The Diocese of New Westminster Celebrates PWRDF's 50th

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 was a beautiful early Fall day and St. Philip's Dunbar an ideal setting for the Diocese of New Westminster's celebration of the Anglican Church of Canada's international outreach organization, Primate's World Relief and Development Fund's 50th Anniversary Fundraising Dinner.

Following a very convivial cocktail hour Bishop Michael began the "sit-down" portion of the event with prayer followed by grace. The bishop also served as Master of Ceremonies for the evening.
During the meal diners were entertained by a musical duo with a distinctly Maritime provinces/celtic flair. Each musical selection was greeted with hearty applause.
Following the meal, the diners were shown video greetings and messages from both Archbishop Fred Hiltz and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. After the video, PWRDF Youth representative Maureen Bailey, a parishioner at Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Westminster was the first to speak. She engaged the audience with her impressions of her trip to Africa last winter with Archbishop Fred Hiltz and PWRDF Executive Director, Cheryl Curtis and how the experience of a foundation laying ceremony for a medical centre funded by PWRDF has profoundly affected her and strengthened her commitment to the work of PWRDF.
Next up was the keynote address from PWRDF Executive Director Cheryl Curtis, now in the fourth year of her tenure as the organizations principal lay leader. Cheryl's primary message was to reinforce PWRDF's role as "agents of hope for Global justice" and as a "transforming presence connecting Anglicans around the world in dynamic partnerships." She reminded those in attendance that PWRDF is a "professional organization" connected and respected throughout the international community where 90 percent of funds raised are delivered directly to the work of the recipient projects without going through agencies or acquiring added expense with expanded bureaucracy. Cheryl also told stories of individuals and communities aided by PWRDF who in the face of tremendous challenge and adversity put the welfare, security and comfort of others first. Cheryl also related the historic beginnings of the organization as members of the Anglican Church of Canada and others responded with unprecedented speed and generosity to the victims of the underground mine explosion in Springhill, Nova Scotia, October of 1958. Inspired by that response, less than a year later the General Synod established the Primate’s World Relief Fund as an agency to quickly channel assistance to areas in need in times of emergency. In 1969 the name was changed to Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund – PWRDF.
Cheryl reminded the audience that right that very minute, October 3rd, 2009 there are regions of the world (Indonesia, Samoa, The Philippines) being devastated by natural disasters and the need to get aid quickly to these areas has never been greater.
The Executive Director's address was greeted with hearty applause and then it was PWRDF 50th Anniversary Celebration Steering Committee Chair the Rev. Kevin Dixon's opportunity to ask those in attendance to respond with generosity to the needs of God's Mission through PWRDF in acknowledgment of 50 years of life changing ministry.
For more information about opportunities to participate in our diocesan goal to raise $50,000 in honour of PWRDF's 50th Anniversary visit the PWRDF website, www.pwrdf.org or make a gift through the Diocese of New Westminster by clicking on the Canada Helps, Donate Now button on the homepage of the website, www.vancouver.anglican.ca, chose PWRDF from the list of funds and earmark the gift “50th Anniversary.”
There have been numerous other parish and deanery events held throughout the diocese during the Fall of 2009 to support PWRDF and Diocesan Communications will be bringing you the results of those efforts as they become available.