We are called to share in God’s joy

The FaithWorks theme for 2023 is a quote from The Book of Joy, co-authored by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama. Archbishop Tutu says,

“The Dead Sea in the Middle East receives fresh water, but it has no outlet, so it doesn’t pass the water out. It receives beautiful water from the rivers, and the water goes dank. I mean, it just goes bad. And that’s why it is the Dead Sea. It receives and does not give. In the end, generosity is the best way of becoming more, more, and more joyful.”

This passage reminds me of Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. He had condemned himself to a path of misery, loneliness and death. His fist was clenched tight, holding onto everything he had received and believed to be his exclusively. His life became a desolate place like the Dead Sea.

We can easily fall into this trap. Archbishop Tutu offers us a way out. He offers us a way to avoid this trap in the first place. He offers us generosity as a path to joy. He would have us understand and experience that opening our hearts to others, opening our clenched fists to share with others, taking the risk to reach out to help others brings us joy. It is like finding an outlet for the Dead Sea, or the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge. Yes, we are transformed by generosity! We build new relationships. We have a positive impact on the world. We better see true value and meaning beyond material possessions.

We are called to share in God’s joy. “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full.” Jesus says (John 15:11). We are called to be joyful. “Rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy.” Peter exhorts us (1 Peter 1:8). “We rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.” Paul teaches us (Romans 5:2). I rejoice that through your generosity to FaithWorks, you have experienced the transformative and divine joy of generosity.

Thank you to all our donors, large or small, new or ongoing, individual, parish, corporate or foundation. Thank you to our dedicated volunteers in parishes and at the Diocese. Thank you to our ministry partners who are on the frontline of the struggle to bring well-being and security to so many. I pray the joy of generosity be yours. I pray your generosity leads you to a fuller experience of God’s love. I pray that you will continue to help the most vulnerable among us.

2022 results

In 2022, the impact of your donation to FaithWorks was felt across the diocese and throughout the world. There was a 35% increase in the need for services provided by FaithWorks’ ministry partners.

Thank you to our Ministry Partners

Our FaithWorks Ministry Partners struggle on the front-line each and every day to share the transforming power of Christ’s love with thousands of people in need. We thank our Ministry Partners for being powerful witnesses to the love that is changing lives and changing the world.

• A Place Called Home, Lindsay
• All Saints Church Community Centre, Toronto
• Anglican United Refugee Alliance (AURA)
• Couchiching Jubilee House, Orillia
• Flemingdon Park Ministry, Toronto
• Inn from the Cold, Newmarket
• Migrant Workers Ministry, Durham
• North House, Durham
• One City Peterborough
• One Roof Community Centre, Peterborough
• Orillia Christian Centre “The Lighthouse”
• Philip Aziz Centre for Hospice Care, Toronto
• Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF)
• Samaritan House, Barrie
• The Dam, Mississauga
• Toronto Urban Native Ministry, Toronto

Thank you to our corporate and foundation donors

Thank you to our Corporate and Foundation Donors who contributed $234,900 to FaithWorks in 2022. Your generosity makes it possible to improve the lives of thousands of individuals and families.

$50,000 – $99,999

• Anglican Diocese of Toronto Foundation
• BMO Financial Group
• Fast Foundation

$20,000 – $49,999

• Fleck Family Foundation
• New England Company

$15,000 – $19,999

• Anglican Foundation – Apostolic Catholic Trust
• Letko, Brosseau & Associates

$5,000 – $14,999

• Bicknell Foundation
• Fiera Capital Corporation
• Rogers Gardham, ODT
• Smith-Boake Designwerke
• VPC Group
• Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit

$1,000 – $4,999

• Caldwell Securities
• Foster Hewitt Foundation
• Margaret Sisley Foundation
• Nursing & Homemakers Inc.
• Oriole Foundation
• Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP
• Uplands Foundation

Thank you to our parishes

You are at the heart of the annual FaithWorks campaign as communities of compassion and hope. 93% of parishes participated in the 2022 campaign. Contributions from our parishes were $871,700. Parishes retained $82,368 for local outreach ministries. Area grants totaled $43,145. Thank you for being communities of love and hope.

Visit www.faithworks.ca for more information or to donate