PRIMATE’S WORLD RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT FUND

One of the advantages of being part of a large church family—in our case, the Anglican Church of Canada and the worldwide Anglican Communion—is that there are people who can do work on our behalf that we could never do ourselves. Nowhere is this clearer than in the work of the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF).

When disaster strikes—think of the earthquake and tsunami that ravaged northern Japan in 2011—we are easily overwhelmed by such devastation. But when we pool our resources in funds set up precisely for relief in these circumstances, our ability to respond is not inconsiderable. The Primate’s Fund has contributed millions of dollars toward disaster relief throughout the world, including the Slave Lake fire that consumed much of that town in 2010.

Similarly, when we survey the neediest populations of the world, it often appears that the obstacles to their health—and to their very survival—are beyond measure. Yet, as an example, PWRDF is partnering with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) by providing $2.7 million over five years toward maternal and child health in 59 villages in Burundi, Mozambique and Tanzania.

PWRDF is our way of giving a helping hand to people in need around the world. To find out more about their work, visit their web site at: www.pwrdf.org, or speak with Emma Westcott, our Primate’s Fund parish representative. And always you can contribute directly to this work by writing a cheque to St. Stephen’s, marked PWRDF.

HILDA SHILLIDAY

From earliest times, faithful people have felt called to separate and distinguish themselves from “the nations”. This was not an attitude of “better than”, but a stance of “in service to …”. So the people of Israel saw themselves as a light to the nations, and the early Christians as the Body of Christ.

There are many ways we at St. Stephen’s are engaged in service to the world. And where we cannot manage a piece of outreach work ourselves, we provide financial support to those who can—including our long-time friend Hilda Shilliday. Already deep into her retirement, Hilda felt a desire to make a contribution to those who suffer from poverty and from the devastating effects of the AIDS pandemic in Africa.

Calling upon her background in nursing, her tireless resourcefulness, and her considerable moxie, Hilda offered her volunteer services to a hospital in Uganda that focussed on care and treatment for those with AIDS. But her influence soon spread beyond that, as she helped support a fledgling orphanage, and even took on government officials on the practice of corporal punishment in the schools.

Hilda is an inspiration, and we are very fortunate to be able to participate in her work through our Outreach-Beyond Fund. This fund supports several projects in Africa, including YEGO Rwanda, a counselling service provided by our friend Emmanuel Gatera. You can support Hilda and Emmanuel in their important work at any time by making a donation to St. Stephen’s with the memo “Outreach-Beyond”.