CIRCULAR TO PARISHIONERS WEEK 57 - JULY 2, 2005
TO B. - BUT NOT TO SEE?
Many parishioners have recently written letters to Auxiliary Bishop Boissonneau. Why? Parishioners are still
being subjected to irrational and abusive behaviour by the pastor. (Pastor: A shepherd; one who has the care
of flocks and herds). There are many parishes under the jurisdiction of Bishop Boissonneau. Their pastors
all obey him; some even respect him. So why is he so powerless to implement his own directives in St.
Martin’s? Which is the bully and which is the bullee?
Lest you think this is hyperbole, let’s revisit the bishop’s letter to the Parish, dated 23 June, 2004. Do you
remember it? It was read at all the Sunday Masses and distributed with the parish bulletin one year ago. In
reviewing it, one wonders if the bishop had any intention of “goodwill” when he drafted it. His promises
have not been implemented; and the pastor continues to harass and bully parishioners notwithstanding
that “by ordination (he) represents Jesus, Head and shepherd”. Does the bishop continue to stand by this?
He continued - “your pastor, Father Octavio Beltran, continues to enjoy the confidence and support of the
Archdiocese”? The final paragraph offered some hope - “I am committed to dialogue and resolving of
any problems in the parish and I invite everyone of goodwill to enter with me and your pastor into this
trust of the Lord Jesus.”. Hello! - many people of goodwill have attempted this, and all have been
rebuffed. The latest attempt, which was reported last week, is one more example of dashed hope. Maybe
the bishop, in regarding his own “special interest” has “lost sight of the unity and solidarity which are the
foundations of ecclesial life and the sources of communion in the family of God.”
We continue to draw strength from the Gospel, so aptly stated in last week’s “Reflection” - “One must
love the Lord with all one’s heart, mind, soul and strength”. Jesus is saying that the love of God will place
all relationships in their proper order. Amen!
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Letter to the Bishop: June 20, 2005
I read with appreciation your address to the priests of the third millennium, given at the Serra International
convention in Toronto, and published in Catholic Trends. Your statements were beautiful and inspirational.
If the pastor in our parish, i.e. St. Martin of Tours, took your words to heart, and put them into practice,
perhaps our parish would once again enjoy the love, and harmony of the past.
Our key moments - marriage, sickness and suffering, funerals - are no longer celebrations of our faith, but
a painful awareness of the lack of Christian charity currently inflicting our parish. Perhaps your entire
address should be mandatory reading, on a regular basis, for all priests in the diocese. We, in the parish of
St. Martin of Tours, would welcome the implementation of the practices outlined in your statement, with
open arms and renewed hope.
Signed: (name of parishioner withheld)
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Dear Bishop, June 25, 2005
Of late we have had announcements from the pulpit, the parish bulletin, and a guest speaker (from
Scarborough!) The latest is a mailed message from the parish priest. All these messages have one theme:
Sacrificial Giving. Apparently, the amount we contribute is a direct reflection of our relationship with God.
In other words, the more we love God,the more we will give. Tithing (5% -10%) is suggested as being
appropriate. Further, we are urged to put these contributions ahead of all other necessary spending (food,
clothing, shelter, etc.). God, we are told, will provide.
The parishioners of St. Martin of Tours have always given generously. As a result, the parish's bank balance
was very healthy. We also gave generously to Share Life. In fact, one year we gave more than any other
parish in the diocese. Please note, Bishop, that all this was done despite our previous pastor urging us always
to put our families first.
Do you sometimes wonder if perhaps the present pastor is the cause of the drought? Don Hoffland)
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GIVING IS RECEIVING
We care about our Parish. We encourage parishioners to visit our church to spend time in private prayer, to
pray that God will return us to a loving unified community. Stay focused on God’s will and live the Gospel.
We care about, and care for, those in need. Here are some charitable organizations worthy of our support:
1. Catholic Missions in 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, ON M8X 1L3
5. Ian Anderson House, 430 Winston Churchill Blvd. Oakville, Ont. L6J 7X2
6. Solidarite-Sud (Haiti), c/o Maison Alonzo Wright, 2425A St-Louis St., Gatineau QC J8V 1E7
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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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