Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Do you know that for the past decade, I meet annually with volunteer teams and their regional trainers serving with Development and Peace – Caritas Canada? It is an opportunity for friendly conversation around our shared concerns for international solidarity. We journey together through our efforts to respond and adapt to the needs of our wider community, parishes and missions, and partners in the Global South.

The theme “Stand for the Land” will be the focus of this year’s Lenten season, presented by two representatives working from partner organizations: Raquel Soto of Colombia and Elvin Hernández from Honduras. They will be visiting us from March 19 to 22. It is true that the earth, our common home, is in need of gentler care. Jesus taught us, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” This sense of stewardship is best carried out through our gentle, loving care for humanity and a greater shared responsibility for the environment. The future of all depends on it!

The annual collection for Solidarity Sunday, which falls on the fifth Sunday of Lent, will be held the weekend of March 25 and 26, as announced by our diocesan Department of Administrative Services to Fabriques. Many, however, have already made their donations online: well done! I also understand that a number of parishes, missions and individuals are already sharing news of the campaign among their community networks. The work of Development and Peace complements the efforts being made on other fronts and is a beautiful expression of the unity of the Catholic Church in Canada. I am proud of Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, its projects and its members. Through them, we are able to provide concrete examples of social change to those who, regardless of their faith, mutually want to make a positive impact in the lives of those in the Global South, so they too may have secured access to food and water, and live in dignity: in short, to foster hope!

Thank you for taking part. Thank you for spreading the good news in your communities, be it by displaying the campaign poster or getting involved on social networks!

This Lent, may we, who believe in Jesus Christ, invite the Lord to sustain the hope that dwells in us; and may we take action towards fostering hope in our brothers and sisters everywhere!

† Christian Lépine
 Archbishop of Montreal

To learn more about how you can participate, visit:
https://www.devp.org/en/campaign/stand-for-the-land/

To order posters and other campaign materials: https://www.devp.org/en/order-lent/

To invite Share Lent guest speakers from Colombia or Honduras to visit your community, please write to: plafortune@devp.org