Building blocks for peace
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “Peace is a gift, it is a handcrafted gift that we must work for every day; but doing so in the small things, in daily ‘littleness.’ Great manifestations for peace, great international encounters, are not enough if peace is not then made in little things…if in your […]
Promoting unity in diversity through Carnival
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “The ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization” (Gandhi) I thought of Gandhi’s words after the recent Notting Hill Carnival (NHC) in London, Europe’s largest street festival. I was honoured once again to be one of the judges […]
St Teresa, icon of charity and mercy
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ (http://rcsocialjusticett.org) & Director, CREDI The Vatican will anticipate the canonisation of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata with this special postage stamp, which will be released September 2, two days before Pope Francis officially declares her a saint. CNS photo/courtesy Vatican Philatelic and Numismatic Office. “Love is not patronizing and charity isn’t […]
Building a society for ALL
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI On Wednesday, August 31, T&T will celebrate 54 years of independence. My 91-year-old father, Balgobin Ramdeen, who was a Member of Parliament then (1961-1966), loves retelling his experience on that fateful day when we gained our independence. As he said in an interview: “I remember the day. […]
Defining our vision for human development
n, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI CCSJ members add our name to the list of those who are asking Cabinet to revisit its decision to discontinue the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) funding for persons over the age of 50 years. It is noted that those over 50s already enrolled in undergraduate programmes will […]
Building inter-religious dialogue to defend life
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “Let’s learn to live together, let’s be workers for peace.” These are the words of Roselyne Hamel, uttered at the funeral of her brother, Fr Jacques Hamel, at Rouen Cathedral recently. Eighty-eight-year-old Fr Jacques, assistant parish priest in the small town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, Normandy, was murdered by […]
Discover and develop ‘your treasure’
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Today’s Gospel is replete with messages for us (Luke: 12: 32-48 on being ready for the Master’s return). I wish to focus on a particular line which is of key importance in today’s world: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” One can […]
Love Jesus – Love Youth
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Today marks the final day of the 31st international celebration of World Youth Day (WYD) in Kraków, Poland (July 25-31). More than two million people from around the world were expected to take part in the celebration which was launched by St John Paul II in 1985 […]
Living a life worthy of our vocation
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI St Paul urges us to “live in a manner worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together…” (Ephesians 4: 1-3). Let us […]
‘Mother Seacole’, model of selfless service
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Do you know about Mary Seacole (1805-1881), the Jamaica-born nurse who cared for wounded British servicemen during the Crimean War in the 19th century (1853-1856)? She was born to a Scottish soldier and a Jamaican woman. Read her memoir, Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands […]
