Let us be concerned for each other
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI The joint Spoken Word initiative of CCSJ and the Youth Commission proved to be a real treat. We say ‘Thanks’ to the 17 young contestants who ‘fired-up’ TCN’s studio on Friday October 30. Each received a Medal of Participation. The three winners were: 1st prize: Michael Logie, […]
Seeing with the eyes of faith
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Today’s Gospel reading about Jesus’ healing of the blind man, Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52), has much to teach us as we begin Justice, Peace and Community Week (JPCW) from Oct 24-31 on the theme: Let’s build inclusive communities. But before I focus on the reading, I congratulate Bernadette […]
How to craft peace
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI In preparation for Justice, Peace and Community Week (JPCW) from October 24–31, let us focus on the word “peace”. I share with you extracts from Pope Francis’ powerful homily at Sarajevo’s Olympic Stadium on June 6, 2015: “In the context of global communications we sense an atmosphere […]
Dare to be saints
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. From an early age, we Catholics learned what our role in life should be. During First Communion lessons, when the Catechism teacher asked: “Why did God make you?” The entire class would reply: “God made me to know Him, […]
Partnerships for Peace
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “…there is no such thing as ‘disharmony’; there is either harmony or we fall into chaos, where there is violence, argument, conflict, fear…” (Pope Francis, Vigil for Peace, September 7, 2013) On Monday, September 21, the world will observe the International Day of Peace. The United Nations […]
Make space for Civil Society
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “Civil society is the oxygen of democracy. Civil society acts as a catalyst for social progress and economic growth. It plays a critical role in keeping Government accountable, and helps represent the diverse interests of the population, including its most vulnerable groups” – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. On […]
Vote for the common good
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “Political parties have the task of fostering widespread participation and making public responsibilities accessible to all. Political parties are called to interpret the aspirations of civil society, orienting them towards the common good, offering citizens the effective possibility of contributing to the formulation of political choices. They […]
Be proud of the progress T&T
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI …but still a long way to go On August 30 and 31, I will be serving as one of several judges at London’s Notting Hill Carnival – Europe’s largest street festival. God has gifted his people with abundant talent. Artistic excellence is evident each year in many […]
No to assisted suicide
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI We are all ‘masterpieces of God’s creation’ “How great a lie…to make people think that lives affected by grave illness are not worth living!” (Pope Francis) I am involved in London at the moment in encouraging individuals to contact their Member of Parliament to ask them to […]
Stand up for Life
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI The scandal emanating from the undercover videos revealing the sale of body parts of aborted babies by Planned Parenthood (PP) in the US should spur us on to stand up for life. About a dozen videos were recorded by a pro-life non-profit group, the Center for Medical […]
