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ShareLife’s 50th anniversary is elevating the annual parish campaign to new heights.
The Archdiocese of Toronto’s charitable fundraising arm, serving more than 40 social service agencies, has thus far amassed $9.6 million, a midway sum outpacing the $8.83 million raised during the first six months of 2025 by nearly $800,000.
Last year’s drive culminated in a record-breaking $15,671,786 performance. This year, the goal is to accrue at least $15.2 million.
Arthur Peters, the executive director of ShareLife and the archdiocese’s director of development, said donors are rewarding this campaign for staying true to its core values and mission since its inception on March 19, 1976.
“Fifty years ago, Archbishop (Philip) Pocock made a declaration of life on behalf of the unborn and (said) we would protect them,” said Peters. “Here we are 50 years later still standing behind what we believe in. It hasn't changed. It's our faith. It's what we stand for.”
Toronto Catholics who remember Pocock pulling out of United Way because of its funding of Planned Parenthood revere the impact of his announcement from the Kenora Room of the Four Seasons Sheraton Hotel all these years later.
“Some people say ‘I remember where I was standing when he made that announcement,’ ” said Peters. “Today, if that announcement was made, it might get a mention in the newspaper somewhere on the back (pages). But back then, that was front-page news. It was all over the media — TV, radio and print — for days as people discussed back and forth what the Catholic Church had done and what this meant. It was a very historic decision.”
St. Jerome’s University President Dr. Peter Meehan told The Catholic Register in March that there “was nothing political about Pocock.” The head of the Toronto archdiocese from 1971 to 1978 “wanted to do the right thing for the people,” and that compelled him to take “courageous stands on (issues) like abortion, but he did them in pastoral ways.”
The indestructible culture of life ethos cemented in 1976 is exemplified today through ShareLife’s work with agencies specializing in families, seniors, children and youth, young parents, immigrants and refugees, special needs and international development.
An anonymous donor championed the worthiness of these causes by stepping up with a $50,000 matching gift for contributions made on March 19. That single calendar date yielded a robust $710,000.
Peters shared that the ShareLife team will strive to keep the campaign momentum strong during the second half of 2026 with two more mailings and continued online storytelling about the good work made possible because of donor generosity.
Notably, there are also two forthcoming gatherings centred on saluting ShareLife’s contemporary impacts and impressive longevity.
Cardinal Frank Leo will preside over a 50th anniversary Mass on Saturday, Aug. 22, starting at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica. A gathering with refreshments will follow in the cathedral courtyard. Parties interested in attending the celebration must register in advance.
Leo has already praised ShareLife’s legacy through the campaign’s official 50th anniversary video and a letter to the faithful. He declared that ShareLife’s “life-giving work reaches people where they are, in moments of struggle, fear and uncertainty. It demonstrates compassionate care and reflects our Catholic values, providing them with the strength of community.”
There are also developing plans to host a ShareLife open house event at St. Augustine’s Seminary in early October. More details will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
Visit sharelife.org to learn more.
(Amundson is an associate editor and writer for The Catholic Register.)
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