by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
As I looked at the beaming faces of those who filled the pews and chairs at the Church of Our Lady of Fatima, Curepe, to participate in the Episcopal ordination of Msgr Robert Llanos as Auxiliary Bishop of Port of Spain on September 14, my heart was filled with joy that our Church is alive and present in T&T.
On behalf of members of the CCSJ, I congratulate His Lordship, Bishop Llanos. We promise to continue to work with you and His Grace, Archbishop Joseph Harris, as together you shepherd God’s people – teaching, sanctifying, governing, and striving to build the civilization of love.
His Grace’s message during Mass included a reminder to the faithful that, “We are called to make holiness the defining characteristic of our lives.” He urged us to support Bishop Llanos whose “yes” to his call “was the right thing”. “It is all of us together or not at all,” he said.
Together we are the Body of Christ; together we are Church. Each of us has a responsibility to carry forward the Mission of our Church; to build God’s Kingdom on earth.
His Grace reminded us that God’s word calls us to be counter-cultural: “We are a people of hope. We turn to God’s word to hear what God has to say to us. Preach the Gospel in season and out of season…We live in a culture in which we seek more and more. St Paul calls us to imitate Christ in his self-emptying to be totally available for others.”
On a number of occasions, Pope Francis has called the faithful to be counter-cultural. Earlier this year, he said: “Belief in God makes us bearers of values that often do not coincide with the fashion and opinion of the moment, and calls on us to adopt standards and behaviours that do not belong to the common way of thinking. The Christian should not be afraid to swim against the tide to live his/her own faith, resisting the tendency to conform.”
September 14, the Feast of the triumph of the Holy Cross, also marked the second anniversary of the Episcopal ordination of Fr Joseph Harris as Coadjutor Archbishop of Port of Spain.
Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, Apostolic Nuncio, emphasised the need for “happy and enthusiastic Catholics” who should be on the side of the poor, a voice for the voiceless, working in partnership with the Government and others to serve the people – regardless of their religious persuasion. He reminded Bishop Llanos that the Office of Bishop is “not a position of power”. He must “become the servant of all…Be humble, be humble, be humble! Imitate Pope Francis…” From my work with Bishop Llanos on the Synod Implementation Team, I know of his humility. His motto on his Coat of Arms, “Do whatever he tells you”, taken from Our Lady’s words uttered at the Wedding Feast of Cana, also reflects his humility.
Archbishop Girasoli rightly reminded us that we need young men to give themselves to the service of the Church. Let us pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and to religious life. It is significant that he acknowledged the work of Religious Sisters. He said: “I see so many Religious Sisters. They are the stars of the Catholic Church.”
This statement reminded me of the words expressed at the celebration of the Eucharist at the ‘Carnival Mass’ at St Mary of the Angels, London, in August, when we celebrated the golden jubilee of T&T-born, Sr Monica Tywang, a religious Sister of the Order of La Sagesse (Daughters of Wisdom).
I can attest to the statement that Sr Monica “has an impressive 50-year record of sterling social and community work, and is known for her far reaching pastoral care to people across all sectors of society…Her work, specifically with the Caribbean community across Britain, has been tireless… She is active on various boards and community groups including the British Caribbean Association, the Mary Seacole Memorial Association, and the Catholic Commission for Racial Justice.” She has been a key contributor to the development of Children’s Carnival in Notting Hill Carnival.
Sr Monica is also a trained nurse. In the late 1970s and early 1980s the late Cardinal Hume appointed her to work with the Caribbean Chaplaincy team in the Diocese of Westminster. Sr Monica was based at St Mary of the Angels Parish, Bayswater, and worked closely with the late Fr Michael Hollings.
For your 50 years of love and service to humankind, I salute you, Sr Monica.
