DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE celebrates national launch of 2013 Share Lent campaign with the Archdiocese of Edmonton and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
EDMONTON, Feb. 12, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE will be officially launching its annual Share Lent campaign this year with the participation of special guests Archbishop Richard Smith of the Archdiocese of Edmonton and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Archbishop Pedro Ricardo Barreto of the Archdiocese of Huancayo, Peru.
The launch will take place on Ash Wednesday, February 13, and will kick off a series of events and activities taking place across Canada during the period of Lent to raise funds in support of DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE's sustainable development and humanitarian aid programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
The theme of this year's campaign is Human Dignity to reflect how DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE enters into partnerships with local organizations to support the poor in choosing and directing their own development.
"This year's campaign recognizes the intrinsic dignity of all of us, and that we are all created in God's image. DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE is the visible expression of our love as Canadian Catholics for the human family and of our hope that the world can be a better place," says Archbishop Smith.
Archbishop Barreto, a member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace at the Vatican, has been invited to represent the many communities in the Global South who are courageously striving to improve their livelihoods in the face of injustice. In his own Archdiocese, he is working with the community of La Oroya, one of the most polluted places on earth, to demand norms be applied to a foreign-owned smelter to create a healthier environment.
"We are honoured to celebrate the beginning of this year's campaign with these two distinguished guests. The solidarity of our Catholic community worldwide can and is creating real change," says Michael Casey, Executive Director of DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE, who will also be present at the launch.
The Share Lent campaign culminates in a collection that takes place on Sunday, March 17th, known as Solidarity Sunday, in parishes nationwide. This year, the organization is also inviting Canadians to participate in a fundraising Good Friday Fast as a way to show their solidarity.
The launch will be streamed live at www.devp.org/en
February 13th, 2013 at 1 pm (EST)
Development and Peace is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada. The organization currently works with 90 local organizations in over 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
SOURCE: DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE
or interviews, please contact:
Khoudia Ndiaye
Communications Officer
Development and Peace
514 257-8711 ext. 318
[email protected]
Lorraine Turchansky
Communications
Archdiocese of Edmonton
780 469-1010
[email protected]
René Laprise
Director Director of Media Relations
Canadian Conference of
Catholic Bishops
613 241-9461
[email protected]
Share this article