Mayor Bevilacqua addresses 39th Annual Cardinal’s Dinner
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Keynote remarks delivered on behalf of the 42 municipalities in the Archdiocese of Toronto
Please see Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua’s
keynote address on behalf of the 42 municipalities of the Archdiocese of
Toronto, delivered to an audience of 1,600 people during the 39th Annual
Cardinal’s Dinner; since its inception in 1979, the event has raised more than
$6 million for multiple charities:
“Good evening, Your
Eminence, Your Excellencies, esteemed head table guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Your Eminence, I am honoured to provide greetings on behalf of the 42
municipalities who have a home in the Archdiocese of Toronto.
“Just last month, municipal
elections took place throughout these communities, and across Ontario. The final weekend of the campaign coincided
with the Catholic Church’s World Mission Day. To mark this occasion, Pope
Francis delivered a message to both the young, and the young-at-heart. The Holy Father reminds us that life is a
mission and that each of us is gifted and wonderfully made. We are called upon to seek, discover and
relentlessly embrace our God-given gifts in the pursuit of bearing witness to
what is right and just, and to serve one another.
“As scripture says: ‘If your gift is to encourage others, be
encouraging. If it is giving, give generously.’ We need to pause, reflect in silence and ask
ourselves: in what way am I considering and serving the needs of others, and
especially our most vulnerable? Each new day is a blessing and we must dedicate
it to a higher purpose.
“For many of us present tonight, public service
is our vocation. It is both a humbling and sacred experience to be entrusted by
one’s fellow neighbours to do what is right and just for the betterment of all
people. To my elected
colleagues, we must remember to not let the euphoria of victory make us lose
sight of what matters most. We are temporary stewards. Our mandates are
precious. There is no celebrity in service. We must never lose perspective, we
must work hard and honestly, and avoid complaining.
“Should you find
yourself feeling defeated or alienated, turn to prayer. Prayer is
faith in action, and faith in action works. Just ask any of the 30 local
charities who will benefit from the time, talent and treasure embodied in the
purpose of the 39th Annual Cardinal’s Dinner.
“Through
your generosity, the Church continues to extend its reach to: support refugees
in pursuit of new beginnings; help youth in need of a safe place to sleep;
provide warm meals for older adults; and care for anyone and everyone
regardless of their religious background or affiliation.
“I have always
maintained that city-building is a labour of love. It is an act of creation.
“Even though the
challenges of public life can be great, we must remain patient, measured and
calm. Vocations - and this earthly pilgrimage - are
meant to be demanding, challenging and at times when alone, you need to take the road less travelled instead of the path of least resistance.
“We may feel our
opposition are blind, unfair and inconsiderate, yet we must also ask ourselves
if we have been deaf to their perspectives? Through
empathy, compassion and self-discipline, we can fulfill our promise, together. In
the face of what appears to be insurmountable challenges, we have not been
abandoned. Setbacks are an opportunity to step back - to see grace clearly -
and to reaffirm the promise of our vocation and service to one another.
“Your Eminence - I’m
sure you will recall - a few years ago we had dinner together and while we
spoke I asked you to recommend a list of books to help me further understand,
appreciate and deepen my own faith.
We
discussed both timeless classics and contemporary publications.
“I am happy to announce
that two and a half years later, on May 19, 2018, I graduated with my master of
arts in Christian Spirituality from Fordham University – the Jesuit university
of New York City.
“It is only fitting that
I quote the founder of the Society of Jesus, Ignatius of Loyola, who reminds us
that with confidence and favour, we are equipped to ‘go forth and set the world on fire.’
“Today’s social media
communications and platforms can instantaneously reach millions of people. Therefore, let all we say and do - be good
and helpful, and let us always value the needs of others above ourselves.
“On behalf of my colleagues in municipal
government, let me express my warmest and sincerest gratitude to everyone
present here this evening. Thank you for your generosity, thank you for all
that you do to bring about positive change to people’s lives; and equally
important, thank you for who you are and what you stand for."
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delivery
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