toronto M2M 3R7. This retreat is presented at no cost. Email the parish office to register – office@blessedtrinityparish.ca
SEPTEMBER 8–15, 2024
Join the Archdiocese of Toronto Delegation!
Traditionally every four years, the Holy Father invites pilgrims from around the world to join in an International Eucharistic Congress. This year’s event will take place in Quito, Ecuador from September 8–15, 2024. Limited spaces are available for pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Toronto to join with other Canadian delegates to travel to Ecuador. To learn more about the pilgrimage, visit www.archtoronto.org/iec. Registration deadline is June 6 with early bird pricing available until May 6, 2024.
On January 21, 2024, Pope Francis inaugurated a Year of Prayer ahead of the 2025 Jubilee, calling on the faithful “to pray more fervently to prepare ourselves to live properly this grace-filled event and to experience the power of hope in God.”
The Year of Prayer, the Holy Father explained, is dedicated “to rediscovering the great value and absolute need for prayer, prayer in personal life, in the life of the Church, prayer in the world.”
Visit http://www.archtoronto.org/prayer for more information on this event.
Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Your food donations are always so important as numbers of people in need continue to increase.
Rosalie Hall is an accredited children’s mental health facility focusing on the needs of pregnant and parenting youth ages 12-25, their children, and their families.
Good Shepherd provides hot meals, clean clothes and shelter for the homeless in our city They help find housing and provide follow up support. They support the homeless who are working to overcome addictions and provide a chance to start again through the Resettlement or DARE Programs.
Please check the expiry date before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 51 casseroles last month.
Good Shepherd provides more than 240,000 meals a year to people who would otherwise go hungry. Please think about volunteering to help feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. Three different recipes are available in the Parish Office or online at the Parish website. Casserole pans are also available in the Parish Office.
Your support is a tremendous help and is appreciated in the fight to end hunger and chronic homelessness. For more information, you may contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
May 5 to 10, 2024
“We Are Called To Love”
During Catholic Education Week (May 5 – 10, 2024), we give thanks for the gift of publicly funded Catholic Education in our province. Catholic schools foster supportive communities where children can experience the joy of God’s love and understand the Christian mission in the world. Together, our parishes, educators and families sow and nurture the seeds of faith with the next generation of Catholics, encouraging them to live lives of holiness and Christian witness as one body in Christ. To indicate your support of Catholic education and sign-up for email updates, visit: www.togetherinfaith.ca.
If you are planning to be a teacher, it is important for you to know that to be hired to teach in any Catholic school board in Ontario, there must be a letter of reference from your pastor as part of your application. The letter explaining that you belong to and participate in the community cannot be written if your pastor does not know you. It is recommended that you have a conversation with him early in the process well before the applications are to be submitted.
St. Gabriel’s Parish has received a Canada Summer Jobs grant from the federal government for a Youth Gardening Helper, to assist with gardening tasks 30 hours per week for 9 weeks, beginning mid-May. Work can include, but not be limited to watering, weeding, planting, transplanting, soil preparation, pruning, harvesting, mulching, cleaning up debris and care of garden tools. Applications will be accepted until May 8, 2024.
To apply, please send your resume to francisng@stgabrielsparish.ca.
The Spring issue of our newsletter “Growing News” is now available from the home page and the Garden Ministry page of the Parish website. We hope you will enjoy it and look forward to your “letters to the editor”.
If you would like to receive the latest copy as soon as it is printed send us an email and we will gladly put you on our email list. Email us at: garden@stgabrielsparish.ca
If you are an experienced gardener, or interested in learning and would like volunteer or take on the leadership of St. Gabriel’s community garden, growing vegetables for the Good Shepherd Ministries, please get in touch. You will be welcomed with open arms.
To volunteer or to obtain more information please email garden@stgabrielsparish.ca
Who do you think Maurice and Bertrand might be? Hint: We are celebrating them.
| Posted in Bulletin |
April 27th, 2024
Please join us to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the ordinations of Fr. Stephen Dunn, C.P. and Fr. Bernard McEachern, C.P. on Sunday May 5th, 2024. There will be a reception after the 12:30PM Mass with an opportunity to congratulate Fr. Steve and Fr. Bernard on this milestone and to share our gratitude for all that they have contributed to the life of St. Gabriel’s Parish.
Meeting appointments for children who are registered and preparing to receive their First Communion are now available.
Meetings are ongoing and will continue until Thursday, May 2nd. They are scheduled every 15 minutes from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 to book your appointment if you have not already done so.
April 29th – May 5th, 2024
MONDAY – TUESDAY – LESLIE CLARKE – Requested by Karen Crichton WEDNESDAY – CHIARA INTINI ✞ – Requested by Carmina & Aldo Filice THURSDAY – FR. BERNARD & FR. STEVE – Requested by Isabel, Jenny & Leonore FRIDAY – LIBERO VECCHIARELLI ✞ – Requested by Mary Papadatos SATURDAY – ALLAN PERSAUD ✞ – Requested by The Family SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – ANGELO DI FLUMERI ✞ – Requested by His Family SUNDAY – 12:30 PM
Last weekend 36 of our youth group members prepared and distributed 130 bagged lunches and 4 milk bag mats across downtown Toronto. They were accompanied by Fr. Dennis.
