…and another,
......and another,
....and another...............
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Every week we learn of more and more parish volunteers that are dismissed from service. These are the
dedicated people that have given of themselves to the community of St. Martin of Tours for over a quarter
century. These are the people that held us together as a united community in the 60’s, the 70’s, the 80’s, the
90’s. Don’t you remember?
That was when we were happy.
That was when Share Life exceeded $350,000.00 (now less than half).
That was when services resounded with praise and song.
That was when we were a living, loving Christian community.
Are we to believe that these same people have become a dissident group, subversive and destructive to the
very body they hold most dear? Yet, they have maintained and enriched the parish over the years as it grew
and changed.
The pastor and the bishop consistently refer to a “Small Group”. This, in fact is a group of 300+ that is
sincerely dedicated to the parish. By contrast, consider the track record of the GROUP that is running the
parish - the Parish Administration and Finance Council. Here we see a trail of discontent, disillusionment,
hurt and disappointment evidenced by the numerous complaints lodged. They, who fracture the unity of the
parish, fault good people for their efforts, fault them for their successes, and fault them for no good reason at
all.
Do not be swayed by the argument and faulty logic of Fr. Beltran’s dictatorial pronouncements and
pretensions. Look at your own experiences with him and judge accordingly. What has been achieved
during his tenure, and what has been thwarted?
Our parish body will die if we do not stem the flow of internal bleeding.
But God is answering our prayers. He has placed in our own hands the means to save our parish, and
we must take up the torch.
If you want to save our loving community from strife and ultimate destruction:-
1 EXPRESS your support by wearing a black ribbon or black clothing in the church;
2 DEVOTE some time to working at awareness and resolution;
3 LISTEN to your inner voice and do not be afraid to take the bold step;
4 COORDINATE your efforts with “Save Our Parish” group;
5 PARTICIPATE in our forthcoming “Save Our Parish Rally” -
contact us to register for an active role in this event.
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CIRCULAR TO PARISHIONERS WEEK FOURTEEN SEPT 04, 2004
The obligation to provide for the needs of the Church was addressed at great length and with great
emphasis by Fr. Beltran in his homily last week. Here is Canon 222 which spells out the obligation:-
Can. 222 §1 Christ's faithful have the obligation to provide for the needs of the Church, so that the Church
has available to it those things which are necessary for divine worship, for apostolic and charitable work
and for the worthy support of its ministers.
§2 They are also obliged to promote social justice and, mindful of the Lord's precept, to help the poor
from their own resources.
It’s not just “the money” - or is it?
Until our community is whole again, many parishioners, in good conscience, are deferring monetary
contributions. Others are contributing directly to charities of their choice.
_______________________________________________________
We are not alone. Other Catholic parishes are experiencing problems too. Here is an interesting website -
“Voice Of The Faithful” - www.votf.org
Here also, is a news item from the New York Times -
www.nytimes.com/2004/08/29/nyregion/29church.html?
ex=1094830208&ei=1&en=2a5b101d4343be5f
_______________________________________________________
“Save Our Parish” is the voice of concerned parishioners
working and lobbying for positive corrective action.
For a summary of our previous circulars visit our website www.saveourparish.com
_______________________________________________________
Email:bishop.boissonneau@rogers.com Fax: 416 207-4984.
His Eminence, Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic, Fax: 416 934-3452.
For more information, contact:
Anna Jushkevich 905 279-7822 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
