Catholic Commission for Social Justice
In New York, on Friday 21st November, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will cast an initial vote, in Committee, on a draft resolution calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
The Greater Caribbean for Life, an organisation that is working towards the abolition of the death penalty, urges all Caribbean Nations to use this opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to Human Rights and the fundamental Right to Life by supporting this resolution.
Gospel: Mt. 25:14-30
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one– to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five.
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ (http://rcsocialjusticett.org) & Director, CREDI
“…in our day the Church is called to proclaim the Gospel by confronting the new and urgent pastoral needs facing the family” (Pope Francis).
CCSJ urges the faithful to attend the National Family Rally which will take place on Saturday, November 22 from 1.30 p.m. at the Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah. The theme of the Rally is Save the Child, Support the Family, Sustain the Nation. The event is absolutely free.
There will be live entertainment, a Health Fair and Expo Area and other attractions. There will be motorcades departing from five areas in Trinidad, heading to the Savannah.
The event is being organised by The Faith Based Network of Trinidad and Tobago (FBNTT), in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development, to mark the 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family. This initiative is designed “to provide holistic views for viable solutions to the issues facing the nation’s children and families”.
Gospel John 2:13-22
Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his Body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.
Psalm 84 is one of my favourites. I remember as a child sitting on the floor with my siblings listening to my mother read this psalm and explain the meaning of the words to us. It was from her that we learned that we will find strength in the Lord. It was she who urged us to live always in the house of the Lord.
Recently, my father, siblings and I prayed in the rose garden at the Crematorium in London where her ashes were strewn. I thank God that my mother took such care to pass on the Catholic faith to us. Parents are the primary teachers of the faith to their children.