As the global human family faces the COVID-19 pandemic, Development and Peace — Caritas Canada wishes its members, donors and partner organizations the best of health and resilience. Our thoughts are especially with communities of the Global South whose hardships are compounded by this crisis.

A virtual campaign

During this difficult time, the need to support one another is more present than ever, particularly for our sisters and brothers in the Global South, whose struggles will be multiplied by this pandemic. As such, we will continue our Share Lent journey of solidarity virtually. We will remain in close contact by providing content and resources so that you can experience the spiritual renewal of Lent online and show your solidarity with those who need it most.

Your support is vital

As Church closures are already impacting collections in parishes across Canada, we are asking for donations by mail, phone or online:

Send a cheque to Development and Peace, 1425 René-Lévesque Blvd. West, 3rd Floor, Montreal (Quebec) H3G 1T7

Call to donate: 1-888-664-3387

Donate online: https://www.devp.org/en/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=17

Please consider sharing year-round with our monthly giving program. By signing up as a Share Year-Round donor, you are giving Development and Peace the ability to respond to needs as they arise, which is especially urgent at this time since our partner organizations will need us more than ever in the coming months.

Help us spread the word and encourage your friends, family and those in your community to donate during this precarious time.

For more information, please contact:

Minaz Kerawala
Communications and Public Relations Advisor,
Development and Peace — Caritas Canada514 257-8711 ext. 328 | mkerawala@devp.org

Brothers and sisters,

This is an incredibly busy and challenging time. With many businesses, schools, and parishes suspending services, we wanted to share a digital faith resource that can help us stay connected during this time of social distancing.

Hallow is a Catholic prayer and meditation app that guides users in deepening their relationship with God through audio-guided contemplative prayer sessions. Despite launching just over a year ago, Hallow is now the #1 Catholic app in the US app store with 150,000 downloads in over 50 countries, a 4.9 star rating, and over 750,000 prayer & meditation sessions completed through the app.

You can download the app here.

The app comes recommended by a number of Bishops, priests, families, and teachers across the country. You can get a quick tour of its features here on YouTube.

Hallow is making a special effort to help parishes during this health crisis to ensure that our social distancing does not lead to spiritual distancing from God.

There is both a permanently free version of the app, with content updated daily, as well as a premium version with additional content (how Hallow supports their team without selling advertisements or user data). The premium version usually comes with a 7-day free trial, but in an effort to support parishioners across the country, the Hallow team has extended the free trial period to 3 months.

The app includes a Lenten 40 days of prayer challenge, as well as a new set of Spiritual Communion sessions. Though not a replacement for receiving the physical sacrament, spiritual communion can act as a powerful way for us to seek union with Christ while Masses are suspended. The app also includes a new “Stuck at Home Praylist” to help us all find peace and healing during this time of stress and anxiety.

If you have any questions at all, feel free to reach out directly to the Hallow team at info@hallow.app.

God bless you all.