CIRCULAR TO PARISHIONERS WEEK 63 - AUG. 13, 2005
A SIGNIFICANT DATE!
On Tuesday, August 9th, the church doors were wide open, which parishioners took as a symbol of a new
breath of fresh air entering our parish. A new feeling – how wonderful!
Thank you, Fr. Romi, for your excellent understanding and compassionate homilies. You welcomed
everyone to unify anew and with love forgive past hurts and shortcomings done to the other, extending to the
priest and bishop.
There is a marked change in atmosphere. More people are coming out to daily Mass. The word is out.
Parishioners feel free to greet each other again, full of hope. “Is it over?” “Will we now return to the joyful,
caring atmosphere our parish once enjoyed?
Seize the day – a new opportunity!
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THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY?
• Is it over?
• Will things change?
• Have we been deliberately left hanging?
No one knows what to expect. Parishioners are still writing to mail@saveourparish.com to express their
feelings about the Cardinal’s recent letter to parishioners. Here is an example:
Dear Cardinal Ambrozic,
I was disappointed to read your letter to parishioners published in the July 31/05 church bulletin.
After all the sadness and sorrow this parish has had to endure over the past five years you now send
the pastor on temporary leave.
You acknowledge your full support of the pastor and the pastoral policies that he initiated during his tenure.
Many parishioners now fear the pastor's repressive policies will become the norm at St. Martin's. If this is
the case kindly explain to me why neighbouring parishes like St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Joseph's, Merciful
Redeemer, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine's, St. Dominic's, and St. Francis Xavier are so vibrant, happy,
caring and loving while we at St. Martin's are so sad and full of despair. Surely one must recognize that a
pastor, a true shepherd to his flock, is the inspiration and drive behind any successful church.
Six years ago St Martin's was considered a jewel within the archdiocese. The parish surpassed all
others in ShareLife contributions, it remained debt free and almost one million dollars was placed in the
chancery reserve. Today, St. Martin's has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Although the parish is
currently debt free, it did not meet the 2005 ShareLife goal and the reserve fund is in rapid free-fall.
The present congregation and those parishioners who have left for the short term, hope and pray that you
will appoint a loving and caring administrator who will return St. Martin’s to its former happiness.
Yours truly
(signed by a parishioner)
.
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FROM THE RATZINGER REPORT (Published 1985 Ignatius Press)
• “A statement is either true or false. Truth can only be found, not created.”
• “The saints were all people of imagination, not functionaries of apparatuses… And
• the Church - I shall never tire of repeating it - needs saints more than functionaries.”
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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
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Email: bishop.boissonneau@rogers.com Fax: 416 207-4984.
ambrozic@archtoronto.org Fax: 416 934-3452 .
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