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<div class="elementToProof"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Dear Brian,</span></div>
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<div class="elementToProof"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Although I am a relatively recent and intermittent participant in the Sunday Community (as I continue
with my former spiritual community in Louisville) I wanted you to know how touched I was by your heartfelt letter to all of us members. Your ongoing commitment and dedication over so many years is a testament to your deep faith and a beautiful example of what
it means to be present. I am sorry that Mary Lou's declining health has required such difficult decisions and changes in both your lives, yet you continue on bravely and faithfully. I also wanted to mention that I received a lovely phone call this fall from
Mary Lou inquiring about me even as she was experiencing her own health problems. So selfless of her. </span></div>
<div class="elementToProof"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Thank you for all you have done and I pray that the love and support of those close to you will
carry you forward on this journey.</span></div>
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<div class="elementToProof"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Kindest regards,</span></div>
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<div class="elementToProof"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Janette McCabe</span></div>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" color="#000000" style="font-size:11pt"><b>From:</b> Sundaycommunity <sundaycommunity-bounces@lists.integralshift.ca> on behalf of Brian Halferty via Sundaycommunity <sundaycommunity@lists.integralshift.ca><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, January 4, 2023 8:09 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Sunday Community <sundaycommunity@integralshift.ca><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Brian Halferty <bhalferty@yahoo.ca><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Sundaycommunity] LETTER TO THE SUNDAY COMMUNITY ABOUT MUSIC</font>
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<div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false" style="margin-bottom:0in">Dear Members of the Sunday Community,</div>
<p class="x_ydpf8e1395bMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">t has been quite a few years since Mary Lou and I, with our family, joined the Sunday Community, down in the basement of the Catholic Information Centre, beside St. Peter’s Church, on Bathurst Street
in Toronto. We thought of ourselves at the time as being, in a way, “on pilgrimage” – looking for a worshipping community that was a real community. We had been searching for a long time. We found it when we arrived at the CIC. Monique Newton, one of the
earliest and most central members of the community, spoke to us immediately, and welcomed us, and made us feel at home. In those days, there were still families, with their children, who were part of the community. We were so impressed when a phone call
came to our house during the week after we first joined the community, a phone call not for Mary Lou or I, but for our kids – someone inviting them to come and join the other young people for a movie later in the week.<br>
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<div style="margin-bottom:0in">We participated in the Sunday Eucharist with the community for a couple of years, I think, before I joined the other musicians in the music ministry. What a group! We had 4 guitarists, led by Heather, Mike on keyboard, occasionally
Mike’s brother David on trumpet, a flute player, 2 or 3 additional vocalists, and for awhile a tambourine player as well. Over the years, people moved out of town to other places, or their lives took different turns, and the “band” dwindled in size, until
it got down to just myself on guitar and Mike on the keyboard. Even then, for special occasions like Christmas or Easter, we were able to pull together some of the old gang to do music together. What fun!</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom:0in">COVID-19, of course, put us in this very strange situation of having to stay apart while trying to continue to gather together. Our gathering together has been on Zoom – we’ve been doing it now for more than 2 ˝ years --- and
we have not been able to enjoy the reality of singing together in the same place. Still, there has been a strong, spiritual linkage that has continued, something of value to us all.</div>
<p class="x_ydpf8e1395bMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Mary Lou and I both worked as lay Chaplains in Catholic high schools in Toronto, a position of spiritual leadership in which we each tried to do our best to answer to the spiritual needs of students
and their families, and of the staff as well. I have described this to people as “the best job I ever had,” a job that was demanding, and difficult in many ways, and sometimes a source of anguish, but at the same time, a role in which I felt called, and blessed,
and in which I often experienced success and satisfaction. Underlying this work of Chaplaincy, for both Mary Lou and I, was the need to be connected to a source of spiritual inspiration and support for ourselves personally. And we found that source, that
spring of fresh water, in the Sunday Community, where we felt real community with others, with God, with the Church. </p>
<p class="x_ydpf8e1395bMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">In recent weeks, as you know, Mary Lou has not been well, has not been in a good place physically and mentally. She has been hospitalized since November 24<sup>th</sup>, and since Dec. 14<sup>th</sup>
has been at Providence Health Care in an “Interim placement” situation, receiving care while waiting for a Long-Term Care placement to be approved. Those of you who have been part of the Sunday Zoom liturgy will know that Mary Lou has, with help, been able
to join the Zoom call from hospital on recent occasions, including Christmas Eve, when I spent the day and evening with her.</p>
<p class="x_ydpf8e1395bMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">In order to be with Mary Lou on Christmas Eve, I had to step away from leading the music that night. And now I have to tell you that, after a lot of thought, and after talking this over at length with
my family, I will have to step away completely from organizing and leading the music, at least for the next while. </p>
<p class="x_ydpf8e1395bMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Being in a hospital, away from home and familiar surroundings, is very difficult for Mary Lou. The family and I are committed to trying to be with her as much as possible through all of this. That
includes me, and especially me, because it is me that Mary Lou most wants to have with her. Mary Lou will not be coming home again to live. She requires too much care and needs to be in a place where that can be provided. I can’t explain to you what a deep
heartache this is. It is a painful tragedy all the way around. I am so grateful for the generous and loving support our family – children, spouses, their children – have given to Mary Lou through this awful transition, and have given to me also as I learn
to live with what is happening.<br>
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<p class="x_ydpf8e1395bMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">I am also concerned about the Sunday Community. I know that the music is an important part of our worship, and indeed, an important part of my own spiritual and prayer life. I feel badly about having
to stop providing it. May we find the way(s) to continue worshipping together and being sources of inspiration for each other.</p>
<p class="x_ydpf8e1395bMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Love to all of you,<br>
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<p class="x_ydpf8e1395bMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Brian</p>
<p class="x_ydpf8e1395bMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">PS: Since I started putting this letter together, Sylvia Skrepichuk has been in touch with me. She has offered to lead the music for the next couple of months, at least, and I have agreed to assist
her by continuing to send out the weekly Song Programs.<span> </span></p>
<p class="x_ydpf8e1395bMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Thank you, Sylvia.</p>
<p class="x_ydpf8e1395bMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">B. <span> </span></p>
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<div style="font-family:new times,serif; font-size:16px"><font color="#4c76a2" size="4"><i>Brian J. Halferty</i><br>
146 Sumach Street, Apt. 214<br>
Toronto, ON M5A 0P7<br>
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<div dir="ltr"><span style="color:rgb(76,118,162); font-size:large">416-431-0038 </span><br>
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