Love My Neighbour Interfaith Project

Grace and Peace to you all,

It has been very good indeed to see the blessing of many of our loved ones, friends, coworkers, and diocesan family receiving COVID-19 vaccinations in recent weeks, and a further widening of access to book appointments in the coming days. We continue to remember those who are eagerly and anxiously awaiting their doses -- both close to home and around the world -- and we pray especially for those who are currently sick and all who care for them.

Did you know that while places like Canada, the US, the UK, and elsewhere are well on their way in their vaccination efforts, many other parts of the world who have not been able to receive a single dose yet (and will not in significant numbers for months or even years)? This is quite simply a moral crisis. What does it mean to love our neighbours in the context of vaccine access? What would Jesus say to us about vaccination justice and equity?

The Love My Neighbour project, in partnership with UNICEF, is a grassroots Canadian interfaith initiative which is seeking to respond to these questions by encouraging people of faith and compassion - Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, and many more - to "gift forward" the cost of 1 vaccination in another part of the world for every 1 vaccination administered in Canada. For just $25, you can cover the costs for someone else to be vaccinated and multiply the gift you were blessed to freely receive.

In the face of what is a major moral test of our time, let us hear the Word of the Lord: "The second is like it; love your neighbour as yourself" (Mark 12:31)

Canon Dr. Scott Sharman, Ecumenical and Interfaith Coordinator

Visit www.lovemyneighbourproject.org for more information, and a link to the donation page.