CIRCULAR TO PARISHIONERS WEEK 29 - DEC 18, 2004
Busy week for the parish of St. Martin of Tours.
The Choir (recently forced out) and the Knights of Columbus (recently forced out) continue to provide
valuable services within our Parish community. The two choir concerts attracted an attendance of
800. As a result of the concerts and the panettone sales, the combined forces of the Choir and Knights
raised over $9,000.00 for charities and local needy causes this week. Recipients will include Interim
Place, the Women’s Shelter on Cawthra Road, Credit Valley Hospital Breast Cancer Research Centre
and Canadian Missions of Canada. Generous parishioners also donated gifts to Birthright and the Food
Bank.
This is evidence of the spirit and generosity of our parishioners and friends, motivated by the spirit of
Christ living within us and through us. Our parish has always had such spirit and will continue to express
it in spite of setbacks.
The reaction of parishioners is demonstrated in these two sample unsolicited letters.
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THANK YOU! 16 December 2004
Thank you to Fergus Egan, for so generously sharing his time, his effort, and his talent, to bring us this
wonderful evening of Christmas Music. I am sure that all who attended, left enriched.
Thank you to Stephen Hurley. It was wonderful to hear your music, again. You have been missed at
Sunday Mass.
Thank you to Bertine Jerry, and the Handbell Choir. A wonderful addition.
Thank you to all the choir members, who have persevered, and remained part of this rich tradition.
Thank you to the principal of St. Martins High School, for providing the venue.
Thank you to the Knights of Columbus, who have managed to continue to raise funds for their charities,
even though they have been denied recognition within the church.
Thank you to all who attended, and helped the Knights attain their goal. The presence of so many
members of the community confirms that we, who yearn to return to the joy and warmth and comfort,
of a united parish are not a "small few", or an "insignificant group".
The smiles of joy, on the faces of the choir, was matched only by the smiles of those in attendance.
How wonderful to spend an evening hearing voices raised in praise of the Lord, and the joy of the
season.
Thank you to Father Paul, for his continued support.
This evening proved that we are a community, that the brotherhood, and caring, that existed in St.
Martin of Tours Parish, for so many years, has not been snuffed out.
I thank you for this gift, this evening. This gift of peace, and harmony and joy. Thank you for once
again, validating our struggle.
Last week's bulletin, included the quote from Matthew 11:6 - "Happy are those who do not lose faith in
me." That was evident this evening.
Lynda Deganis
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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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THE LANGUAGE OF JOY AND SORROW
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Excerpts from a parishioner’s letter dated 17 December, 2004, to Bishop Boissonneau.
Rejoice, your Grace,
The Knights (of Columbus) are still active, doing charitable work, in spite of being told to get off church
property. Do you know who put the greatest effort into this charitable drive (sales of panettone)? The
three knights that the pastor wants evicted from the council, the same knights that go out on food drives,
the same knights that get up at 4:30 am to plough the church parking lot for free.
Parishioners attended a Christmas concert on Thursday given by the ex-Choir that is still together.
There were parishioners of every nationality all speaking the same language of Charity, Christmas Joy,
and (sadly mixed with) St. Martin’s Parish language of Sorrow. We got together in a school hall
because our mainstream location, the Church Hall, is out of bounds. I imagined how the early
Christians felt when they worshipped together in the catacombs outside the mainstream of those days.
Your Grace, I know that this might fall on deaf ears once again. Trusting in your wisdom I hope it does
not. Revitalize the parish with some sort of action. The Christmas spirit is not in St. Martin’s.
Charles Muscat
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ST. MARTIN OF TOURS REAPPEARS ON ARCHDIOCESAN WEBSITE
Last week our parish was missing from the list of parishes on the Archdiocesan website. Following the
publication of our news circular, the listing reappeared by Tuesday. Thank you!
Could you also update or remove the parish website address data? The link fails to connect.
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SHARING AND CARING
Christmas comes but once a year, but those in need are with us all year long. Your weekly
contributions can make a big difference to the poor and needy served by these charities:
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
We wish all our readers and contributors, near and far,
A Joyous and Blessed Christmas.
We will see you in the New Year!
