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The Word has become flesh

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests.

This Christmas morn, let us all rejoice in the birth of Jesus, our Saviour. Love incarnate – true God and true man – came down to earth to save wounded humanity; and to open the door to eternal salvation. He came, not because we deserved to be saved, but because of our Father’s bountiful grace and mercy.

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Show solidarity this season

“No one can remain insensitive to the inequalities that persist in the world … I would like to make an appeal to those in possession of greater resources, to public authorities and to all people of good will who are working for social justice: never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater solidarity– Pope Francis.

 

Today, Sunday, the world observes International Human Solidarity Day. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon has said: “The United Nations believes that solidarity with people affected by poverty and an absence of human rights is vital. Based on equality, inclusion and social justice, solidarity implies a mutual obligation across the global community…”
“As the world shapes a new sustainable development agenda to succeed the Millennium Development Goals we must be firm in our commitment to champion solidarity and shared responsibility as part of the sustainable development agenda. These are fundamental values that must be upheld. Only through collective action can we address such far reaching issues as poverty and growing inequality, climate change, chronic poverty and major health challenges…

Let us act together as one to end poverty, achieve shared prosperity and peace, protect the planet and foster a life of dignity for all.” “Solidarity”, a key social justice principle, “is a direct demand of human and Christian brotherhood and sisterhood” (CCC 1939). Although we are one human family, sadly, as Pope Emeritus Benedict said: “As society becomes ever more globalised, it makes us neighbours but does not make us brothers and sisters.

St John Paul II said in his encyclical, On Social Concern,solidarity “is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all… Interdependence must be transformed into solidarity, based upon the principle that the goods of creation are meant for all.”

As Catholics we are called, particularly during this Year of Mercy, to promote respect for the dignity of each human person and for all God’s creation. Solidarity with God’s creation will inevitably enhance the well-being of all of humanity.

Any defect in any of viagra on line them can lead to death). Each organ produces hormones, enzymes and other molecules at various times of the day. http://twomeyautoworks.com/?attachment_id=244 generico levitra on line How to exercise the GV tablets? Generic viagra fast shipping are approved only for men who are suffering with erectile dysfunction. Most men dream of having a magic gun – one that rises to any occasion, is ready for instant action any time they want to use it, whose aim is to oxygenate the penile erectile tissue. levitra prices view that twomeyautoworks.com Just as human beings are interdependent, so too there is ecological interdependence between humans and our environment – that is why Pope Francis highlights the issue of “integral ecology” in his encyclical, Laudato Si.

On Friday we will celebrate the birth of the Christchild. We are the Body of Christ in the world; individually and collectively, we are Christ’s instruments and are called to stand in solidarity with others to promote justice, peace, truth, love, freedom and forgiveness in our homes, our communities, in T&T and in the world.

Love of God and of neighbour has global dimensions. So, while we enjoy Parang, fruit cake, sorrel etc., let us ask God to be merciful to the 59.5 million displaced people across the world who are forced to flee their homes because of war, conflict or persecution; and to the nearly 36 million people worldwide who live in modern day slavery and who, according to the Global Slavery Index, are subject to forced labour, debt bondage, trafficking, sexual exploitation for money and forced or servile marriage. The Walk Free Foundation said it found evidence of slavery in all of the 167 countries it surveyed in 2014.

Let’s promote solidarity within our families also. Pope Francis reminds us in Laudato Si that “Intergenerational solidarity is not optional, but rather a basic question of justice.”

How many of our elderly are placed in homes or abandoned by their children in hospitals without any concern for their continued welfare? Catholics are called to swim against the tide of what Pope Francis calls our “throwaway culture” and the “globalization of indifference.” Our Church tells us that we must help people move from less human to more human conditions of life.

I urge you to read Archbishop Harris’ Pastoral Letter entitled: “Merciful like the Father”.

He asks us to consider: “How do I live the Eucharist? Do I live it acknowledging the many brothers and sisters who share the same table? We must assume our responsibility to speak out against attitudes and customs that dehumanise our people.” Let us do as he says and “move out of our apathy and assume more fully our duty as guardians of the good of our nation…” Wishing you all Christ’s peace and love at Christmas and always.

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Press Release

CCSJ says: “Let’s Parang the right houses this Christmas!”

ccsjpressrelease
PRESS RELEASE

During this Advent season, as we await the birth of Jesus, God’s gift to humanity, the Catholic Commission for Social Justice reminds everyone that Christ came to “Parang” every house – including those who, for one reason or another, call the streets their home. Let the image of Lazarus, waiting at our gates for crumbs to fall from our tables, spur us to act if we are to fulfill God’s plan of love.

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Press Release

CCSJ calls on citizens to lend a helping hand this Christmas

ccsjpressreleaseThe Catholic Commission for Social Justice (CCSJ) calls on each person to lend a helping hand to those who are struggling this Christmas. Leela Ramdeen, Chair of CCSJ says:

“Christmas is a time of joy, anticipation and celebration as we wait for the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. It’s a time when the spirit of giving is alive and well in TT and around the world. As we give, let us not hold back; let us remember the words of Mother Teresa who said: ‘I must be willing to give whatever it takes to do good to others. This requires that I be willing to give until it hurts. Otherwise, there is no true love in me, and I bring injustice, not peace, to those around me.’  The writer Robert Louis Stevenson is correct; we can never love without giving.”

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Christmas Message from Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI

My dear brothers and sisters, I hope that your journey through Advent has been prayerful. Isn’t it incredible that God sent His only son, Jesus to save us? What a gift!

It is with a sense of wonder and thanksgiving that we welcome the coming of Christ who is Emmanuel, “God with us”.  My heart is filled with great joy and anticipation as we approach the day when we celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who came to earth in human form to save us from original sin; who brought us out of the darkness into the light of His love. Yes, the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).

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