Worship in State of Emergency

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As of April 7th, York Region has been under the “state of emergency” to control the spread of COVID-19 with restrictions that also affect to our Parish.

Worship services will continue to be held regularly with a limit of 15% of the chapel’s capacity, mandatory maintenance of a distance of 2m and wearing face masks (more details here: https://www.york.ca/wps/portal/yorkhome/health/yr/covid-19/publichealthsafetymeasures/ and https://www.york.ca/wps/portal/yorkhome/health/yr/covid-19/mandatoryuseoffacemasksandcoverings/).

Sunday lunches as well as any gatherings in the upper hall after Divine Liturgy are, unfortunately, still not allowed.

We will continue to have only one Divine Liturgy on Sundays starting at 10AM.

To ensure that we do not exceed the quota of 15% of the capacity of the chapel, we ask parishioners who want to attend worship services to contact Aleksandar Cvijetinović in advance by email at sashacvijetinovic@gmail.com or text message at 416-993-0647 to be added to the schedule. We kindly request that in case of a change in plans that you please contact Aleksandar in time so that others would be allowed to attend the worship service.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

–  Governing Board of St. Archangel Gabriel Parish in Richmond Hill

Stringent Measures in York Region

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As of February 22, York Region has applied the “Red-Control – Stringent Measures” to control the spread of COVID-19 with restrictions that also affect to our Parish.

Worship services will continue to be held regularly with a limit of 30% of the chapel’s capacity, mandatory maintenance of a distance of 2m and wearing face masks (more details here: https://www.york.ca/wps/portal/yorkhome/health/yr/covid-19/publichealthsafetymeasures/ and https://www.york.ca/wps/portal/yorkhome/health/yr/covid-19/mandatoryuseoffacemasksandcoverings/).

Sunday lunches as well as any gatherings in the upper hall after Divine Liturgy are, unfortunately, still not allowed.

From Sunday, February 28, only one Divine Liturgy will be held on Sundays starting at 10AM.

To ensure that we do not exceed the quota of 30% of the capacity of the chapel, we ask parishioners who want to attend worship services to contact Aleksandar Cvijetinović in advance by email at sashacvijetinovic@gmail.com or text message at 416-993-0647 to be added to the schedule. We kindly request that in case of a change in plans that you please contact Aleksandar in time so that others would be allowed to attend the worship service.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

–  Governing Board of St. Archangel Gabriel Parish in Richmond Hill

Details for Christmas Eve Day and collecting the Badnjak on Jan 6

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On Christmas Eve day, January 6th, the Divine Liturgy will be served at 10AM, followed by the blessing of the Badnjak (Yule log) – for scheduling your attendance at the service that day, please email Sasha Cviejetinovic at sashacvijetinovic@gmail.com to ensure that we keep the 10-person limit in the chapel.

Parishioners will be able to come and pick up their Badnjak branch between 12-6PM that day on a drive-through basis by entering the property though the first gate, passing by the garage where, without leaving or parking their vehicle, a Badnjak branch will be handed out by the on-duty volunteer, and proceed to the exit through the second gate. The Badnjak branches will not be distributed after 6PM!

In order to decrease the number of vehicles, we recommend that our parishioners plan to also pick up the Badnjak branch on behalf of their friends and family too.

Donations prepared in an envelope can also be handed in at that time to the volunteers at the property, or they can be sent by e-transfer at treasury@arhangelgavrilotoronto.com, or mailed in to the address St. Archangel Gabriel Serbian Orthodox Church, 49 North Lake Rd, P.O. Box 2918, Richmond Hill, ON, L4E 1A8

Parishioners unable to come that day, or who have no one to bring the Badnjak branch for them should reach out to Fr. Ljubo at 416-828-4447.

The 10-person quota for the Christmas Eve Vespers starting at 6PM is already full!

On Christmas day, January 7, two Divine Liturgies will be held: the first at 5AM and the second at 10AM. On the second day of Christmas, January 8, and the third day of Christmas, January 9, the Divine Liturgy will be held at 10AM. For scheduling your attendance at any one of the Christmas Liturgies, please email Sasha Cviejetinovic at sashacvijetinovic@gmail.com.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

–  Governing Board of St. Archangel Gabriel Parish in Richmond Hill