OPEN APPEAL TO FATHER BELTRAN FOR RECONCILIATION
It is our responsibility as brothers in Christ to seek reconciliation when differences divide us.
By this letter, we extend our hand to you to join us in trying to resolve controversies which distress our souls.
Presumptions, assumptions and accusations have been made by all parties concerned and all need
admission, good will and forgiveness. In so doing, we once again join hands in God’s praise.
We acknowledge our dependence on you, Father, to worship our Father in heaven in the highest degree
through the power He has granted you to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass and our participation therein. We
are grateful that you have given your life for this purpose for our collective benefit. And we will afford to you
the respect your office should have.
We also, as devout followers of Christ, will give you our service in the church to the utmost of our capacity with
good will. And since this is our service to God, we have expectations of being treated as God would treat His
children - with fairness, love and compassion, consideration and faithfulness. We expect to be given the
dignity God Himself, bestows on all His children.
In the past we have been blessed here at St. Martin’s with good devout priests who, besides their primary duty
of offering the Mass, have reached out to the community to fulfil the community’s other spiritual needs. These
needs we also ask you to fulfil:
· Be our spiritual guide in our struggle to remain faithful servants of Christ.
· Be our spiritual mentor and help us as we juggle our secular responsibilities, so we can grow spiritually
by dedicating ourselves to our priesthood of baptism whereby we perform the Spiritual Works of Mercy in our
family and social life, our work life and our church life.
· Help us by your encouragement to foster the work of Our Lord in our church organizations: the Knights of
Columbus, CWL, RCIA, Children’s Liturgy, Rosary Apostolate, Prayer Group, St. Vincent de Paul, Eucharistic
Ministry, Ministry to the sick, lectors, ushers, sanctuary attendants, organists, singers, Music Director,
Maintenance Personnel, Finance Committee, money counters, those providing and selling religious articles,
donors of church needs, and anyone who willingly offers help in any capacity.
All of these parishioners have been called by God, have heeded and answered the call generously - giving
cheerfully to create a thriving worshipping church family. Each gives their own unique gifts - one only greater
than the other according to the amount of love with which they offer their gift.
Our offerings need to be respected as we should respect yours - presuming the same motivation of love.
Our objective is to fulfil our obligations to our Creator. As a good priest, surely it must also be your
objective?
Then why is there dissension?
Is it centred around New Rules?
Up to the recent past we have followed good stable rules of proper deportment and conduct and they worked
well. However, New Rules have been introduced without preparation, understanding or discussion to the
unsettlement of good people. Let us discuss them and establish guidelines that are clear and fair to all
concerned. Let us begin by determining the benefit expected.
New regulations usually are instituted to promote a good, or to control that which causes apprehension or fear.
Let us assure you, there is nothing to fear from our parish groups. We do not want power, only to fulfil our
organizations’ mandate of service, and our own calling to that service. Our intentions are pure and
encompassing of new people and ideas.
We ask that:
· Basic civil rights of parishioners and staff be enforced - the human right of the courtesy to have changes
discussed far enough in advance that proper planning can be made.
· Accommodation of parishioners in their need for the ministrations of the Sacraments and their
preparations for same.
· Our organizations be encouraged by your presence and approval to flourish as they adhere to that
organizations mandate.
· All people be treated with their God-given respect.
· Our Music Director be reinstated by contract as agreed upon by Marcel Goulet and Fergus Egan (since a
third party has been designated to mediate by Bishop Boissonneau).
We in turn will work with you for the benefit of all. We suggest that a Parish Council be elected to assist with
parish affairs - good people with proven organizational skills in various fields so that confidence will return to
us all.
May forgiveness of all wounds lead us to share His divinity.
To err is human; to forgive, divine.
Concerned Parishioners
To voice your concerns about the need for resolution, write to the Bishop and the Cardinal. His Eminence,
Aloysius Cardinal Ambrosic, Fax: 416 934-3452.
Bishop John A. Boissonneau, Fax: 416 207-4984 Email: bishop.boissonneau@rogers.com.
For more information, contact:
Anna Jushkevich 905 279-7822 Tony Cucci 905 276-3728
Lily DeAngelis 905 272- 0067 Yvonne Zirnhelt 905 897-3452
Lucy Pires 905 273-6093 Dunstan Bazely 905 275-3946
Aisling Egan 416 671-4710
