Development and Peace’s response to the COVID-19 crisis

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Development and Peace’s response to the COVID-19 crisis

 

Let us join Pope Francis and the Church in asking the Lord “for the end of the epidemic, relief for those who are afflicted and eternal salvation for those whom the Lord has called to Himself.”[1]

Several Canadian religious communities reached out to express their solidarity, as well as their concern about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our mission and on vulnerable communities in the Global South. Considering your community’s support to our organisation, we wanted to share with you how Development and Peace is responding to the crisis:

  • Like so many in Canada and in the world, Development and Peace must cope with the impact of the COVID-19 crisis while supporting those most vulnerable who depend on us: our sisters and brothers in the Global South, whom we know will suffer more from the pandemic than us.
  • Development and Peace therefore continues to operate while offices are closed, through telework and other arrangements, in order to provide essential support to our local partners in the Global South who are already seeing the devastating effects of this pandemic.
  • Due to church closures, the traditional Share Lent parish collections for Development and Peace did not take place on Solidarity Sunday, the 5th Sunday of Lent. It uncertain that collections can take place later this year, and this is likely to have a negative impact on Share Lent donations.
  • Our Share Lent campaign went ahead by going virtual, with material and activities adapted for an online campaign. This was only possible thanks to the dedication of our members and employees, as well as the invaluable support of the Catholic community, notably the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

As the Holy Father reminded us in his Extraordinary moment of prayer for the end of the coronavirus pandemic, we all find ourselves fragile and vulnerable before this crisis, yet at the same time important and needed, “all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other.”[2]

We are always, and especially at this time, grateful for each and every gesture of solidarity and support we receive: prayers, words of encouragement, help on our campaign or donations.

Thank you for your prayers and for your support,
Christiane Nguyen

Fundraising Development Officer

514 257-8710 # 363

cnguyen@devp.org