Restoring the horizon of hope
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Today is the First Sunday of Advent; the beginning of a new liturgical year. In the Angelus on this day in 2013, Pope Francis reminded us that “this day has a special charm; it makes us experience deeply the meaning of history. We rediscover the beauty of […]
Violence against women not God’s will
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “I…encourage you to continue your pastoral work, paying particular attention to the situation of women: promoting the role of women in society and fighting against abuse and violence toward women is also a way of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who chose to be born of […]
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) – November 15
by Archbishop Joseph Harris Gospel Mark 13:24-32 Jesus said to his disciples: “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. “And then they will see ‘the Son […]
Putting God back into our lives
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI In last week’s CCSJ column, we shared with readers the winning Spoken Word contribution from Michael Logie from Tunapuna. Below is the contribution of Shineque Saunders, the second prize winner of CCSJ’s and the Youth Commission’s Spoken Word Competition. (Sings): You push the Creator out, You didn’t […]
Let us be concerned for each other
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI The joint Spoken Word initiative of CCSJ and the Youth Commission proved to be a real treat. We say ‘Thanks’ to the 17 young contestants who ‘fired-up’ TCN’s studio on Friday October 30. Each received a Medal of Participation. The three winners were: 1st prize: Michael Logie, […]
Seeing with the eyes of faith
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Today’s Gospel reading about Jesus’ healing of the blind man, Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52), has much to teach us as we begin Justice, Peace and Community Week (JPCW) from Oct 24-31 on the theme: Let’s build inclusive communities. But before I focus on the reading, I congratulate Bernadette […]
How to craft peace
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI In preparation for Justice, Peace and Community Week (JPCW) from October 24–31, let us focus on the word “peace”. I share with you extracts from Pope Francis’ powerful homily at Sarajevo’s Olympic Stadium on June 6, 2015: “In the context of global communications we sense an atmosphere […]
Dare to be saints
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. From an early age, we Catholics learned what our role in life should be. During First Communion lessons, when the Catechism teacher asked: “Why did God make you?” The entire class would reply: “God made me to know Him, […]
Partnerships for Peace
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “…there is no such thing as ‘disharmony’; there is either harmony or we fall into chaos, where there is violence, argument, conflict, fear…” (Pope Francis, Vigil for Peace, September 7, 2013) On Monday, September 21, the world will observe the International Day of Peace. The United Nations […]
Make space for Civil Society
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “Civil society is the oxygen of democracy. Civil society acts as a catalyst for social progress and economic growth. It plays a critical role in keeping Government accountable, and helps represent the diverse interests of the population, including its most vulnerable groups” – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. On […]
