Good works and God’s grace
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice Let us join the Holy Father in praying for those who died in Japan’s recent 8.9 magnitude earthquake and the tsunami that followed. He invoked “divine blessings of strength and consolation” on grieving friends and families and expressed solidarity with those involved in the […]
Our journey through Lent
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice Have you read the Holy Father’s 2011 Lenten Message? The title of his message is taken from St Paul’s Letter to the Colossians: “You were buried with Him in Baptism, in which you were also raised with Him”. (Col 2:12) CCSJ’s Lenten Newsletter […]
Doing the will of the Father
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice On CCSJ’s monthly TV programme (Ask Why) on channel 10 Tuesday, Feb 22, I urged those involved in Carnival to embrace the teachings of our faith regarding modesty, appropriate behaviour etc. Remember, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20). […]
Standing up for our beliefs
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice Recently I heard that I was being “pounded” on a radio programme about views I had expressed in the media about the Church’s teaching on same-sex marriage/union. I recall what the representative of the Parish Council at Los Bajos RC Church, Erin, said […]
Social Justice and individual responsibility
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice In November 2010, Pope Benedict said that the Catholic lay persons must be educated in the Church’s social teaching: “It is necessary to prepare lay people capable of dedicating themselves to the common good, especially in complex environments such as the world of politics…Lay […]
Walking in God’s ways
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice God had a plan when He created us. He imprinted in our minds a moral order so that we would live as he wants us to live. But he gave us free will to choose whether or not we follow his commandments. Reflect on […]
The death penalty won’t renew society
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice “Violence is not overcome by violence… peace is the result of a process of purification and of cultural, moral and spiritual elevation involving each individual and people, a process in which human dignity is fully respected.” (Pope Benedict XVI’s 2011 Peace Message) Last September […]
Sign of hope at environmental management conference
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ “Treasure the environment and use it wisely. Preserve the environment as a legacy for the future… Environmental issues can no longer be regarded as a luxury…Government must partner with all stakeholders. If there are human-induced causes to the problems, there must be human-induced solutions…Trinidad and Tobago, as a responsible member […]
Empowering our youth
Archbishop Edward Gilbert blesses CCSJ’s booth at the Catholic Youth Expo. Photos courtesy Raymond Syms CAMSEL Catholic News by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice “Youth Ministry is the response of the Christian community to the needs of young people and the sharing of the unique gifts of youth with the […]
Pope’s peace message for 2011 – Pt 2
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice Today I continue to share some extracts from Pope Benedict XVI’s Peace Message for 2011: “Religious Freedom, the Path to Peace”. At the press conference when the Peace Message was released, Cardinal Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace said: […]