Forming young people in our schools
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice “What greater work is there than training the mind and forming the habits of the young?” (St John Chrysostom). As I prepare my paper to participate in a panel discussion during the Ministry of Education’s National Consultation on the Primary School Curriculum (Apr 5-6), […]
Regional Consultation on HIV
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice On Wednesday, March 23 and Thursday 24, I attended UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Consultation on Universal Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support. I was a member of the panel that focused on: The Social and Cultural Environment: Human Rights and HIV (see CCSJ’s […]
The gift of living water
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice As a deer longs for running streams, so longs my soul for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, the God of life…(Psalm 42:1-2) On behalf of CCSJ, I would like to congratulate Bishop Claude Berkley, who was ordained as Coadjutor Bishop […]
Good works and God’s grace
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice Let us join the Holy Father in praying for those who died in Japan’s recent 8.9 magnitude earthquake and the tsunami that followed. He invoked “divine blessings of strength and consolation” on grieving friends and families and expressed solidarity with those involved in the […]
Our journey through Lent
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice Have you read the Holy Father’s 2011 Lenten Message? The title of his message is taken from St Paul’s Letter to the Colossians: “You were buried with Him in Baptism, in which you were also raised with Him”. (Col 2:12) CCSJ’s Lenten Newsletter […]
Doing the will of the Father
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice On CCSJ’s monthly TV programme (Ask Why) on channel 10 Tuesday, Feb 22, I urged those involved in Carnival to embrace the teachings of our faith regarding modesty, appropriate behaviour etc. Remember, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20). […]
Standing up for our beliefs
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice Recently I heard that I was being “pounded” on a radio programme about views I had expressed in the media about the Church’s teaching on same-sex marriage/union. I recall what the representative of the Parish Council at Los Bajos RC Church, Erin, said […]
Social Justice and individual responsibility
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice In November 2010, Pope Benedict said that the Catholic lay persons must be educated in the Church’s social teaching: “It is necessary to prepare lay people capable of dedicating themselves to the common good, especially in complex environments such as the world of politics…Lay […]
Walking in God’s ways
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice God had a plan when He created us. He imprinted in our minds a moral order so that we would live as he wants us to live. But he gave us free will to choose whether or not we follow his commandments. Reflect on […]
The death penalty won’t renew society
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice “Violence is not overcome by violence… peace is the result of a process of purification and of cultural, moral and spiritual elevation involving each individual and people, a process in which human dignity is fully respected.” (Pope Benedict XVI’s 2011 Peace Message) Last September […]