April 2021 Lockdown Update

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:

1. CONFESS YOUR FAITH! Do not be complacent but remember: in March your voices were heard! 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. Our strict WorshipSafe protocols in churches have proven to be effective during the last year.  Now we ask to be treated equitably. In recent days, it has become more difficult to believe that this is happening.      
   On the first day of the new restrictions a few mothers and kids went into the “forbidden”  playgrounds… some police units indicated that they are not going to stop cars randomly: the first group knew what was essential, the second was simply afraid of the consequences but both have won! It’s time to ONCE AGAIN address the growing inequities facing our faith communities. I hope you will take a moment to share your concerns with Cardinal Collins, with Mr Ford and with your MPP. See the letter below.
2. SHARE YOUR FAITH! Be resilient and creative! I am asking something even more difficult: find and contact a family in our community with whom you can read and reflect on the Sunday Gospel every week! First online or via phone, and later personally, up to the end of the pandemic! I know that this kind of Family Church can renew and revitalize our faith community!

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

• I continue to celebrate private Mass daily for your intentions (see page 3 of our Bulletin) and for those suffering.
• You are welcome to receive the Eucharist - after taking part in any online Mass – every Sunday 12-1PM in the churchyard, driving through. The Church is open for short visits, for 10 people at any one time. 1-2PM distribution of the Eucharist within the church (personal prayer and distribution of the Eucharist every 10 mins. Please always keep to the 10-person limit and ask for help from the ushers!
• Weekdays:
  - Monday to Friday two periods of Adoration with Eucharistic Ministry from 7-8 AM and from 8-9 AM (on Saturday there is an additional period from 9-10 AM). Please register, but not more than 2 times, in order to allow more people to come. (If there is more need we will open more periods.)
  - Sacrament of the Reconciliation is available weekdays during the adoration (please pre-register) or by personal arrangements through the office.
• We continue our new online sharing programs on Saturday: 5 PM: ZOOM Sharing group about the Sunday Gospel and about the “HE IS RISEN” series by bishop Barren II.
• The office has to be closed, so please leave your message via email or phone.

ONLINE PROGRAM DETAILS FOR THE COMING DAYS

22. 8PM: Film Club sharing on ZOOM about Babette's Feast (1987 watch here)
23. 7-8PM: Adoration with the Holy Trinity Community
24. 4.30PM: Adoration, 5PM: ZOOM Sharing group about the Sunday Gospel and the “RISEN” by bishop Barren II. 6PM: Music Vesper by Imre Olah organist.
25. First Saturday of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 4.30PM: Adoration, 5PM: ZOOM Sharing group about the Sunday Gospel and the “RISEN” III. by bishop Barren

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, ...