ShareLife has always been there

When that 14-year-old girl, herself barely more than a baby, found herself pregnant, lost, troubled and alone, looking to carry the young child in her womb to term and not give in to the ready availability of abortion, in need of a guiding hand, counselling, education and housing — ShareLife was there.

When a young teen or adult found themselves on the street, estranged from family and with nowhere to turn, an uncertain future shaped by the mean streets staring them straight in the face — ShareLife was there.

When the addicted, recovering from the ravages of a drug or alcohol dependence, with no place to lay their head at night, needing the care to battle through the fight to getting straight, needed someone, somewhere — ShareLife was there.

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When mental health trials or developmental challenges seem too hard to overcome, people abandoned by society, forced to the margins of society and in need of a safe space for care and shelter — ShareLife was there.

When training young men to be the next generation of shepherds to the faithful, developing aspiring ministerial leaders and promoting spiritual and human formation — ShareLife was there.

When a long, productive life is in its waning days, seeking a hand, in need of affordable, accessible recreation and social programs — ShareLife was there.

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When not one, but two devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela, killing thousands, destroying the homes of thousands more; and when a similar quake hit just weeks later in Colombia, devastating large swaths of the country, or the flooding and mudslides that brought so much death and misery to Nepal — ShareLife was there.

When the immigrant to Canada, or a refugee, came up against the struggle of adapting to a new land, a new culture, transitioning to all that is encumbered in starting a new life away from the home they have always known — ShareLife was there.

That’s quite a wide spectrum where ShareLife is having an impact today and over the past half century, at home and abroad, with the young and old, and so many more.

ShareLife and the more than 40 agencies it supports throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto has always shared a helping hand with those in need, those on the outside, those struggling in life. Look no further than what is noted above. I dare you to show me an area in life where ShareLife and its partner agencies are not making a difference.

It’s been that way for 50 years and counting. An essential part of society — and not just Catholic society — has always been there for those in need.

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In the pages that follow, The Catholic Register will expand on these examples and share the reasons why ShareLife and its agencies matter, all leading to one question: Why ShareLife? Why should we support ShareLife? I think the answer will be obvious, as it already is to the thousands who see the need and urgency in supporting ShareLife.

ShareLife is always there — will you be there for ShareLife?

A version of this article appeared in the September 27, 2026 issue of The Catholic Register with the headline "ShareLife has always been there".