Discipline with love, not punish with ‘licks’
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI CCSJ hopes that each parish will, in whatever way possible, observe the 20th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family and International Family Day on May 15. On the day before this international observance, Wednesday May 14, CCSJ has organised a seminar at Santa Rosa Parish […]
Restorative Justice: moving from ‘policy to practice’
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI CCSJ continues its serialisation of our March 19 response, on behalf of the Archdiocese, to the Ministry of Justice’s (MOJ) Discussion Paper on Restorative Justice (RJ) in TT. This is Part 4. We agree with Paul Goggins, UK MP, who said: “I don’t want Restorative Justice to […]
Empower youth by example
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Today’s Gospel reminds me of the joy I saw on the faces of the many young persons – “branches” – who attended last week Saturday’s Catholic Youth Expo 2015 at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya. We should all take note of Archbishop Joseph Harris’ and Winston Garcia’s […]
Alternatives to administering justice
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI CCSJ continues its serialisation of our March 19 response, on behalf of the Archdiocese, to the Ministry of Justice’s (MOJ) Discussion Paper on Restorative Justice in TT. This is Part 3 Prison Fellowship International is involved in Ministry in TT. As is stated on its website: “Prisons […]
No ‘real treatment’ in prison
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI CCSJ continues the serialisation of our March 19 response, on behalf of the Archdiocese, to the Ministry of Justice’s (MOJ) Discussion Paper on Restorative Justice in T&T. This is Part 2. We need a multi-faceted approach to address crime and violence in T&T as the causes are […]
Embrace Restorative Justice
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI On March 19, on behalf of the Archdiocese, CCSJ submitted a response to the Ministry of Justice’s (MOJ) Discussion Paper on Restorative Justice in T&T. CCSJ collaborated with Fr Robert Christo, the Catholic Prison Chaplain, in preparing our Church’s response. Over the next few weeks, CCSJ will […]
Virtue – a conscious choice
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Archbishop Harris’ homily at the historic Mass at Westminster Cathedral, London, on March 27 struck a chord in the hearts and minds of those present. He urged us to use the Lenten season to cultivate good habits which would help us to become better people. He asked […]
Living as children of light
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Today’s Second Reading (Ephesians 5:8-14) urges us to “be like children of light”. If we do, we will certainly see the effects: “complete goodness and right living and truth.” And remember, even when we drift from His loving arms, He waits patiently for us to return to […]
Use digital media for the common good – Mar 23
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “We proclaim Christ in the way we behave in the digital realm, and the Holy Father’s message echoes the importance of seeking the face of Christ across all mediums.” (Bishop Peter Ingham, Chair, Australian Catholic Media Council) The quotation above by Bishop Ingham refers to Pope Emeritus […]
Witnessing to the Lord
CCSJ Chair Leela Ramdeen and the students of St Joseph’s Convent, San Fernando, with the International Women’s Day mural they created on March 8. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 17:1-8 – The Transfiguration) is particularly instructive. As Catholics, we believe that Jesus is God’s Son, “the Beloved” who enjoys God’s favour. The challenge for us, though, is […]