Building sustainable cities, towns and villages
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “Experiencing the need for change is the first step towards mainstreaming sustainability”—Sally Uren, CEO, Forum for the Future (2013). In the face of disaster, it is heartening to see how our people can come together to help each other. Let’s keep the love flowing. However, the aftermath […]
Building a culture of inclusion
Re-enactment of the story of Divali. CN File Photo By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI One of the joys of being a citizen, is the fact that we have learned over the years to embrace and respect the rich diversity of our people who have come to T&T from many parts of the […]
Dare to care for Creation
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “In today’s world, hunger, violence and poverty cannot be understood apart from the changes and degradation affecting the environment.” Pope Francis. During this Justice, Peace and Community Week (October 20–27), let’s dare to truly care for one of God’s greatest gifts to us: Creation. Our theme of […]
Observing Justice, Peace and Community Week
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI The archdiocesan observance of ‘Justice, Peace and Community Week’ on the theme: Caring for Creation: 8th Work of Mercy, commences on Saturday, October 20, and ends on Saturday 27. See Calendar of Events In his message for World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in […]
Is your lamp lit?
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI While I was in London in August, a 10-year-old boy, who had tried to commit suicide twice, and who was receiving counselling, told me: “I am learning not to fear death”. Red flag! Family breakdown, child abuse, and child neglect can be traumatic. Our task is to […]
Pride in our Republic
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI On September 24 we celebrated the 42nd anniversary of T&T’s gaining Republican status. On the evening of Wednesday, September 19, I attended a gala concert, titled ‘A Cultural Exchange Experience’, by the renowned Chinese traditional orchestra of the China National Opera & Dance Drama Theatre, and the […]
Progress on Parish Ministries for Migrants and Refugees
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “The Church is ever mindful that Jesus Christ was himself a refugee, that as a child he had to flee with his parents from his native land in order to escape persecution. In every age, therefore, the Church feels herself called to help refugees.” – St Pope […]
Building blocks for PEACE
PEACE “The world must be educated to love Peace, to build it up and defend it” – Blessed Paul VI On Friday, September 21, the world will observe the International Day of Peace. The theme this year is: The Right to Peace—The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70. The UN General Assembly has declared […]
Changing the culture of repellant crimes
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Initially, this article was titled: ‘Cleaning the Augean stables’. However, when I reflected on what Hercules had done by rerouting two rivers to wash out the filth that had gathered in the King’s stables over a 30-year period, due to the dung of more than 3,000 cattle […]
Charity and justice
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI On Wednesday September 5, the world will observe the International Day of Charity. The UN states: “Charity, like the notions of volunteerism and philanthropy, provides real social bonding and contributes to the creation of inclusive and more resilient societies. Charity can alleviate the worst effects of humanitarian […]
