Attacking racism at its root
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI “Racism generates inequality…but inequality also fuels racism” —Prof Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, Dean, Faculty of Law, UWI STA. Many thanks to all those who contributed to and participated in the recent virtual National Symposium entitled ‘A Time for Healing— Understanding and Reconciling Race Relations in Trinidad and Tobago’, organised […]
Right relationship with God’s Creation
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI Let’s commit to observe the Season of Creation, an annual ecumenical celebration of prayer and action to protect our common home. It runs from Tuesday, September 1 until October 4, the Feast day of St Francis of Assisi. On September 1 we would all have participated in […]
We will be rewarded according to our behaviour
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI “…we are one people with a common destiny in our rich variety of culture, race and tradition” (Nelson Mandela) Do we really understand what it means to take up our cross and follow Jesus? In today’s gospel, Matt 16:21–27, Jesus said to His disciples: “If anyone wants […]
God’s house, a house of prayer for all
National Shrine and Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham, Slipper Chapel. By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI Recently I visited Mt St Benedict. Since my childhood I have always found it spiritually uplifting to pray in that sacred space. The abbey church and its surroundings fill one with peace/serenity. When I attended Holy Faith […]
Valuing our #youth
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI On Monday, citizens will go to the polls to vote in our General Election (GE), to elect the 41 persons who will sit in the House of Representatives in our 12th T&T Republican Parliament. Since our last GE in 2015, many of our youth would have turned […]
Compassion, the language of God
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI “Compassion allows you to see reality; compassion is like the lens of the heart: it allows us to take in and understand the true dimensions. In the Gospels, Jesus is often moved by compassion. And compassion is also the language of God” (Pope Francis). ***************************************** Next Monday, […]
We too are the rock of Faith
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI Over the past few weeks, before and after our General Election on August 10, it has been sad to note on social media, in particular, racist vitriol being spewed by so many people—mainly from the two major ethnic communities that reside in our beloved country. I was […]
Yes, your vote counts
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI “…responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium [The Joy of the Gospel], no 220, quoting United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, November 2007, no 13). ******************************************** In just over two weeks, we […]
Accompanying those addicted to gambling
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI “We pray for those suffering from addiction may be properly helped and accompanied.” —Pope Francis ************************************* In Pope Francis’ prayer intention for April 2020, he asked everyone to pray for those who suffer from addiction, especially addiction to gambling, pornography, and the internet. After last week’s parable […]
Building an inclusive society
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI “Violence is not the cure for our broken world“—Pope Francis. Let’s pray for members of the recently appointed committee that is leading the Community Recovery Programme. I am sure they will adopt a multifaceted approach to the work in hand. There is no quick fix in building […]
