Dear Friends at Saint Elizabeth!
It is confusing and painful to accept that from Monday, the 19th April until at least May 20th, our churches must once again be closed – although there have been no outbreaks in any Catholic churches in Ontario. Sadly enough, spiritual health is not deemed essential, it has no value anymore for the decision makers.
According to the restrictions “parishes must restrict attendance inside the church to 10 people, including priests hearing confessions and staff members/volunteers required to monitor capacity restrictions. Due to these measures, public Masses must be cancelled. Churches will remain open for private prayer and for the faithful to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Weddings, funerals and baptisms are restricted to 10 persons, including those who are involved in ministry. No meetings should take place in parish halls or other church spaces at this time. Parish offices are closed to the public - limited essential appointments only.”
If your faith is essential for you, please:
Please share with us your thoughts on ways we can provide help and meaning for you during these desolate times. Remember Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, the Protectress of Canada, who suffered so much with illness, the cruelty of the natives killing her tribe… but through all the challenges she was able to remain fully alive with joy and hope in her Christian community. Leave everything that is not essential for a while and actively choose what is essential for your life. Be resistant and resilient! You are welcome in our parish community!
With my prayer and daily masses offered for you, Yours in Christ,
Fr Tamas
OUR CHURCH IS OPEN FOR PRAYER IF IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR YOU
ONLINE PROGRAM DETAILS FOR THE COMING DAYS
Electing an English-speaking Parish Council
In the Hungarian community we are renewing the PC this spring through formal elections. With the encouragement of the outgoing council, I would like to suggest setting up a parallel PC for the English-speaking community in order to collaborate better in this time of trial. Please propose, in writing, candidates for the PC to our office until April 25th.
SAMPLE LETTER IN SUPPORT OF REOPENING OUR CHURCH…
Please send your letter to Cardinal Collins (archbishop@archtoronto.org), to Mr Ford (premier@ontario.ca; Queen's Park, Toronto ON M7A 1A1) and to your MPP (https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/search).
Dear …..
It is difficult to accept that our churches must close once again, from Monday, 19th April until at least May 20th! This is especially surprising since the strict WorshipSafe protocols we observed in our churches over the past year have proven to be extremely effective. As far as we know, there have been no outbreaks in any church in Canada. Has spiritual health really been deemed inessential by our decision makers?
In March Cardinal Collins launched the “A Place to Worship” campaign, inviting the faithful to contact their Member of Provincial Parliament to ask for a fair and balanced approach to restrictions for places of worship. Now, once again, we ask that faith communities be given the same consideration.
On the first day of the restrictions a few mothers and kids went into the forbidden playgrounds… some police units said they are not going to stop cars randomly: Their Voices Were Heard! That is what we, too, are asking for. We simply want to be allowed to open our churches to at least 15% of their capacities, in keeping with the Covid regulations in effect for retailers.
Sincerely yours, ...