Tag: patriotism

columns2015

Vote for the common good

Post author By Web administrator
Post date September 6, 2015

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 must be democratic in their internal structure, and capable of political synthesis and planning” (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, #413).
As we prepare for General Elections tomorrow (September 7), I urge each of you to offer up your prayers for leaders of political parties, candidates, and citizens of T&T, that we will all have the interests of our people and our country at heart.

Tags general elections, patriotism

2012

50th Anniversary of Trinidad and Tobago’s Independence

Post author By Web administrator
Post date September 1, 2012

Homily delivered by Archbishop Joseph Harris at the midnight Mass for the 50^thAnniversary of Independence on Friday August 31, 2012 at the Pro-Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, San Fernando.

Gospel :Matthew – 25:1-13

Jesus told this parable to his disciples. “The kingdom of heaven will be like this: Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps.

Tags Independence, nationalism, patriotism

columns2012

The Church’s contribution to building a just society

Post author By Web administrator
Post date September 1, 2012

As we celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of Trinidad and Tobago’s Independence, let us acknowledge the many ways in which the Catholic Church has contributed to building a just, fraternal society in T&T, the region, and internationally. The Catholic community remains the largest faith community in T&T/the world.

Tags Independence, patriotism

columns2011

Nation building – a shared responsibility

Post author By Web administrator
Post date September 8, 2011

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ

“For all the advances we have made, and are making in education, we still every year allow thousands more children to join an educational underclass – they are the lost souls our school system has failed. It is from that underclass that gangs draw their recruits, young offenders institutions find their inmates and prisons replenish their jails. These are young people who, whatever the material circumstances which surround them, grow up in the direst poverty – with a poverty of ambition, a poverty of discipline, a poverty of soul.”

These words could have been uttered by someone in T&T about our education system here. In fact, this is the opinion of the Rt Hon Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education in England. His warning was published in the UK’s Daily Mail on Sept 1. He was speaking at Durand Academy in south London.

Tags Independence, nationa building, patriotism

Commentary

Farewell to a great Statesman

Post author By Web administrator
Post date January 3, 2011

CCSJ Chair Leela Ramdeen and former President Sir Ellis Clarke.

by Leela Ramdeen

On Sir Ellis’ 92 birthday in 2009, I joined others at his home to mark the occasion. The following are some of the words I wrote in his birthday card: “We are all so blessed to have you as a son of our soil in Trinidad and Tobago. Can you imagine what we would have lost if God had placed you in another part of the world? We thank God for the miracle that is YOU. You are just where God wants you to be.”

One year on, we now say farewell to this great Statesman.

Tags patriotism, Republicanism