Reflecting and Connecting Through Faith

Faith, shared values and a sense of belonging help sustain those who serve their communities, Chief Myron Demkiw told those gathered for the Toronto Police Service’s 60th annual Communion Breakfast on October 18.

Following Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, family members and community representatives gathered to reflect on their responsibilities to others and recognize service extending beyond the workplace.

“This event brings us together,” he said. “It gives us a chance to reflect and connect, and it gives us a moment to pray for the safety of our officers, our members, and for the well-being of our great city,”

The gathering carried particular significance after a difficult year that included the loss of Emergency Task Force Constable Mark Pinizzotto and deaths and serious injuries involving officers from other police services.

“When tragedies like these occur, whether in our personal lives, within our organizations or in our communities, many of us turn to our faith for strength, for resilience, and for guidance,” Demkiw noted.

He said faith also helps people find connection in their everyday lives, particularly when many experience loneliness despite the technologies intended to bring them together.

“Faith encourages people to believe in something greater than themselves, to feel a sense of belonging and to live out those values through their actions,” Demkiw said. “In many ways, organizations devoted to service, like our very own Toronto Police Service, are built on similar principles. We believe in something greater than ourselves through our commitment to public service. We belong to a team that depends on one another, often placing our trust and even our lives in the hands of our colleagues.”

The Communion Breakfast tradition began in the winter of 1964, when a small group of Toronto Police officers took their sons to Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral before sharing breakfast at a local restaurant. It grew into an annual gathering bringing members and their families together for worship and fellowship.

This year’s celebration also recognized people whose compassion and volunteer work reflect the values of service.

Pinizzotto received the Service’s St. Michael’s Award posthumously. Alongside his work as an officer, instructor and mentor, he helped young people develop hockey skills and confidence through the P3 Hockey Academy and coaching his son’s Oakville Rangers team.

For the first time, the award recognition also included Toronto Fire Services Retired Platoon Chief Peter Chow and Toronto Paramedic Services Paramedic Jessie MacNevin.

Chief Demkiw said shared principles of service and community explains why the Communion Breakfast remains relevant today.

“Like our prayer walks, it brings together people of all faiths, strengthens our sense of community and provides an opportunity to reflect on the values that unite us all,” added Demkiw.

Keynote speaker Cardinal Frank Leo, Archbishop of Toronto, encouraged the public to express gratitude for first responders throughout the year and recognize the demands their work places on their families.

“Keeping communities and families safe and tending to the needs of others is the most noble endeavour to spend one’s life doing,” he said. “You make so many sacrifices to serve and to care, and no one better than you know what weight this can be on a family, on relationships, and the insane amount of stress that you experience.”

Leo said appreciation must be accompanied by a willingness to support those who respond to emergencies and confront tragedy.

“We too have a grave responsibility to support you and to show you that we care,” he pointed out. “And not just once a year. We benefit year-round from your selflessness, and our communities should express its gratitude and appreciation year-round as well.”

That responsibility includes supporting the people waiting for first responders to return home.

“We salute and hold up your families, your loved ones, and those who are dearest to you,” Leo said. “And they are dear to us too, because of who you are and because of what you do for us.”

Solicitor General Michael Kerzner urged those gathered to embrace inclusion,

“We all have a right to belong, to succeed, and to contribute exactly who we are,” he noted.

Toronto Police Service Board Vice Chair Chris Brillinger said the tradition demonstrates the importance of gathering, sharing experiences and recognizing the importance that faith communities have as partners in community safety.

“Police have an important role, but they cannot and should not do this work alone,” Brillinger said. “Faith leaders are trusted voices who support families, mentor young people, help individuals navigate difficult circumstances, and create a sense of belonging.”

The breakfast also celebrated educational opportunity through the Father Fred Mazzarella Memorial Scholarship, established in 2022 for a James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic High School graduate.

Mazzarella began serving as a part-time TPS chaplain in 1990 and died on Good Friday in 2020, aged 87.

Toronto Metropolitan University student John Binosh received the $1,000 award.

Toronto lawyer Ryan De Sa, founder and president of De Sa Associates, provided the donation that established the scholarship, helping carry Mazzarella’s legacy of service into another generation.