CIRCULAR TO PARISHIONERS WEEK 32 - JAN 08, 2005
Happy New Year!
…to the parishioners of St. Martin of Tours and to our faithful readers far and wide.
We look forward to 2005, the year that will fulfill the promises made in 2004.
May it be the year for us all to renew and re-evaluate our greatest possession - our
faith.
The Christmas Season saw many activities come to a successful conclusion.
St. Martin’s people have demonstrated their love by their generous caring and giving
to others in the season of Christmas just passed. Our hard-working Knights of
Columbus demonstrated the love of St. Martin’s parishioners by distributing clothing,
food and toys to the needy. They had gross sales of $5000 for the panettone
fundraiser, and the (expelled) Choir’s two Christmas Concerts also
raised money and spirits in the Christmas season. Privately, many people donated to
Birthright’s “Blanket for the Manger” as in previous years.
Another Christmas initiative was the Christmas card to the Bishop. 127 women of
our parish sent Bishop Boissonneau a Christmas greeting, inviting him to visit. We
hope he accepts the invitation. He had, after all, promised to come in September
2004. He had told many people this.
With a new year comes the hope of renewal - the promise of spiritual rebirth. Our
focus is now on our future.
Watch this space for news of upcoming events.
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WHAT IS IT TO BE A CHRISTIAN?
The ONE GOD, who has existed from all eternity is merciful and gracious, and is
described in Sacred Scripture as TRUTH and LOVE (Catechism of the Catholic
Church). Then let us be the Pillars of Truth and the Bastions of Love. How? By
what we profess in our ACTIONS, by how we LIVE OUR LIVES.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and
with all your mind: This is the great and first Commandment. And the second is
like it, you shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Matthew 22:37. “Love is patient
and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not
insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong,
but rejoices in the right” Cor 13:4. “Whoever does not love does not know God,
because God is love... And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is
love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him”. I John 4:8 & 16.
Therefore, who among us are Christian?
The Son of man recognises us as the “Blessed of my Father - for I was hungry and
you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you
welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was
in prison and you came to me” . Matt 25:31
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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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DISASTER RELIEF
Disaster relief is hot news now. People are responding with great generosity. But
which organization is “right” for my donation? There are many good organizations,
and there are some not so good, and then again, there are good organizations that are
less than efficient in their administration. Of course, it is your own personal choice. In
the past few weeks we have taken a hard look at the major players, even to the point
of talking with directors and representatives of some of them.
Today, we profile CANADIAN FOOD FOR CHILDREN.
Some of our parishioners are current long-term volunteers with this organization.
Unlike some big-name organizations with high administrative overheads, Canadian
Food For Children does not have expensive corporate offices, or costly
television/media advertising . In obtaining relief goods, this organization skillfully
obtains a lot of material by way of over-produced surplus or “seconds” and
professional samples. It succeeds in obtaining goods to a value in excess of their
spending. Where many other organizations incur 20% or more in administration costs,
(resulting in only 80% or less of your dollar going to actual relief), for every $1 sent to
Canadian Food For Children, MORE than a dollar’s worth goes to relief. This
organization provides food and clothing to 47 different countries. Items are sent
through the organization's founders Dr. Andrew and Mrs. Joan Simone in Toronto
and are distributed to 47 mission groups around the world. In addition to monetary
donations, they accept goods such as food, clothing, hospital, medical and school
supplies. The Order of Canada was recently conferred on Andrew and Joan Simone,
who have helped thousands of children worldwide.
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APPALLED, PUZZLED (Letter to the bishop)
Dear Sir
Driving by St. Martin’s parking lot, I was appalled to see that the Knights of
Columbus were holding their annual Christmas Cake sales outside, in minus twenty
temperatures. I was even more astounded when I heard that this is because the local
Pastor does not want the Knights in “his” parish hall.
I have two questions for you:
1) Does this meet with your approval?
2) What do you intend to do to rectify the incredible situation currently afflicting the
Parish of St. Martin’s in Mississauga”
I look forward to a reply.
Regards,
Luigi F. Colizza, Burlington, Ontario
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(Reply from the Bishop dated Tue. 21 Dec. 2004)
Dear Mr. Colizza:
I wish to acknowledge your e-mail message on the matter of St. Martin of Tours
parish in Mississauga and assure you that the situation while complex is reaching a
solution.
Have a happy Christmas.
Bishop John Boissonneau
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