BUILDING
A WORLD OF JUSTICE — Samuel Medernach (age four)
and his brother Joseph (age eight) have their Share Lent Jar ready to
go. (R. Medernach photo)
This
Lent, take part in building a world of justice
By Richard Medernach
“You
are warmly invited to join the community of Development and Peace members
and partners in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East as they
strive to build a world of justice where all live in dignity and peace.”
— Msgr. Pierre Morissette , president of the Canadian Conference
of Catholic Bishops
On March 9th the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, a day where we are called to turn back to God. Ash Wednesday is also the day that Development and Peace’s Share Lent campaign kicks off. This year, the goal is to raise $10 million for development projects with partners in the Global South as well as for emergency aid responses. So let me ask you, what is your share of that 10 million to be raised?
Lent is a time to grow spiritually — traditionally by making sacrifices
— in preparation for the great celebration of Easter. For the last
decade or more, Development and Peace’s Share Lent program has been
a cornerstone of my personal lenten experience. I use the season of Lent
to give up ignorance about a social justice issue and to take on prayer
for and solidarity with the world’s poor. I try to temporarily give
up something I value so that I can share with those who have so little;
so that I can have a small taste of what life without instant gratification
is like. It really is the least I can do.
This year, Development
and Peace has produced a 30-page Share Lent magazine to educate us about
the work of D&P partners and to encourage us to engage in the Share
Lent campaign. It is remarkable to read the partners’ stories of
triumph in the face of adversity, all of which is made possible by the
support of, and approach to justice taken by Development and Peace. These
success stories are made possible by the donations of people like you
and me.
D&P partner
success stories include the women’s organizations in East Timor
which successfully created laws to protect against domestic violence,
and the farmer’s co-operatives in Sierra Leone that have increased
local food production capacity by 50 per cent. This list goes on. I recommend
spending some time reading the uplifting and inspiring stories in the
Share Lent magazine.
While the long-term
development projects are D&P’s forte, the organization, being
part of Caritas Internationalis, also has tremendous capacity to help
in emergency situations. The earthquake in Haiti and the floods in Pakistan
are two recent examples. By working with local partner agencies that are
part of the Caritas network, aid from Development and Peace can be quickly
and effectively distributed and the transition from emergency response
to long-term reconstruction can occur smoothly.
Whether you are
new to lenten discipline or a seasoned veteran, I encourage you to consider
making Share Lent part of your preparation for Easter. A good place to
start is the 2011 Solidarity Calendar that gives daily suggestions during
the season of Lent for prayer and donations related to Development and
Peace. Some days are simple, such as the suggestion for Sunday, March
13 where we are asked to pray for the people of Africa. Other days are
a glimpse into something larger such as the March 28 suggestion to give
$2 in support of INSAN in Iraq that helps those who have been made homeless
by war. Not knowing what INSAN is, I go to the Share Lent magazine (available
online now and coming soon to your parish) and learn about their struggle
and their success and I gladly drop a toonie into my Share Lent jar. The
purpose of the solidarity calendar is to get you thinking about social
justice, praying for those in need and sharing your blessings.
For youth looking
for a Share Lent experience, perhaps your school or parish is hosting
a ThinkFast. Although it’s been a few years since my youth, I remember
those 25-hour education and fundraising fasts as a lot of fun, informative
and leaving me with a sense of accomplishment. It felt good to raise money
for a worthy endeavour and to have a sense of hope for a better world.
Also of interest
to youth, though not exclusively so, is the launch of Share Lent 2.0.
Development and Peace is reaching out through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
and a new blog to spread the good news and to gain more supporters. http://sharelent.devp.org
opens on Ash Wednesday.
A new opportunity is available this year for those who wish to participate
in online fundraising for Development and Peace. Through the Share Lent
blog, you can learn how to set up a personal fundraising page to encourage
your personal networks to support D&P. This is a great option for
those who may have little money to give but who might be able to make
a big difference by getting friends and family engaged in the campaign.
Perhaps time and
talents can be offered to friends and family in exchange for donations
to Share Lent.
If, like me, you
are long past youth, consider stepping up to the level of becoming a share
year-round member of Development and Peace. By making automatic monthly
contributions, you can more easily support the work of Development and
Peace. For me, it’s easier to contribute a modest amount each month
than a larger donation on Solidarity Sunday.
The theme for
this year’s Share Lent campaign is “building a word of justice.”
The goal is to raise $10 million. What’s your part in building a
world of justice?
For more information
visit http://sharelent.devp.org
or http://www.facebook.com/devpeace.
Medernach is the co-ordinator of student services at St. Thomas More College and is a share year-round member of Development and Peace. He lives in Saskatoon with his wife and two children and you can read his blog at www.richardmedernach.wordpress.com
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