Understanding our mission 

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI  “When Jesus wants to teach us how a Christian should be, he tells us very little, but he shows people by feeding the hungry and welcoming the stranger….The works of mercy are precisely the path of love that Jesus teaches us in continuity with this great love […]

Time to stand up for fathers 

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI  “Every family needs a father, a father who shares in his family’s joy and pain, hands down wisdom to his children and offers them firm guidance and love” (Pope Francis).  Today, as we celebrate Father’s Day, let’s resolve to create conditions in our communities/society that will enable […]

Elder abuse – an issue that deserves attention 

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI  “Where there is no honour to the elderly, there is no future for the young…We must reawaken our collective sense of gratitude, appreciation and hospitality, helping the elderly know they are a living part of their communities and sources of wisdom for the younger generations” (Pope Francis).  […]

Denouncing and combatting racism 

Signs, artwork and flowers were placed by people to pay their respects and protest the Monday death of George Floyd at the intersection of 38th St. and Chicago Ave. in Minneapolis on Saturday, May 30 2020. (Scott Takushi / Pioneer Press)   By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI  “When injustices around the world are […]

Children, honour your parents 

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI   Tomorrow, June 1, the world will observe Global Day of Parents. As the UN states: “The Global Day provides an opportunity to appreciate all parents in all parts of the world for their selfless commitment to children and their lifelong sacrifice towards nurturing this relationship…  “Emphasizing the […]

The many dimensions of using marijuana and cannabinoids 

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI  “Our bodies are ours to use, but we have to account one day to the Lord as to how we took care of them and what we did with them.”—Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, Ottawa.  As you know, The Dangerous Drugs Amendment Act No 24 of 2019 was proclaimed […]

Reach out in love to all families 

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI  Sunday, May 10 is Mother’s Day. Let’s celebrate, affirm and honour our mothers – not only today, but throughout the year. I remember my deceased mother, Ruby Ramdeen, nee Manning, who was a radiant example of love, service, patience, self-sacrifice and generosity. She had an unfailing sense of […]

Discovering God’s call in our lives 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI  “Every vocation is born of that gaze of love with which the Lord came to meet us…Vocation, more than our own choice, is a response to the Lord’s unmerited call. We will succeed in discovering and embracing our vocation […]

Prisoners set free to avoid COVID-19 calamity 

Open cell door  By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI  “We don’t want our institutions to become petri dishes” —US Attorney General William Barr.  Like the US Attorney-General, those in authority in T&T are concerned about the potential dangers of  overcrowded prisons in the face of COVID-19. In some countries, certain categories of inmates […]

Why fear when Jesus is here? 

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI  “…let us thank the Lord for having entered through our closed doors with his mercy, for calling us, like Thomas, by name, and for giving us the grace to continue writing his Gospel of love.” (Pope Francis)  As we all hunker down behind closed doors during the […]