Standing by the family
by CCSJ Chair, Leela Ramdeen “There is something shifting in our value system and we must do something about it.” These words were uttered by Rebekah Ali-Gouveia, founder and director of the Elpis Centre, as she addressed more than 200 persons at the opening of last week’s two-day Caribbean Conference entitled: “Life and Family Values: […]
Vocations, gift of the Love of God
by CCSJ Chair, Leela Ramdeen Today our Church observes the 49th World Day of Prayer for Vocations. On October 18, 2011, in preparation for Vocation Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI meditated on the theme: Vocations, the Gift of the Love of God. The Holy Father reminds us that “It is in this soil of self-offering and […]
Observing Earth Day
by CCSJ Chair, Leela Ramdeen “.…there is an order in the universe which must be respected…the human person, endowed with the capability of choosing freely, has a grave responsibility to preserve this order for the well-being of future generations. I wish to repeat that the ecological crisis is a moral issue.” – Pope John Paul […]
Apostles of unity, hope and salvation
by CCSJ Chair, Leela Ramdeen “Every Christian is sent to be an apostle of unity, of hope and of salvation…There is a danger that many will ask – ‘What can I do’? But if only members of the Church both as individuals and in cooperation with others would stand up for Christian principles, practising and […]
We are an Easter people
by CCSJ Chair, Leela Ramdeen “O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? Christ is risen and you are abolished. Christ is risen and the demons are cast down. Christ is risen and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen and life is freed. Christ is risen and the tomb is emptied […]
Journey to Easter
by CCSJ Chair, Leela Ramdeen The sight of thousands of golden daffodils everywhere in London, “tossing their heads in sprightly dance” (Wordsworth), reminds me of the many gifts given to us by God. Today, Palm Sunday, I shall be joining family and friends in London in an annual procession as we begin our journey through […]
Remembering victims of transatlantic slavery
by CCSJ Chair, Leela Ramdeen “Every time I hear the crack of a whip, my blood runs cold. I remember on the slave ship, how they brutalised my very soul. (Nesta Marley’s song: Slave Driver) In 2007, the UN declared March 25 (annually) as the “International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and […]
Doing good works
by CCSJ Chair, Leela Ramdeen “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. . . […]
Pray for girls whose dreams are being dashed
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ “….for the Christian, every man and woman is a true sanctuary of God, and should be treated with the highest respect and affection.” (Pope Benedict XVI, Nov 7, 2010) On Thursday, March 8, International Women’s Day (IWD), I delivered an address to students at St Joseph’s Convent, St Joseph on […]
Poverty in T&T
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ Last Sunday evening I participated in a 2 hour panel discussion – live on TV, Channel 8 – on the theme: “Approaches to Poverty Alleviation”. Other panellists were Prof Habib Ahmed, Durham University, from the Muslim community, and Rev Adrian Sieunarine from the Presbyterian community. I was asked to consider […]