Educating young people in justice and peace 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice  “The world must be educated to love Peace, to build it up and defend it.” – Pope Paul VI, 1968  Today, January 1, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and also World Day of Peace. This year, Pope Benedict XVI’s Peace […]

Catechists: Forming God’s Caribbean People

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice  I share below an extract from my address to catechists at the South and Central Catechetical Rally last Sunday (Sept 25) on the theme: Catechists: Forming God’s Caribbean People – A reflection on Revitalising Catholic Culture and Identity.  The Archdiocese owes each catechist a […]

Discerning our vocation 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice  Recently I was a panelist at a symposium organised by CREDI entitled: “The Vocation of Teaching in the 21st Century” (the sacred responsibility of teachers to form children).  Read the informative essay by Prof William E May entitled: “The Vocation of a Catholic Teacher/Scholar […]

Congratulations to two good and faithful servants 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice  “It is important for us to remember that we are all baptised to be prophets, priests and kings and that like Jesus we fulfil our prophetic ministry, not simply by what we say but much more by the ways in which we remind those […]

Congress in Rome 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice “Mother and Teacher of all nations—such is the Catholic Church . . . to hold the world in an embrace of love, that men, in every age, should find in her their own completeness in a higher order of living, and their ultimate salvation. […]

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).  […]

We must practise mercy 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice  “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.” (Ps 117:1).  Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Divine Mercy. Have you read: Divine Mercy In My Soul – a compilation of Sister Faustina Kowalska’s diaries in which she […]

Christ is risen, Alleluia!

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice  Let no one fear death,  For the Saviour’s death has set us free…  O Death, where is thy sting?  O Hell, where is thy victory?  Christ is risen, and thou art overthrown!  Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!  Christ is risen, and […]

He came that we may have life

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice  Today is Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, “the most solemn and intense period of worship in the Christian faith” (Women for Faith and Family Life).  Today Christians celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, on a donkey. In fact, he […]

Nurturing values and virtues in our students 

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice  “Virtues inform values and values influence behaviour.” (Archbishop Edward J Gilbert CSsR)  On Tuesday 23, Archbishop Gilbert will launch the second edition of the Students’ Workbook for the Values and Virtues Formation Programme at the Parish Hall in Chaguanas. The Workbook comprises four modules: […]