The rights of Indigenous Peoples
An indigenous woman greets Pope Francis during a meeting with participants in the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum of the International Fund for Agricultural Development February 15 at the Vatican.(CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano, handout) By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI “We must not ignore those who claim the status of First Peoples in this country as […]
Create conditions to develop our people
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI On July 4, the Daily Express reported that Attorney General, Faris Al-Rawi, expressed concern about the high levels of poverty still existing in Trinidad and Tobago. He said: “San Fernando West, for those of you who don’t know, has some areas of poverty that would shock the […]
Have we lost our educational compass?
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ (http://rcsocialjusticett.org) & Director, CREDI From a Catholic perspective, T&T is not promoting authentic integral human development of our children, that is, the development of the young person in all his/her dimensions and of every young person. As a former Deputy Director of Education/Head of Quality Assurance in a London borough, […]
Working to lift our people
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI Which one of you did not weep at the heart-rending cries of Veena Subar, the inconsolable mother of 13-year-old Videsh Subar, when she saw the dead body of her only child – his hands tied behind his back and his throat slit? She had conceived him after […]
A sentinel goes to Grenada
By Leela Ramdeen, chair, CCSJ (http://rcsocialjusticett.org) & Director, CREDI “Just as the tabernacle lamp always remains lit in your majestic cathedrals or humble chapels, so your flock must always be able to see in your eyes the flame of the Risen Christ.” Pope Francis to Bishops, 2014 I share with you an extract from the […]
Showing hospitality to widows
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ (http://rcsocialjusticett.org) & Director, CREDI On Friday, June 23 the world observed International Widow’s Day. It was first celebrated in 2011 “in an effort to empower widows and help them regain their rights, which have long been ignored and violated. After their husbands have passed, many widows are forced to fight […]
The Eucharist, a call to action
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the Church door, you will not find Him in the Chalice.” (St John Chrysostom) Every Corpus Christi we are reminded that “Holy Mass… concludes with the sending forth of the faithful, so that they may fulfill God’s will […]
What it means to worship a Triune God
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “The feast of the Most Holy Trinity invites us to commit ourselves in the everyday events in order to be the leaven of communion, of consolation, and of mercy.“ (Pope Francis) Today, Sunday, we celebrate the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. We are reminded that having […]
The Holy Spirit – soul of mission
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “…the Holy Spirit has been poured out upon humanity like a vast torrent of grace” (Pope Francis). Today’s Gospel reading on Pentecost Sunday (Jn 20: 9–23) should inspire us to open our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to go out from our comfort […]
Clothe yourself in kindness
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Kindness matters! In the Letter of St Paul to the Colossians we read: “…you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience” (Col 3:12). Kindness is a virtue that is sorely lacking in the lives of so many. It was St Teresa […]
