Ottawa, January 31, 2022 — The founding director of Catholic Near East Welfare Association in Canada, Carl Hétu, ends his term February 11, 2022, after 18 years at the helm. Recruited by CNEWA in February 2004 to assist in establishing an office in Canada, Carl helped to grow the organization and lead a passionate and devoted team of employees to help generous Canadian donors build bridges with the historical churches of the East, from Ukraine, Ethiopia and India to the Middle East, including Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq and Egypt, by providing them financial support and ongoing prayers.
“Although we’re sad to see Carl go, we are most grateful for his accomplishments with CNEWA and establishing a solid foundation going forward,” said the Most Rev. Marcel Damphousse, Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall, and president of CNEWA’s board of directors in Canada. “We find great joy in seeing the fruits of this adventure and know the future is bright for CNEWA’s mission of supporting the churches of the East and helping to raise awareness for the diversity and role of the church in these turbulent regions. Mission accomplished, Carl. Thank you! Shoukran. Dyakuyu.”
During his tenure, Carl made more than 30 mission trips including Gaza, Lebanon and Ethiopia, helped generous Canadians donate more than $50 million to support the work of the Eastern churches and, most importantly, to pray and work for peace among peoples.
“Though it wasn’t easy, these past 18 years have felt like a riveting dream,” said Carl Hétu. “Though we can be a shy and discrete people, I have always been deeply touched by the great love of Canadians for Christ and their fellow persons. Canadians feel great empathy and kinship toward Christians who are too often mistreated or persecuted — and rightfully they should. It was an honour for me to help direct their love to so many persons and groups in need. I am eternally grateful for having been entrusted to contribute to CNEWA’s expansion and mission.”
Carl will now devote his time and attention to the work of Development and Peace ‒ Caritas Canada, as its new executive director. He will begin on February 14. From 1990 to 2004 Carl worked at Development and Peace as a regional animator.
About CNEWA
An agency of the Holy See, CNEWA works for, through and with the Eastern churches throughout the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe, providing pastoral and humanitarian support. Founded by Pope Pius XI in 1926, CNEWA was incorporated in Canada as a registered charity by Canada Revenue Agency in 2003. For more information, visit cnewa.ca.
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Jean-Nicolas Desjeunes
Torchia Communications
514-998-0884
jnd@torchiacom.com