CIRCULAR TO PARISHIONERS WEEK 73 - OCT. 22, 2005
OCTOBER FOOD DRIVE PASSES THE 50% MARK!
1,000 LBS Our October food drive has already collected and delivered 515 lbs of much needed
food to the needy in our city. Cash donations received have been used to purchase food. “Thank
you!” to the many parishioners who have gladly responded to our Food Drive. Many said “whoops,
we forgot to bring our bag of food”. Don’t worry – the drive continues until 31st October. The people
of St. Martin of Tours have demonstrated, once again, the generosity that has always been
characteristic of our parish.
It is true that the “Parish” receives food donations from the schools;
It is true that the “Parish” gives to some needy families out of these donations;
It is true that the “Parish” permits the collection of food for agencies e.g. “Open Door”;
It is also true that needy families have been turned off by unnecessary red tape;
It is also true that needy families have been unnecessarily humiliated in seeking assistance;
It is also true that food collected at Christmas 2003 was still sitting in a cupboard at Easter 2004;
It is also true that the collection bin was removed from the vestibule; the explanation tendered was
“everybody knows where it is!” Unfortunately, parishioners arriving with food donations last week
were unable to locate it.
Have you ever been hungry - with no food available? What if someone’s hunger is dismissed by
those who deny it? Recognising another’s wants and needs first requires compassion - compassion
that is sometimes lacking. It is with understanding and empathy for the needy that we can know them
and love them through positive action. Lack of compassion indicates a lack of love. Parishioners last
week were upset at the absence of the food bin. Following their complaint, the bin was returned.
What message is being sent by hiding the food bin from view? Does it indicates laziness and
indifference, or a reluctance to involve the general body of parishioners in actively supporting the food
drives? Perhaps; or perhaps not! But experience has shown that people of goodwill are
compassionate and respond generously when invited. They welcome the opportunity to actively
participate in fulfilling the Gospel message – “Love one another as I have loved you”.
We use the word Parish to denote the Community of Parishioners, not merely the “Parish” as in
Parish Administration: same word - different meaning. Would the REAL parish please step up and be
recognized! Thank you! (Applause! Applause! Applause!)
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SUMMARY OF EVENTS
We have received calls for updated information on the state of the parish and for a chronology of
our parish’s regression to its current feeble state. A history of events updated to September 30 2005,
is contained in the website (www.saveourparish.com).
To view, click on the link, and then on the sidebar button “Summary of Events”.
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Give us your feedback by email or phone call: 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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