FOREWORD
For many decades Catholics have made their way to the National Marion Shrine at Our Lady of Fatima R.C. Church, Picton Road, Laventille to participate in processions, devotional prayers, intercessions to Mary and celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
In The Rough Guide to Trinidad and Tobago by Dominique De-Light, Polly Thomas we read: “Laventille Hill is crowned by Our Lady of Laventille Shrine, an imposing landmark that can be seen from all over Port of Spain.
Atop the 16-metre belfry of this white stone church stands a statue of the Virgin Mary, a gift from France in 1876. Pilgrims journey to the Shrine from all over the country…”
Each year Laventille Devotions take place once per month from May to October. The Catholic Commission for Social Justice (CCSJ), led then by Acting Chair, Clive Belgrave, welcomed the opportunity in 2008 to arrange, on each occasion, for a speaker to make a 20 minute presentation on specific social justice issues at the end of the devotional hour, prior to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
CCSJ is pleased to share with you, in this booklet, the presentation of four of the speakers at Laventille Devotions in 2008.
It is often said that Catholic Social Doctrine is the Church’s best-kept secret. The production of this booklet is one way of sharing this “secret” with you. Our beloved country/world is plagued by crime and violence.
Justice Stanley John’s presentation on the theme: Forgiveness and Restorative Justice reminds us of the way in which we should respond to crime.The Holy Father’s Message on the Day of Peace on 1 January 2009 focuses on the theme: Fighting Poverty to build Peace. CCSJ urges each of you to read his message. Copies can be obtained on the Vatican website (www.vatican.va) or from CCSJ’s Office (Tel: 290 1634/5).
In the second presentation in this booklet, Gary Tagallie focuses on Poverty and Social Exclusion. Inter alia, he provides some useful statistics that enable us to consider this issue from both a local and a global perspective.
In the third presentation, Sr Arlene Greenidge and Ms Candice Khan share their perspective on the theme: Social Justice and Youth at Risk. Candice’s heart-rending testimony brings home the plight of our at risk youth. Too many of our young people in TT are at risk.
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There are many socially imposed risk factors that adversely impact the lives of our young people. We must address these and other risk factors. We need a multi-faceted response to the challenges that we face in these and other areas.
Prayer and action, including ongoing monitoring and evaluation of our strategies within the Church and nationally, will assist us in taking appropriate action, where necessary, to improve our responses to these challenges.
In the fourth presentation, Sr Mary Anthony, who works tirelessly on CCSJ’s Walk Tall Programme in our maximum security prison, focuses on Mary, the Lady of the Rosary. She asks and answers the question: “What is the connection between Mary and prisoners: former prisoners, those who are currently incarcerated and those who in the future may fall foul of the law and may be incarcerated?”
Devotions to Mary continue to play an important part in the lives of Catholics around the world. Many post Vatican II Magisterial documents make reference to Mary. Our Catechism (no. 971) quotes Pope Paul VI’s words: “The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship’ (Lk 1:48; Paul VI, MC 56).
The Church rightly honours the ‘Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honoured with the title of ‘Mother of God’, to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs.
“…This very special devotion differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration’ (LG 66). The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an ‘epitome of the whole Gospel’, express this devotion to the Virgin Mary (cf. Paul VI, MC 42; SC 103).”
Pope Paul VI said in his 1965 encyclical Mense Maio (On prayers during May for the preservation of Peace) that “Mary remains ever the path that leads to Christ. Every encounter with her can only result in an encounter with Christ Himself.”
In 1974 he said: “Mary is not only an example for the whole Church in the exercise of divine worship but is also, clearly, a teacher of the spiritual life for individual Christians.” Pope Paul VI also reminded us in 1968 that “We believe that the Holy Mother of God, the new Eve, Mother of the Church, continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the members of Christ.” (Catholic Catechism, No. 975 – Pope Paul VI’s statement in Credo of the People of God : 15)
It is because of this belief that we continue to make urgent supplications to Mary, our Mother of hope and grace, to intercede for us before her Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, to grant us justice and peace in our time.
Let us pray: “May the heart of Mary be in each Christian to proclaim the greatness of the Lord; may her spirit be in everyone to exult in God” (St Ambrose).
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Leela Ramdeen, Episcopal Delegate/Chair of CCSJ
