March 2022
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
For over 50 years, Development and Peace – Caritas Canada has been organizing its Share Lent campaign during the period of Lent. This time of preparation for the celebration of Easter is an opportunity for Development and Peace to raise awareness of the issues of international solidarity, and to invite Catholics to practice almsgiving by donating to a special collection for Development and Peace on Solidarity Sunday, the Fifth Sunday of Lent. This collection helps the partners of Development and Peace to meet the needs of some of our poorest brothers and sisters through over 100 projects in 30 countries of the Global South.
This year’s campaign theme, People and Planet First, is inspired by the message of love for our neighbour and the protection of the environment in Pope Francis’ letter Laudato Si’. In this letter, he calls on us to “hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor”. While the recent war in Ukraine seems to have overshadowed issues in the Global South, the common factor is the human-caused threat to people and to the earth.
Development and Peace has responded to the situation in Ukraine with emergency donations and the Share Lent campaign will continue to help our partners in the Global South. Through these campaigns, Canadian Catholics are invited to discover how the work of Development and Peace is anchored in Catholic social teaching and how we can heed the Pope’s call for solidarity and love for our neighbour.
I encourage you to support the Share Lent campaign in your parish by donating on Solidarity Sunday, April 3rd. Donations to help the people of Ukraine can also be made through the Development and Peace Website to Emergency Ukraine.
Your assistance in this important initiative is greatly appreciated.
In Communion,
Most Reverend Gary Gordon
Bishop of Victoria
