Share Lent Campaign, Development and Peace – Caritas Canada (DPCC) 2025
My Dear Clergy and My Dear People,
As we enter this sacred Season of Lent, I invite you to reflect on our call to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope,’ as proclaimed by Pope Francis in this Jubilee Year 2025. In a world marked by poverty, oppression, and inequality, we are called to action through our support of Development and Peace Caritas Canada, the official international development organization of our Catholic Church in Canada.
Since its founding in 1967, Development and Peace has dedicated itself to addressing the root causes of these injustices by collaborating with partners in the global south and mobilizing our fellow Canadians to pursue justice and dignity for all. This Lent, let us join in solidarity with those who suffer the burdens of unjust debts, which they will never be able to repay.
Together with this year’s theme, we can participate in the global Turn Debt Into Hope campaign. I urge you to take two simple yet profound actions: First, sign the global petition to cancel the unjust debts of impoverished countries. Second, on Solidarity Sunday, the Fifth Sunday of Lent, please give generously to Share Lent, our annual fundraising campaign supporting the transformative work of Development and Peace in over 30 countries.
As we journey through this Lenten season, let us embody Christ’s compassion by turning our collective hope into tangible help for those in need. Your generosity can help transform lives and foster lasting change.
Please visit devp.org/give to contribute and join us in this crucial mission. Together, let us Turn Debt Into Hope.
If you have not yet ordered the free Share Lent materials for your parish, you can do so at
Resources Lent 2025 | Development and Peace – Caritas Canada (devp.org)
If you have any questions about the campaign or the Share Lent materials, you are invited to contact our Regional DPCC animator, Adah Ogbe, at aogbe@devp.org.
Thank you for your prayers and generous support.
Fraternally,
+ Wayne Joseph Kirkpatrick
Bishop Wayne Joseph Kirkpatrick
Bishop of Antigonish
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CANCEL DEBT TO CREATE HOPE
As we begin our journey for the 2025 Jubilee, Pope Francis reminds us that “hope should be granted to the billions of the poor who often lack the essentials of life” and that “the goods of the Earth are not destined for a privileged few but for everyone.” (Spes Non Confundit, 15-16)
Inspired by this call to justice, we are joining Caritas Internationalis’ campaign Turn Debt into Hope along with many other faith-based and civil society organisations.
Together, we urge decision-makers to prioritise people and planet over mere profit and demand debt justice for communities crushed by unjust and unpayable debts.
As the Holy Father writes, “if we really wish to prepare a path to peace in our world, we must commit ourselves to remedying the remote causes of injustice, settling unjust and unpayable debts” (Spes Non Confundit, 16).
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