5th Sunday of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 9.26-31 2nd Reading: 1 John 3.18-24 Gospel: John 15.1-8 – Jesus the True Vine
In today’s Gospel Jesus says “Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.” We can abide in Jesus by placing ourselves in His presence whenever we pray and He likewise abides in us, especially through receiving Him in the Eucharist. This close relationship with Jesus is where our stewardship originates and is sustained so let us never fail to go to Him before we offer up our time and talents to the parish.
Share the love with our beloved seniors through ShareLife. ShareLife Sunday
Last year, ShareLife supporters like you offered quality care and companionship to over 2,300 vulnerable seniors.
“The largest thank you to all ShareLife donors for your continued generosity! With your support, our centre is able to provide assistance to seniors in need through our community programs.” – Jaymie Daunt, LA Centre for Active Seniors
The third ShareLife Sunday of the year is June 2. We ask you to share your blessings through the parish or at sharelife.org/donate.
Thank you for living the Gospel!
Please give at the parish using a ShareLife envelope, online through our parish website, or at sharelife.org/donate.
Your frozen casseroles will be collected at all Masses this weekend.
May 5, 2024 — “We Are Called To Love”
Our Community is enjoined to help them design their logo.
Entries will be received from March 22nd to April 30th. (Closing date extended from April 15th, 2024) The winning logo design will be announced on May 4th. Details are posted on the bulletin boards.
Where in the church will you find the symbol of “I am the vine; you are the branches.” John 15:5a
Hint: Look beyond the red globe.
April 20th, 2024
Meetings will begin next Wednesday, April 24th and continue until Thursday, May 2nd. They are scheduled every 15 minutes from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
April 22nd – April 28th, 2024
MONDAY – HUI SOU LIN ✞ – Requested by Linda Law & Family TUESDAY – MARY VALAVI ✞ – Requested by The Valavi Family WEDNESDAY – CHIARA INTINI ✞ – Requested by Annibale & Oakie Family THURSDAY FRIDAY – ELSIE LIN ✞ – Requested by Mary Chan SATURDAY SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – MERYLLA LAGUNO ✞ – Requested by Elsa Soriaso SUNDAY – 12:30 PM
4th Sunday of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 4.7-12 2nd Reading: 1 John 3.1-2 Gospel: John 10.11-18 – Jesus the Good Shepherd
As stewards, we are called to imitate Jesus in all ways, including His role as the Good Shepherd. The most important step in effectively shepherding others is to first become a holy sheep in Jesus’ flock. God also calls many people to more closely shepherd His people in the priesthood and through our prayers, we can help young men answer the call.
Our youth group will be preparing and distributing sandwiches across downtown Toronto this Sunday April 21st. All interested youth ages 12 & up may contact youth@stgabrielsparish.ca for more information and to register.
Invest in our Church’s future by giving to ShareLife ShareLife Sunday is April 28th
There will be a ShareLife collection next weekend.
Your kindness and devotion enable St. Augustine’s Seminary, along with the Office of Vocations and Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary, to provide an excellent formation for our seminarians as they pursue a life of service. This past year, you invested in our Church’s future by supporting 58 seminarians at St. Augustine’s Seminary and Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary.
This Sunday, April 21st, we celebrate the 61st World Day of Prayer for Vocations. There has never been a better time to support and pray for our seminarians, wherever they may be on their journey. Please give at the parish using a ShareLife envelope, online through our parish website, or at sharelife.org/donate.
Your frozen casseroles will be collected at all Masses next weekend.
Earth Day is Monday, April 22nd, 2024! The theme of Earth Day 2024 is “Planet vs Plastics”. Get informed about how plastic production, consumption and disposal are impacting human and planetary health”. Educate yourself about “Our Throwaway Culture”! Take action, reduce plastic pollution and care for creation! Together for our common home!
What concrete actions can you take individually or collectively to respond to the Cry of the Earth? End plastic pollution NOW! Build a plastic-free planet for future generations! For ideas, visit https://www.earthday.org
Hosted by Father Ed Murphy at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church – 3220 Bayview Ave. Toronto M2M 3R7. This retreat is presented at no cost. Email the parish office to register – office@blessedtrinityparish.ca.
St. Gregory of Narek, a revered saint in the Oriental Orthodox Church, has recently come into our Roman Catholic liturgical calendar. Join Archbishop Francis Leo and Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan (Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Canada) who will co-preside at a jointly prepared Armenian Vespers to celebrate this remarkable event on Saturday, April 27th, 2024 at 6:00 PM, hosted at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church on 920 Progress Ave., Scarborough, Ont. M1G 3T5. A wide representation of church leaders in the Greater Toronto Area is expected at this event.
