Reflections on Independence
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “…to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others” (Nelson Mandela) These words came to mind as I walked around the Nelson Mandela Exhibition at Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre, […]
Caring for Creation
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “The ecological crisis is also a summons to profound interior conversion…Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience. (n 217, Laudato Si, On Care for our […]
Euthanasia – a crime against life
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI I am in London at the moment and have been involved in discussions about an official report that has revealed that “the annual number of euthanasia cases across all age groups has multiplied almost fivefold in ten years. The practice was legalised in Belgium in 2003—a year […]
We need the Eucharist to live lives of service
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Today’s gospel, John 6:24–35, offers us an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a disciple of the “true bread”; “the bread of life”. In the gospel Jesus tells us: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry; […]
What we can do to stop human trafficking
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Tomorrow, July 30, the world will observe World Day against Trafficking in Persons. Around the world, human traffickers continue to exploit people for profit, and to violate their human rights. Pope Francis rightly says that human trafficking is “an open wound on the body of humanity…a crime […]
Let’s save our swamps
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “In some coastal areas the disappearance of ecosystems sustained by mangrove swamps is a source of serious concern.” (Laudato Si, Pope Francis) On Thursday, July 26, the world will mark International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. Mangroves, these beautiful, resilient, evergreen trees, referred to […]
Meeting the challenges of today’s world
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “World Youth Skills Day is calling on global communities to engage youth to identify types of investments needed to support youth skills development. Together we can all make a difference in youth and skill development and work towards creating a more sustainable future for all” (World Bank […]
Build right relationships with the homeless
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI We should heed Pope Francis’ warning in his homily at a Mass at the Vatican for about 6,000 poor, homeless and displaced people from a dozen European countries and Africa (November 2016): “We should be worried when our consciences are anaesthetized and we no longer see the […]
Remembering the Windrush generation
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI The term ‘Windrush generation’ refers to the immigrants who went to the UK between 1948 and 1971 from Caribbean countries. When the MV Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury, Essex, on June 22, 1948, 802 passengers on board came from Caribbean countries. This included about 539 Jamaicans, and […]
‘No’ to drug abuse and illicit trafficking
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI On Tuesday, June 26, the world will observe the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The World Drug Report 2017 states that 29.5 million people globally suffer from drug use disorders, including dependence. Opioids are the most harmful. Read what it says about how drug […]
