CIRCULAR TO PARISHIONERS WEEK 68 - SEP. 17, 2005
YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER
In the last year and a half, many parishioners have endured great emotional suffering that has led to
physical pain and deep sorrow. Like Christ in His passion, many people have been subjected to
humiliation, judgments and false accusations that reveal only what was in the accuser’s mind. Like
Christ, some were so vilified as to be crucified (figuratively) by those who represented God on earth.
Questions come to mind: if Christ is in each of us, how can we hurt ourselves so badly? Is all we have
believed all our lives a myth? Does God care?
In the last month, we have seen a new dawn. Light is dispersing darkness. Truth is in light. Truth
leads to love, and love rebuilds.
Faith and hope are returning at last. We are all human and thus vulnerable and imperfect. We
have failed often, yet each is chosen by Christ to love God and be His model on earth. In true humility
we hope for reconciliation with God and with each other through mutual forgiveness – so Christ’s wish
will be fulfilled “that all be one as you, Father, and I are one”.
The first sign of a return to unity is communication. Communication leads to mutual understanding
and compassion. Fr. Joel is doing his part by faithful practice of his pastoral duties. But no one person
can rebuild our parish community alone. The more who work at it, the better. “Many hands make
light work”. A young lady who responded to last week’s flyer voiced the mutual respect needed to
begin, and the realization that we all have the same goal: the restoration of peace and justice in the
parish so that God will be worshipped as He should be - united.
People of goodwill and generosity of heart will obey Christ’s dictum to “forgive your neighbour
70 times seven times”. If South Africa can forgive the injustices of murderous apartheid, we too must
forgive all injustices.
In forgiving, we hope the Church also will see the injustice of exclusion practised at St. Martin’s,
and welcome back all those who had previously ministered faithfully and were dismissed without
cause. As in South Africa – if a policy is wrong, it is wrong to continue it, and doubly wrong when
those in authority are aware of it and choose to do nothing to stop it.
The spirit of inclusion, however, must be voiced by everyone so that the revitalization and
harmony of this community builds from within. We cannot wait for a saviour to come and impose
justice. Justice and renewal must emanate from each person in St. Martin’s. We all must want
(desire, strive for) inclusion and a return to fairness and genuine love for our parish neighbour. We all
must work toward it by word and deed. Prayer too is necessary but “faith without good works is
dead” (James 2:17).
Let us teach each other how to humbly accept everyone of goodwill into our parish family with open
arms, as Christ wishes. “By this, men will know you are My disciples, if you love one another”.
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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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