Let’s help families to flourish 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  On Wednesday May 15, CCSJ will mark the UN International Day of Families by hosting a seminar at Santa Rosa Parish Hall, Arima from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. on the theme: “Justice for The Family, the basic cell of Society.”  This theme will incorporate the UN […]

Keeping God centre-stage 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  Prayer must be an integral part of our daily lives as Catholics. “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God, or the requesting of good things from God” (Catechism, 2559). Prayer brings us closer to God and helps us as we strive to do […]

T&T’s Draft National Policy on Gender and Development 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  During the Year of Faith, we are called more than ever to be defenders of our faith – of the “truth” about man and woman, each made in the image and likeness of God, each with a moral order imprinted in our minds – a moral order […]

Sharing Catholic Social Teaching in St Maarten 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  DOWNLOAD WORKSHOP SESSIONS  On Sunday evening I returned to T&T after conducting a workshop in St Maarten (Dutch side) on Friday and Saturday. After leaving St Maarten I got a connecting flight from Antigua to T&T via St Lucia. We boarded in Antigua and had to wait […]

50 years of Pacem in Terris 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  Today would have been my mother’s birthday. She would have been 84 years old. She passed away in 1995 and each year we mark her birthday in a special way.  Recently, someone sent me a YouTube link with a clip taken from an interview with my father […]

John Spence, God’s faithful servant 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  I was in London when I received the news of 83 year-old Prof John Spence’s passing on March 8. When I was appointed Episcopal Delegate for Social Justice after the first sitting of Synod in 2003, Prof Spence contacted me to share his views about some of […]

Witnesses of the Resurrection 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  Faith in the resurrection of Jesus says that there is a future for every human being; the cry for unending life, which is a part of the person is indeed answered… God exists: that is the real message of Easter. Anyone who even begins to grasp what […]

Holy Week and Justice 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  During Holy Week, let us reflect on Pope Francis’ message delivered during his inaugural Mass. Inter alia, he reminded us that “… the core of the Christian vocation…is Christ! Let us protect Christ in our lives, so that we can protect others, so that we can protect […]

Learning about our saints 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  “Trust in the Lord my God and turn to Him with all your hearts since nothing is impossible for Him” (St Patrick, Confessio)  Today, March 17, the fifth Sunday of Lent, is also St Patrick’s Day, which is celebrated in many parts of the world. I hope […]

God’s mercy 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  Jesus’ parables are sometimes referred to as earthly stories with heavenly meaning. During this Lenten season, I invite you to reflect on the parables in our Gospels. Today’s Gospel, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32, is part of a series of three parables that seek to demonstrate God’s mercy – […]