The Sisters of St. Ann have been involved with Development and Peace since the organization’s foundation 50 years ago. The Sisters’ $4 million donation last week is the largest private donation the international organization has received.
“We are extremely grateful to the Sisters of St. Ann for their very generous contribution to the long term vision and mission of Development and Peace,” said Serge Langlois, Executive Director. “It is especially poignant to receive their support in our jubilee year.”
A small recognition ceremony was held at the St. Patrick’s Parish, where the Sisters of St. Ann joined Serge Langlois and other members and supporters of Peace and Parish of St. Patrick’s to announce the donation.
Province Co-Leader Sister Marie Zarowny recognizes the long history Sisters of St. Ann share with Development and Peace. “We have been very committed to its goals. We want to give them this donation as an investment and endowment that would generate the kind of resources we would give annually,” she said. The donation will go into a solidarity fund for years to come. Since 1967, Development and Peace has invested $600 million in more than 15,000 projects in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. The Sisters of St. Ann have focused on education and health care alleviation in and outside of Canada since the 19th century.
Sister Marie stresses that the international efforts undertaken by Development and Peace are especially important because, while the group provides emergency assistance and relief in times of disaster, it focuses more on lasting methods: impoverished communities overcoming obstacles and developing. “It’s not a band-aid solution. It addresses the causes of poverty and oppression,” she said. She added that today more than ever, the goals of the organization need to be pursued.
75 percent of interest generated from the solidarity fund will be directed to projects focusing on peace and reconciliation, equal rights for women and men, ecological justice and democracy and citizen participation. The rest will go toward international aid to mitigate humanitarian crises.