About five years ago, the parishioners of St. Martin of Tours church welcomed Father Octavio Beltran as our
new Pastor. We understand it must be difficult for a priest to move so many times from parish to parish. As we
have done in the past we set out to make him feel like part of our parish family. Many of the parish groups and
organizations spent several months last year planning a magnificent celebration for Father to celebrate the
25th anniversary of his ordination and were pleased to see his mother beam with pride.
Since 1968, our Parish has been blessed with peace and harmony until four years ago. Now, sadly, parishioner’
s voices are not welcomed. As parishioners we believe we have a voice. Eventually our pastor will be moved to
a new family. This is our permanent family. We would very much like it to be the one we used to know.
Therefore, this letter is to give you some information.
It is with great regret that our parish family will not be able to celebrate Fergus Egan’s 25th anniversary as our
Music Director this year. As of August 31st, 2004, Fergus Egan has been removed as Music Director without
cause by our Pastor. When you come back from summer holidays the choir will have ceased to exist as we
know it.
1) The St. Vincent de Paul Society was shut down for frivolous shortcomings in 2002. The President of the
Peel Council of the Society opined that the reasons provided by the pastor were “without logic or any sense of
Christianity”. Fr. Beltran was supposed to revive the Society after six months, according to a letter received
from the Bishop dated May 5th 2002. To date nothing has happened.
2) Without foundation, Fr. Beltran has accused the local Council of the Knights of Columbus of conduct
unbecoming of Knights, and has demanded an apology from the entire Council.
3) He has arbitrarily dismissed the Ushers for the Sunday 12:00 noon Mass. These are parishioners of good
standing, who have served the Church community for years and are deserving of our thanks and support.
According to Fr. Beltran he is the ultimate authority.
Does not responsibility require accountability?
Despite letters and calls to Bishop Boissonneau, he has not met with parishioners.
To voice your concerns about the need for resolution, please contact the Chancellor, Monsignor John Murphy
at (416) 934-3400 Ext.# 603.
For more information you may call:
Lucy Pires 905 273-6093 Tony Cucci 905 276-3728
Lily DeAngelis 905 272-0067 Yvonne Zirnhelt 905 897-3039
Aisling Egan 416 671-4710 Anna Jushkevich 905 279-7822
