Interceding for all to bear fruit 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  During this Year of Faith, CCSJ plans to organise a series of workshops to focus on some of the parables in our Gospels. One of these will be the parable of the barren fig tree (see today’s reading: Lk 13:1-9).  In some ways this parable reminds me […]

Are we listening to Him? 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  Today’s Gospel reading (Luke 9:28b-36) provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the messages that can be derived from the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus. Who better to tell us who Jesus is than His Father in heaven? God’s words spoken to Peter, James and […]

World Day of Social Justice 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  Wednesday, February 20 is the fifth World Day of Social Justice. At its sixty-second session, in November 2007, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed February 20 as World Day of Social Justice. The day was observed for the first time in 2009.  For us Catholics, […]

Children need both parents in their lives 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  “Christians are people who have been conquered by Christ’s love and accordingly, under the influence of that love…they are profoundly open to loving their neighbour in concrete ways… faith precedes charity, but faith is genuine only if crowned by charity.” (Pope Benedict XVI, 2013 Lenten Message).  These […]

Defending the right to life 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  “It is necessary that the whole of society defend the right to life.” Pope Benedict XVI (2011).  Tuesday, January 22, marked the 40th anniversary of Roe vs Wade, the US Supreme Court’s decision which legalised abortion throughout pregnancy in the USA. Priests for Life estimate that in […]

Fr Henry Charles, a faithful priest 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  “A good pastor, a pastor after the heart of God, is the greatest treasure that the good God can give to a parish, and one of the most precious gifts of divine mercy…Oh how great is the priesthood!” (St John Vianney, the holy Curé d’Ars).  As I […]

Strengthening marriage and family life 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  “On the threshold of his public life Jesus performs his first sign – at his mother’s request – during a wedding feast. The Church attaches great importance to Jesus’ presence at the wedding at Cana. She sees in it the confirmation of the goodness of marriage and […]

Reflection on Jesus’ Baptism and ours 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  As we read about Jesus’ baptism in today’s Gospel (Luke 3:15-16, 21-22), let us reflect on our own baptism and on what it means to be baptised into the Catholic Church.  Our Catechism (1213) tells us that “Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, […]

Let us follow the Light 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  Today we observe the feast of the Epiphany. The word “Epiphany” means “manifestation” or “revelation.” At the heart of the story of the visit of the Magi is the manifestation of the incarnation to all of humanity. God so love the world that He sent His only […]

Blessed are the peacemakers – Pope’s Peace Message for 2013 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI  As we come to the end of another year, let us look back in gratitude for all the wonders that God has wrought in our lives. Although our country and our world are in a sorry state, let’s not be despondent. Instead, let us thank God for […]