CIRCULAR TO PARISHIONERS WEEK 28 - DEC 11, 2004
DISAPPEARING ACT
Yes! We have seen the disappearance of:
St Vincent de Paul Society
The Music Director and Organist
The Choir
The Knights of Columbus
Many Eucharistic Ministers
Many lectors
Many ushers
………. And now we learn that even the altar servers are punished. How? Young altar servers in our
parish are ostracised and prevented from actively participating just because of their family name.
Are we a fast-disappearing parish? Is there an omen in the disappearance of St. Martin of Tours from the
list of parishes on the Archdiocesan website? Check it out at www.archtoronto.org and click on “Site Map
And Search”. It was there last month. But fear not, the Parish is alive and well - on the streets, in the
homes and in the hearts of the people, because the Parish IS the People.
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IT’S A SMALL GROUP – IT’S ALL OVER
The bishop and the Archdiocesan spokesperson continue to state that we are a small group. They are
wrong! Read your mail, Bishop Boissonneau - meet with us and open your eyes. You are right, however,
about it being all over - all over Canada. We are inspired and encouraged by the network of support we
receive.
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EXCERPT FROM Fr. James J. Scahill’s homily given at Worchester, Massachusetts on November 13,
2004 (full text available on www.votf.org ).
“I am convinced that the Jesus who sternly corrected and challenged the Pharisees of his day is, in his Spirit,
leading the charge to destroy the man-made, clerically myopic institutional Church. And from its necessary
implosion there will arise a healthy, truth-captained vessel of God, with people SERVED by its clergy - not
MASTERED by them.”
“‘Competent adults have an obligation to speak about their concerns to Church leaders.’ (Lumen Gentium #4,
Ch.1) The tragic current reality and indictment of our Church leaders is that, as you attempt to voice
concerns, you are barely tolerated. Let us keep going, stay strong, keep pressing, not out of animosity or self-
righteousness, but with justice and fortitude, doing all under God for the sake of Jesus Christ who lived, died
and rose for us.”
“Direct your charity and monetary assistance to those agencies that genuinely help the needy, but withhold
money from the institutional Church. It is the only way they will listen, let alone change. Let us live and die
working toward the threshold of the truly Jesus-centred Christian Catholic Church."
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Email:bishop.boissonneau@rogers.com Fax: 416 207-4984.
His Eminence, Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic Fax: 416 934-3452.
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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YOU SHOULD KNOW ……
PANETTONE PANDEMONIUM - PULEEZE!!
Panettones are still available. Last week, Fr. Beltran (the Spiritual Director of the Knights) came out of the
church after 9:00 am Mass and shouted at the knights. Not content to prohibit them from the Church, he
ordered them off the school parking lot. Since when has raising money for charity become offensive?
In spite of this grinch-like behaviour, the fundraising went extremely well. Lo, and behold! This weekend
the blue light is STILL flashing. GET YOUR PANETTONES NOW AND KEEP CHRISTMAS IN
YOUR HEARTS. Suggested donation $15 in support of local Knights of Columbus charities.
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CHOIR CONCERTS THIS WEEK
First Concert: SUNDAY DEC 12, St. Gregory’s Church, Rathburn & Kipling, 7:30 pm.
Second Concert: THURSDAY DEC 16, St. Martin’s High School, Rosemary Drive, 7:30 pm.
A 26 year tradition is still being maintained. Join your fellow parishioners, family and friends for an evening
of carols and songs old and new. Let your spirit soar in song, in an evening of fellowship and good cheer.
The spirit of St. Martin’s cannot be broken. Dec 16 Concert is to benefit our Knights of Columbus
charities. These include the Breast Cancer Research Centre at Credit Valley Hospital. The Knights’ fund-
raising efforts have been greatly curtailed since they were ejected from St. Martin of Tours Church. A
voluntary contribution will be taken up at the Concert.
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CHRISTMAS CARD LIST
Don’t forget to include the Bishop and the Cardinal. Why not send them your Christmas wishes? Ask when
the Bishop is going to make his visit to our parish. Ask when a Parish Council is going to be established, as
promised. We want our parish restored.
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GIVING AND SHARING
Christmas is a time when we think of others and share with those less fortunate than ourselves. Maybe
Christmas is the time to re-think where your donations can do the most good. The charities we list in our
weekly circular are all familiar to parishioners. They could really use your donation this Christmas.
1. Catholic Missions of Canada, 201-1155 Yonge St., Toronto, Ont. M4T 1W2
2. St. Vincent de Paul Society, 240 Church St., Toronto, Ont. M5B 1Z2
3. Birthright Mississauga, 307-2600 Edenhurst, Mississauga, Ont. L5A 3Z8
4. Dr.Simone’s Canadian Food for Children, 40 King George Rd. Toronto, Ont. M8X 1L3
5. Ian Anderson House, 430 Winston Churchill Blvd. Oakville, Ont. L6J 7X2
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ROGERS CABLE 10 NEWS COVERAGE
Rogers would welcome feedback on their news item about our parish problems, aired on Tuesday Nov 30.
Their response line is 905-897-3994. A follow-up program may follow.
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