St. Leonard church with history of defying COVID measures holds in-person Sunday service
Parishioners at Good News Chapel in St. Leonard gathered Sunday for morning services, despite COVID-19 regulations requiring churches to stay closed.
The service, led by Pastor Stefano Gesualdi, was broadcasted online.
“We got quite the welcome this morning, but that matters not,” said Gesualdi, refererring to the reporters who gathered around the church that morning. “It doesn’t change who we are, it doesn’t change what we do, it doesn’t change our motives for being here.”
“It’s wonderful to be together, in person."
People living near the church told CTV News they’re frustrated to see people gathering in the middle of a lockdown.
“Stores are closed for the next few weeks, kids are at home doing their schooling, [everyone is] working from home, not going anywhere and then I see this event happening,” said one woman, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal.
Current COVID-19 measures prohibit places of worship from offering in-person services, with the exception of funerals.
Although Good News Chapel was in direct violation of these rules on Sunday, police did not intervene.
However, a spokesperson for the SPVM said they’re gathering information, and that the Crown will decide to whether to proceed with fines or criminal charges.
Gesualdi said the government's attention doesn't mean anything to him.
“I don’t want to get the attention of Francois Legault, I don’t want to get the attention of Justin Trudeau, they’re nothing to me,” he said during his sermon. “We surround ourselves against this one absolute truth, that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
A HISTORY OF NON COMPLIANCE
This isn’t the first time the Good News Chapel has defied COVID-19 rules.
In January 2021, a protest was held in front of the chapel, with demonstrators calling for the church to be reclassified as an essential service.
A month later, the church defied a public health measure which limited religious gatherings to 10 people per room. More than 100 people attended a service on Feb. 14.
Then, almost exactly one month ago, a 61-year-old woman named Diana died following an outbreak at Good News Chapel, according to her family.
Diana’s cousin, Fuoco, is a former follower of the church. She and other former attendees told CTV News that the church leadership foster a culture of vaccine hesitancy and resistance to health measures within the congregation.
“Her family, Diana, and her husband decided they didn’t need to be vaccinated based on what they were being told at church,” said Fuoco.
In a now-deleted Instagram video, Gesualdi addressed rumours that COVID-19 was spreading within the church.
“There are a few people who have called and said they have the symptoms of COVID-19, and they’ve gotten tested,” he said.
“The thing is, it has nothing to do with the church… we’ve seen God’s hand of protection on our church.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
'He's in our hearts': Family and friends still seek answers one year after Nathan Wise’s disappearance
It’s been a year since Nathan Wise went missing and his family is no closer to finding out what happened to him.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
Mother's Day movies that pull at ALL the heartstrings
This Mother's Day Weekend, take a look at some of the most emotional movies inspired by moms.
Suspect sought after fatal slashing in downtown Toronto
Police are searching for a suspect in a homicide investigation after a man was slashed in downtown Toronto on Sunday.
Edibles, armchairs and adapters: Here are the recalls for this week
Health Canada announced various product recalls this week, including electric adapters, armchairs, cannabis edibles and vehicle components.
Putin replaces Russian defence minister in rare cabinet shakeup
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin began a Cabinet shakeup on Sunday, proposing the replacement of Sergei Shoigu as defence minister as he begins his fifth term in office.
WATCH Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.