CIRCULAR TO PARISHIONERS WEEK 47 - APR 23, 2005
Chaos and Confusion
First Holy Communion is a very special time, in the life of a child, their parents, family, and extended family.
It is a passage, to the age of reason. As such, it is and should be a celebration. For several weeks, we have
had children from the five parish schools celebrate their First Holy Communion, at each of the Sunday and
Saturday afternoon masses. The children are a delight to see on their special day.
However, on Sunday April 17th, the 12 noon mass was chaotic and mismanaged. Thirty three children were
celebrating their first Holy Communion. Their parents had been given reservations for an unlimited number of
guests. The seating was reserved down to the last few rows of the two centre aisles. Regular parishioners
were soon moved from these last few rows, and later were removed from the seating in the side aisle. One
family had forty five guests to be seated.
Parishioners were told to sit in the crying room. I ask you, how do you fit an entire congregation, in the
crying room? The group of first communicants and their guests, required over 85% of the church. No plan
had been made to accommodate both the regular parishioners and the guests of the communicants. The mass
did not start until 12:25. This extra time was needed to move parishioners out to accommodate the visitors.
Regular parishioners were left to stand. Children's parents were embarrassed because they had been assured
that their guests could all sit together, and many were left standing at the back of the church. Attendees from
all over the GTA, were commenting on how they had never seen such an unorganized congregation.
Father Beltran was waving his arms around, shooing the extraordinary ministers off the altar. He did not
permit them to give out communion, until he personally, and a visiting priest, had given communion to the
children, their families, and all their guests. Only then were they permitted to serve the parishioners. I
understand that the children and their families were being honoured, but surely the extraordinary ministers
could have administered communion at the back of the church for the rest of us. Celebration of mass for
first communion should not require regular parishioners to find another church to attend, for their Sunday
duty. Once again, Father Beltran has shown his utter disregard for his congregation. But today, he did it in
front of several hundred Catholics from parishes all over the GTA.
I pray that God will keep us strong, to see the day when our parish community can once again come together
as a family in Christ - when we can once again feel the brotherhood and goodwill that was such a part of
our community for so many years - when we can once again look at our pastor with respect and caring, and
not feel his rejection. (Letter from a parishioner)
Comment: The 12:00 noon mass concluded around 2:15 pm - as chaotically as it had begun.
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Quote of the Week
“I too, as I start in the service that is proper to the Successor of Peter, wish to affirm with force my decided
will to pursue the commitment to enact Vatican Council II.” (First Message of Pope Benedict XVI)
Full text on: www.vaticanradio.org/inglese/105/en_message.html
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For more information, contact: Aisling Egan 416 671-4710
Pat DeAngelis 416 809-1819 Duncan Walker 905 277-9825
Lucy Pires 905 273-6093 Dunstan Bazely 905 275-3946
Judy Byrnes 905 275-1536 Patricia Russell 905 279-9205
Email: bishop.boissonneau@rogers.com Fax: 416 207-4984
ambrozic@archtoronto.org Fax: 416 934-3452
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St Martin of Tours Parish
Analysis of Revenues and Expenditures 1997 to 2004
1,997 1,998 1,999 2,000 2,001 2,002 2,003 2,004
Summary of Revenues and Expenditures.
Receipts 240,396 249,864 303,976 369,496 351,502 358,577 365,124 292,276
Special Collections 324,328 360,234 293,617 172,823 169,559 187,727 172,351 144,553
Total Revenue 564,724 610,098 597,593 542,319 521,061 546,304 537,475 436,829
-Without Chancery Contrib.
Expenditures -223,550 -207,006 -287,833 -353,812 -374,806 -357,158 -385,586 -365,118
Special Collections -324,328 -360,234 -293,617 -173,787 -169,559 -189,146 -172,351 -144,553
Sent
Net Income (Loss) 16,846 42,858 16,143 14,720 -23,304 0 -20,462 -72,842
Add: Chancery Funding 282,549 87,964 81,487
Less Extraordinary Expenses -282,549 -96,203 0
Reported Income/(Loss) for year 0 -28,701 8,645
Funds held by Chancery
Balance Dec 31, 1999 987,536
2001 From Chancery to Parish -5,160 $5,175 re ShareLife direct deposit to Chancery
2001 To Chancery from Parish 3,462
Funds from Chancery To Parish 2002 -282,549
Funds from Chancery To Parish 2003 -87,964
Funds from Chancery To Parish 2004 -81,487
Balance Dec. 31, 2004 BEFORE Interest 533,838
The full analysis is available in Excel format from mail@saveourparish.com
This is a summary only, of financial data provided by the Parish statements of the past eight years, and is
limited to the information released.
Expenditures have risen 63% since 1997.
Extraordinary Expenses have totalled $370,513 since 2002.
What was the true cost of the building addition? Does that account for $370,513?
The Parish has been drawing heavily from our funds held at the Chancery - $452,000 in three years
Our liquid assets have suffered a negative impact of $495,360 in four years.
WE HAVE DROPPED HALF A MILLION - WHERE IS OUR MONEY GOING?
The pastor has not revealed the bank balance for Dec 31 2004 - i.e. the Current Account and the Chancery
Account.
What is being hidden? Why is it being hidden?
Ask Fr. Beltran, 905 279 5742, email stmartinoftours@on.aibn.com
Ask the Chancery Office, William Dunlop, tel. 416 934 0606 ext 614, email acct_fin@archtoronto.org
Ask Ed Beaudry, Chair of the Finance Council, email edbeaudry@rogers.com
ONLY A FULL INVESTIGATIVE AUDIT CAN ADEQUATELY ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS, and
reveal the TRUE FINANCIAL STATE.
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