Last week’s Open Letter of Reconciliation has not received any response. The Bishop has refused repeated
requests by several long standing parishioners for a meeting to seek an amicable resolution. On several
separate occasions, parishioners attempted to speak with Father Beltran to come to a resolution but he would
not meet with them. Fergus Egan, our Music Director, also attempted several times to make peace with Father
Beltran, but he also was ignored. The following are more letters from parishioners about their concerns, none
of which have yet received any response.
4) The senior part-time receptionist was terminated from employment on 31st Dec 2003 with effect from
1st January 2004, without just cause. She approached the Ministry of Labour and Fr. Beltran was compelled to
pay the dues she was owed.
5) The Church Secretary, Connie Pelaccio, who had grown up in the parish and worked in the parish office
from 1988 to 1999 was refused permission by Fr. Beltran to be married in St. Martin of Tours Church. Even
though she had fulfilled all the requirements under Fr. Paul (who had just been transferred), she was forced to
get married in another church because Fr. Beltran refused to recognize the marital arrangements made under
Fr. Paul.
6) Suzanne, the church maintenance employee, hurt her back moving heavy furniture. She was advised by
her doctor to take a week off. When this mother of four young children returned to work a week later, she was
told that she had been replaced.
7) For many years, parishioners voiced the need for a larger Parish Centre. Instead, our parish received an
office extension at a cost of $280,000, which included a separate private washroom.
8) Desecration of sacred object: When a new Tabernacle was donated, the old Tabernacle (donated by a
long standing parishioner) was badly damaged in storage and covered with debris. Repair was in excess of
$800. It was subsequently donated to a new parish church after restoration costs were paid for by a
parishioner.
How can you help, you ask?
Next week, read details about an upcoming informational meeting. Please spread the word!
Write to the Bishop and the Cardinal to voice your concerns about the need for resolution.
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
Pat DeAngelis 416 809- 1819 Yvonne Zirnhelt 905 897-3452
Lucy Pires 905 273-6093 Dunstan Bazely 905 275-3946
Aisling Egan 416 671-4710
JOHN PAUL II’S ADDRESS MAY 23, 2004
VATICAN CITY, MAY 23, 2004 (Zenit.org). - One of the essential missions of a bishop is to address the
"worrisome phenomenon" of factions within the Church, says John Paul II.
"As in any family, the Church's internal harmony can at times be challenged by a lack of charity and the
presence of conflict among her members," the Pope said Saturday.
"This can lead to the formation of factions within the Church which often become so concerned with their
special interests that they lose sight of the unity and solidarity which are the foundations of ecclesial life and
the sources of communion in the family of God," the Holy Father said.
"To address this worrisome phenomenon bishops are charged to act with fatherly solicitude as men of
communion to ensure that their particular Churches act as families, so that there may be no discord in the
body, but that the members may have the same care for one another," John Paul II exhorted.
He added: "This requires that the bishop strive to remedy any division which can exist among his flock by
attempting to rebuild a level of trust, reconciliation and mutual understanding in the ecclesial family."
What are the wedges of conflict that divide our family?
Can you spot the common denominator?
Church protocol recognizes the Pastor, the Parish Council, or the Parish Finance Council as the representative
voice of the parish. Here, at St. Martin of Tours:
· The Pastor refuses dialogue.
· A Parish Council does not exist.
· The Finance Council is not representative of the parish and has declined to meet with concerned
parishioners.
· The bishop is not assisting in getting the parish problems resolved.
In St. Martin of Tours Church, how are our voices, the voices of the parish family, getting to the Pastoral Office?
ACT NOW TO SAVE OUR PARISH!
