CNEWA Canada

‘Witnesses of Hope’ virtual fundraiser supports Middle East Christians

‘Witnesses of Hope’, virtual fundraiser in support of Christians in the Middle East, raises $74,000 for CNEWA’s partners throughout the region

Ottawa, July 15, 2021 – Witnesses of Hope, a TV special that premiered on Salt + Light Television, December 10, 2020, has raised more than $74,000 in support of Christians in the Middle East. Presented by CNEWA Canada to replace its annual Christians in the Middle East Dinner, funds raised will go to humanitarian and pastoral projects supporting Christian communities in the Middle East.

“We remain humbled at the great generosity of Canadians toward their brothers and sisters abroad,” said Carl Hétu, national director for CNEWA Canada. “Canadians from all walks of life feel the pain of others, particularly those who are mistreated, discriminated against or reeling from conflict or crises. We cannot thank them enough for their donations and prayers.”

Hosted by Deacon Pedro Guevara-Mann and Emilie Callan, the TV special featured stories from CNEWA-funded partners, religious communities and other Church-based organizations in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, as well as musical performances by St-Ephraim Syriac Catholic Choir and Merna Hanna, witness stories from Canadian donors and a panel conversation with Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto.

Founded in 2015 and held traditionally in Toronto with the partnership of the Archdiocese of Toronto, the Christians in the Middle East Dinner has raised more than $158,000 for Christian groups providing essential humanitarian, social and pastoral services throughout the Middle East.

About 2.5 million Christians have been forced to leave not only their homes but the Middle East entirely. Thousands of families are still displaced within their countries or live as refugees. This is the most rapid decrease in Christian population since the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

“With ongoing crises in the region for the last several years, it is a major concern for CNEWA to accompany the Christians of the Middle East.  We continue to support them so that they can continue to be witnesses of hope and peace, and so that they can continue to provide important social services to the poor and the marginalized,” concluded Hétu.

CNEWA continues to invite Canadians to pray for the work of Christians in the Middle and Near East. Donations can be made online at cnewa.ca, clicking on donate or by phone at 1-866-322-4441. Cheques can be mailed to CNEWA Canada at 223 Main Street, Ottawa, ON K1S 1C4, marked “Middle East”. Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $10 or more.

The TV special is available online here.

About CNEWA

An agency of the Holy See, CNEWA works for, through and with the Eastern Catholic churches throughout the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe. Founded by Pope Pius XI in 1926, CNEWA provides pastoral and humanitarian support to the churches and people of the East. CNEWA Canada was incorporated as a registered charity by Canada Revenue Agency in 2003.

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For more information, interviews or photos:

Mary Moniz
Torchia Communications
Cell: 647-278-0152
mary@torchiacom.com

Jean-Nicolas Desjeunes
Torchia Communications
Cell: 514-998-0884
jnd@torchiacom.com

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