MONTREAL, Feb. 10, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace is today, Ash Wednesday, launching its annual Lenten fundraising campaign Share Lent. This campaign is the main funding source for the organization's solidarity work with over 100 local organizations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, and of its education programs here in Canada.
Under the slogan Create a Climate of Change, Development and Peace is asking Canadians to make a gesture that will help create greater global justice. The campaign draws on Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si', which calls for better care of our common home, especially for our sisters and brothers in the Global South who are already experiencing the devastating impacts of climate change, despite contributing the least to the carbon emissions that are causing temperatures to rise.
The campaign is also inspired by the Jubilee Year of Mercy, which was launched by Pope Francis in December and calls on Catholics, and all people of good faith, to experience mercy by looking "sincerely into the eyes of our sisters and brothers on the path of life." Lent is a particularly special moment during the jubilee year as it is conducive to sharing, forgiveness and acceptance.
Through this campaign, Development and Peace takes people on a pilgrimage to Indonesia, Haiti, Paraguay and the Palestinian Territories to hear the stories of women, children and men who are living through poverty and injustice in their daily lives and are taking positive action for change through the support of Development and Peace.
"It is very special for us to celebrate our Share Lent campaign during this Jubilee Year of Mercy, when the Pope asks us to genuinely experience what it is like to walk in the shoes of another. It is exciting that Development and Peace can help provide that experience and we hope many people will participate in the campaign," says David Leduc, Executive Director of Development and Peace.
Canadians are encouraged to show their solidarity by making a donation and/or taking a meaningful action to reduce their carbon footprint. Education and fundraising activities will be held across the country throughout the period of Lent and a special collection will be held on March 13th, the fifth Sunday of Lent, in parishes from coast to coast.
During this Lenten campaign, the organization is also launching a collaborative quilt project. Each diocese in Canada has been asked to create a square in honour of Development and Peace's upcoming 50th anniversary. The squares will form a quilt that will be completed in autumn 2017, when the organization will mark 50 years of solidarity work with the Global South. The first quilt squares are being prepared in British Columbia and Newfoundland, and celebrations will be held before the squares travel to other dioceses where squares will be added to form the quilt.
To learn more about the campaign and the work of Development and Peace, and/or to make a donation, visit www.devp.org.
SOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE
Image with caption: "Development and Peace launches its annual Share Lent fundraising campaign (CNW Group/DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160210_C3713_PHOTO_EN_605292.jpg
Kelly Di Domenico, Communications Officer, 514 257-8710 ext. 365, 514 226-9620, [email protected]
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