Development and Peace

Lent Campaign: On Track for Justice:

Lent is a time of conversion that invites us to draw closer to God, to Jesus and to our neighbours. For Development and Peace, it is an opportunity to draw closer to our sisters and brothers in the Global South. This Lent, let us walk alongside them, On Track for Justice, and ensure that our gifts and actions create a bridge of solidarity, echoing the words of Pope Leo XIV in Dilexi te, (§75) , “The Church, like a mother, accompanies those who are walking...where walls are built, she builds bridges.”

1st Symbol – A Mask

Over the next four weeks we will be presenting the four Symbols of Solidarity.

1st Symbol – A Mask: A mask represents how difficult it is to live healthily for rural communities whose air is contaminated by mining and industrial pollution. Three hundred and twelve families of Piquia do Baixo in Brazil know this all too well. Their daily lives—and their lungs—were filled with toxic dust from industries and freight trains near their homes along the Carajas railway. After twenty years of struggle, the 1,300 people in the community were able to relocate away from the pollution to a development called Piquia da Conquista, with the support of Development and Peace – Caritas Canada’s partner, Justica nos Trilhos (Justice on Rails) 

Together, let’s walk hand in hand with communities in the Global South who are working for justice, peace and dignity. How?


By donating to a special collection on Solidarity Sunday Weekend, March 22nd, the fifth Sunday of Lent. Your generosity helps support over 59 projects in 34 countries around the world! Envelopes available in the lobby of the Church.


Get the Mini-magazine and follow the Solidarity Calendar with your family. Copies available in the lobby of the church.

Some ideas from the Solidarity Calendar for the week of Ash Wednesday:

● Plant a mustard seed and watch it grow throughout Lent. 

● Can you reduce your use of disposable packaging? Donate fifty cents for every wrapper in your lunch bag.

● Catholic Social teaching (CST) is central to our faith and the work of Development and Peace. Each Monday,

   discover a CST and learn how it helps building the Kingdom of God. Use the link: Solidarity Calendar Activities


Join the On Track for Justice Campaign Launch Webinar - To learn all about Development and Peace — Caritas Canada’s new Share Lent campaign, On Track for Justice, join the launch webinar on February 21 at 2:30 p.m. on Zoom. Click here to register.


We will learn about the work of our Brazilian partner, Justiça nos Trilhos (Justice on Rails), in the company of Padre Dario Bossi, a Comboni missionary and Lenten solidarity visitor, and a member of a community along the Carajás railway that is affected by industrial agriculture. Read the letter of support from Bishop Riesbeck. Copies are available in the lobby of the church..