Saving our children 

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ, & Director, CREDI  “The family is important, and it is necessary for the survival of humanity. Without the family, the cultural survival of the human race would be at risk.” – Pope Francis, 2013  I am in London at the moment and have been discussing with friends the impact of […]

The perfect hope 

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ, & Director, CREDI  “Christ has really, truly, and substantially risen, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, from the dead. The whole Christ has risen indeed for the completion of the work of our redemption.” Saint Thomas Aquinas.  Happy Easter! Christ is risen! His death and resurrection opened the door to […]

No moral justification for slavery 

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ, & Director, CREDI  Today, Sunday March 25, the world marks the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. There can be no moral justification for slavery. We are all diminished by this crime against humanity.  Raise your awareness of the grave sin of […]

Say ‘no’ to racism and live up to our anthem 

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ, & Director, CREDI  The world will observe The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21. The theme this year is: Promoting tolerance, inclusion, unity and respect for diversity in the context of combating racial discrimination.  “Every person is entitled to human rights without discrimination. The rights […]

The time is now to empower women 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  The world observed International Women’s Day (IWD) last Thursday (March 8). Women play a pivotal role in society. While we commemorate their political, social and economic achievements, let us step up our efforts to empower girls/women and create conditions to enable them to realise their full potential.  […]

Advancing women’s equality 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  On March 8 the world observed International Women’s Day (IWD). The 2019 theme is: Think equal, build smart, innovate for change.  As the UN states, the theme “focuses on innovative ways in which we can advance gender equality and the empowerment of women, particularly in the areas […]

Keeping former offenders on the straight and narrow 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  On Tuesday, February 20, I attended Vision on Mission’s (VOM) Preparation for release launch 2018, entitled: ‘Changing the Criminal Thinking’ — held at the Maximum Security Prison in Arouca. Wayne Chance and various speakers spoke with passion.  Having spent a few days at a workshop in Tobago […]

A moment of grace 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  IT was with great joy that many of us gathered at the Church of St Philip and St James, Chaguanas, on Saturday, February 23 to celebrate the ordination to the Order of the Diaconate of Stephan Alexander, Kwesi Alleyne, Kenwyn Sylvester and Mikkel Trestrail—conferred upon them by […]

‘Listen to Him’ is a call to action 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  Today’s Gospel, Mark 9:2–10, tells the story of the transfiguration of Jesus. God’s message to Peter, James and John via the voice from the cloud, applies to us also, particularly in the times in which we live. He said: “This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to […]

Don’t let your love grow cold 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  In case you did not have an opportunity to read Pope Francis’ Message for Lent 2018 in last week’s CN (page 7), here is a summary. The theme he has chosen is: Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold (Mt 24:12).  […]