Catholic Commission for Social Justice
Today is World AIDS Day.
We can all be change agents in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Are we doing enough to reach out in love and compassion to those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS? What more can we do e.g. as individuals, in our parishes and schools? Are we empowering our young people and adults to make informed choices, based on the tenets of our faith?
Dear friends and participants at this International Conference entitled: “The Death Penalty in the context of Public Security: Neither right nor Effective.” I would have liked to be here with you to add my “two cents” to the public debate on the death Penalty, unfortunately matters of the clergy have me occupied and I am unable to attend.
I would like to say however, from the very outset, that I stand with Francis bishop of Rome on this issue.
Elections and party politics are very much in the air in Trinidad and Tobago. The Tobago elections were held in January of this year, the Chaguanas West by-election took place last month and the country is heading towards Local Government elections. There are varying reactions to the politically charged environment. Many persons wish they did not have to hear, watch or be in any way affected by the political activities and actually prefer to watch a good movie as opposed to a political rally. Others ensure they are directly in front of the television or have a radio close at hand to hear every word. Then there are those who ordinarily are not very interested but feel the need to be sufficiently aware so that they can at least contribute to one of the many heated conversations they are likely to fall into.
Tomorrow my father, Balgobin Ramdeen, will be 88 years old. Happy Birthday, Pa! In preparation for CCSJ’s next Ask Why TV programme (see TCN Channel 10 on July 23), Pa and I have been discussing the theme: Youth and Social Justice. He told me a story about how, even as a young boy, he took action against injustice.
This Sunday, June 10, let’s all join His Grace in the Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah, to share our Catholic Culture and Identity with the wider community as we “bring down the house” on the series: Make a Joyful Noise which has been our Church’s gift to the nation as we observe TT’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.
It is fitting that this Family Fun Day will begin with Holy Mass at 10:00, since the Eucharist is the “source and summit of the life and mission of the Church”. The 2004 Lineamenta tells us that The Eucharist “spurs us on our journey through history and plants a seed of living hope in our daily commitment to the work before us” in the family, at work and in society. From this social character of the Eucharist, each person’s mission in the Church receives its power and trust. The Eucharist is referred to as “the spiritual food of the soul.” Indeed, it is what nourishes us for the journey of life.