Christmas joy, sadness and solidarity
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI I pray that your journey through Advent was prayerful. As we waited in joyful expectation of the birth of the Christ child, I am certain that, like me, you could not fail to be moved once again by the incredible gift God gave us by sending His […]
The virtue of Solidarity
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI “While modern society places more importance on one’s own interests regardless of or even to the detriment of others…[true Christians] ban individualism in order to encourage sharing and solidarity.” – Pope Francis, 2019 Today, December 20, is the International Human Solidarity Day. The virtue of solidarity is […]
Promoting the dignity of migrants
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI “All migrants are entitled to equal protection of all their human rights. On this International Day, I urge leaders and people everywhere to bring the Global Compact to life, so that migration works for all” —UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Friday, December 18 is International Migrants Day. “It is […]
Stand up for human rights
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI Thursday, December 10 is Human Rights Day. The theme, Recover Better— Stand Up for Human Rights relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and focuses on the need to build back better by ensuring human rights are central to recovery efforts. “We will reach our common global goals only if […]
Eradicating modern slavery
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI International Day for the Abolition of Slavery will be observed on Wednesday, December 2. As the UN states: “Slavery is not merely a historical relic. According to the International Labour Organization more than 40 million people worldwide are victims of modern slavery. Although modern slavery is not […]
Is our church prepared to be bruised, hurting and dirty?
Pope Francis greets an elderly woman as he meets with people in a poor neighborhood in Asuncion, Paraguay, in this July 12, 2015, file photo. Pastoral care of the poor and those in need has been emphasis of the pontificate of Pope Francis. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) See VATICAN-LETTER-LATIN-AMERICA July 14, 2016. By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, […]
Stretching forth our hand to the poor
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI “Lazarus is a good example of the silent cry of the poor throughout the ages and the contradictions of a world in which immense wealth and resources are in the hands of the few” – Pope Francis. The Archdiocesan observance of Justice, Peace and Community Week (JPCW) […]
Praying for the dead and the bereaved
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI “Remembering the dead, caring for their graves and prayers of suffrage, are the testimony of confident hope, rooted in the certainty that death does not have the last word on human existence, for man is destined to a life without limits, which has its roots and its […]
On our journey to sainthood
St John Henry Newman By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI “Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you.” -St Augustine of Hippo Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints; the day when we commemorate all the saints of the Church. We live in a […]
Created out of love, to love
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI Today’s gospel, Matthew 22:34–40, is at the heart of Pope Francis’ Encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship. The Sadducees had already failed to trap Jesus. Now the Pharisees put Him to a test, asking Him which is the greatest commandment of the Law. There were 613 […]