The Garden Ministry would like to invite you to help us celebrate and partake in Earth Day. After each mass this weekend come join us for 10 minutes to clean up our beloved garden by picking up all the garbage that has been scattered over the winter months.
We will have a table set up in the main entrance where you can pick up a glove and a small garbage bag. There will be a garbage can outside of the parish office doors for you to dispose of the garbage and glove before you leave.
Come help us celebrate Earth Day and take part in helping to clean up a small part of the world that we so lovingly share with our community. Looking forward to seeing you in the garden and don’t forget to take the time to admire the first signs of spring.
If you were a geep or a shoat, would the good shepherd lay down his life for you? Hint: Hybrid
April 13th, 2024
Our youth group will be preparing and distributing sandwiches across downtown Toronto next weekend on Sunday April 21st. All interested youth ages 12 & up may contact youth@stgabrielsparish.ca for more information and to register.
April 15th – April 21st, 2024
MONDAY – RUDY TRULLI TUESDAY – SUSAN BURR ✞ – Requested by The Taylor Family WEDNESDAY – WILLIAM McGUIRE ✞ THURSDAY – TINA INTINI ✞ – Requested by The Family FRIDAY – JARL-ERIK NYLUND ✞ – Requested by Luisa Nylund SATURDAY – DOSKO MILLIMONKA ✞ – Requested by Mary Anne Barnes SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – LEAH FERNANDES ✞ – Requested by Lynette Fernandes
Through ShareLife, you help refugees find safety and freedom
Your generous gift to ShareLife is crucial for immigrants and refugees establishing a new life in Canada. Your love and support have not only provided them with safety and freedom, but have also given them the opportunity to create a brighter future in our community.
3rd Sunday of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 3.13-15, 17-19 2nd Reading: 1 John 2.1-5 Gospel: Luke 24.35-48 – Jesus Appears to the Disciples
We all love having friends and since we know what it is like to befriend other humans, we can extend this same means of friendship to Jesus because he too is fully human. However, this friendship doesn’t remain like all of our other friendships but is elevated to the status of being friends with God, since Jesus is also fully God. As stewards, let us take some time each day in prayer to converse with Jesus as we would a close friend and by doing so, enjoy friendship with God.
Join us for St. Gabriel’s Social Justice Movie Club and Discussion Group.
The first movie for viewing is “Kiss the Ground”, available through Netflix, YouTube and Google Play.
“Kiss the Ground” reveals that, by regenerating the world’s soils, we can completely and rapidly stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems and create abundant food supplies. Using compelling graphics and visuals, along with striking NASA and NOAA footage, the film artfully illustrates how, by drawing down atmospheric carbon, soil is the missing piece of the climate puzzle. This movie is positioned to catalyze a movement to accomplish the impossible – to solve humanity’s greatest challenge, to balance the climate and secure our species’ future.
You choose your level of participation, from simply watching the movie at home to having a thoughtful and illuminating discussion with other parishioners at the following date, time and place.
Gabriel Room on Wednesday April 17 at 7:30 PM
The movie has to be viewed at home and only the discussion will take place on April 17th.
Please contact the office if you have any questions regarding the Movie Club.
Saturday, May 11th, 2024, 9:30 am to 11:30 am.
February 5th to April 15th, 2024
Theme: “This is a time when the world needs more love and compassion than ever.”
High school students (ages 13–19 years) in Catholic School Boards located in the Archdiocese of Toronto are invited to participate in this annual event that commemorates United Nations International Human Fraternity Day on February 4 every year. Students are encouraged to make a 3-minute video encapsulating the theme. They are encouraged to follow the guiding rules provided on the Catholic Register website and submit their entries by filling the details on the submission form located here: https://www.catholicregister.org/videocontest
CONTACT: interreligious@archtoronto.org or call 416-934-3400 ext. 527 for more information or questions.
Vespers Celebrating St. Gregory of Narek as ‘Abbot and Doctor of the Catholic Church’
Brebeuf College School is celebrating its 60th anniversary and invites alumni back to the school for a Pub Night Reunion on Friday, May 3rd, 2024 from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
On Sunday, May 5th, 2024 there will be a Mass, Barbecue, and Open House for alumni, students, staff, and their families. The Mass Celebrant is Archbishop Terence Prendergast, S.J. For more information or to RSVP, please email fmacgrath@gtigolf.com.
St. Gabriel’s Garden Ministry would like to invite you to join us in the Gardens to help us accomplish the numerous tasks required to get the garden ready for the summer season.
Members of the ministry will be mixing compost into the community boxes, pruning/propagating, removing unsightly garden fabric, and installing rain barrels.
Please come out and join us to complete these tasks or feel free to pick your own chore.
Entries will be received from March 22nd to April 15th. The winning logo design will be announced on May 4th. Details are posted on the bulletin boards.
What kind of tree wishes you a good day?
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 »
Listen to the audio
Watch Fr. Paul Cusack’s Funeral Mass (video)
Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk