Non-violence one step at a time
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “No single person can liberate a country. You can only liberate a country if you act as a collective.” (Nelson Mandela) I was driving to Port of Spain on Saturday morning (February 11), when I heard the news on the radio about the gruesome murder of 15-year-old […]
T&T needs a dose of LOVE
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI On Tuesday the world will observe another Valentine’s Day. Amidst the usual celebrations, take some time to reflect on what Love really means. The greatest commandment Jesus gave us is to love one another as He loves us. Valentine’s Day is celebrated not only by couples, but […]
Time to be salt and light
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “The Church is the salt of the earth, she is the light of the world. She is called to make present in society the leaven of the Kingdom of God and she does this primarily with her witness, the witness of brotherly love, of solidarity and of […]
Time to act, people of the Beatitudes
“Crime flourishes when the environment is conducive to people behaving in a certain way.” Sir Dennis Byron, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice. Sir Dennis made this statement on June 14, 2014 at a symposium held at UWI in honour of the late Dana Saroop Seetahal SC. It was entitled: Re-engineering the Criminal Justice […]
Proclaiming the Good News in our Carnival culture
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “From the very beginning, Jesus associated his disciples with his own life, revealed the mystery of the Kingdom to them, and gave them a share in his mission, joy, and sufferings” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 787). In today’s Gospel (Matt 4:12-23) we see Jesus calling His […]
Lamb of God moving in our lives
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI It was Maya Angelou who said: “When you know better, do better.” We say that we are Christ’s disciples, his followers, but are we allowing Him to move in our lives? We know better, that is, that He is the Lamb of God who takes away the […]
Saying goodbye to ‘Pa’
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI On Wednesday, December28, my 91-year-old father, Balgobin Ramdeen, retired attorney-at-law, author, and former Member of Parliament for Caroni East, passed away in a London hospital. He had been ailing for a while. By the time you read this he would have been cremated. His ashes will be […]
Peace – at the heart of the Gospel
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI CCSJ wishes each of you abundant blessings and peace for the new year. In the past, Pope Francis has asked us to engage in an annual examination of conscience: “Have we used [the past year] mostly for ourselves, for our own interests or did we know to […]
The Word has become flesh
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests. This Christmas morn, let us all rejoice in the birth of Jesus, our Saviour. Love incarnate – true God and true man – came down to earth to save wounded […]
A place at the table for migrants, refugees
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Today the world observes International Migrants Day, a day when we should commit to stand in solidarity with migrants and refugees to promote their human rights and ensure that there is a place at the table of life for all. The Gospel of Christ calls us to […]
