CIRCULAR TO PARISHIONERS WEEK 60 - JULY 23, 2005
"HOW CAN WE COMMUNICATE WITH THE LORD, IF WE DON'T
COMMUNICATE AMONG OURSELVES" (Pope Benedict XVI, May 25/05)
On Wednesday May 18, six concerned parishioners met with Auxiliary Bishop Boissonneau To date, the
bishop has not acknowledged receipt of their letter (see Circular Week 56, June 25 in www.saveourparish.
com . Neither has he responded to their peace initiative. Why did he agree to the meeting if he had no
intention of acting on this opportunity? Why has he not afforded the group even the courtesy of a response?
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THE 11th COMMANDMENT
Parishioners, anxiously awaiting the bishop’s guiding hand of spiritual leadership since June 2004, ask what
progress is being made. Well, has any progress been made at St. Martin of Tours?
• The slander emanating from the Parish administration - has it stopped, perhaps because of the threat of
legal action?
• The internet abusive e-mails - have they stopped, since the identity of the authors was exposed?
• The assaults (verbal and other) on parishioners - have they ceased, since the boys (and women) in blue
came aknockin?
This brings home the lesson of the 11th commandment - “If you break any of the ten, DON’T GET
CAUGHT!”Now that the 11th commandment appears to be observed, let’s work on some of the others. We
still have negative innuendo, inadequate disclosure of parish finances, exile and exclusion of parishioners
from full participation in the worship and life of the parish.
(Question) - What has the bishop done?
(Ponder) - Actually, what HAS the bishop done?
(Answer) - What has the bishop DONE?
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TRANSPARENCY
A quote pertaining to the Archdiocesan protocol on clergy sex abuse - “Transparency is extremely
important to us. We need for people to know that we are doing something and are prepared to
do something, but also, we need to alert the community to the fact that they have a
responsibility too - that if Father is saying things that seem off or beyond the boundaries, then
we need to know.” (Msgr. Brian Clough, Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Toronto)
AMEN! - And does this apply to other situations that are “off or beyond the boundaries”?
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FAREWELL FR. ED!
Fr. Edward Graham says his last Mass at St. Martin’s this weekend. Thank you, Fr. Ed for the many years
you served our parish community. We wish you all the best and good health.
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CARING AND SHARING GuluWalk
Gulu is a city in Northern Uganda. The parishioners of St. Martin of Tours are familiar with the late Sean
Russell and Fr. John (Jack) Fraser, both of whom devoted a major part of their lives to this region of
Uganda. They spoke fondly of the region and its people. For the past ten years (and more), rebel armies
have been abducting children into military service, or more correctly, forcing them to carry out acts of
terror, torture, maiming and killing. In order to avoid abduction into the rebel army, the children of Northern
Uganda walk every night to the safety of neighbouring cities, cities like Gulu. It is not unusual for these
children to walk 12 kms every night, and 12 kms the following morning to return to school or attend work.
GuluWalk is an effort by two average Canadians to raise awareness and support for the “night commuters”,
the children of rural northern Uganda, who walk every night to safety. We urge you to visit their website -
www.guluwalk.com This site gives detailed information on the subject and asks for your support. It has a
link to “Sign the Petition”. The Toronto organisers aim to bring this to the attention of 40,000 Canadians,
and you are invited to sign their petition as a demonstration of support.
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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 (away until July 25).
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