Catholic Commission for Social Justice
“In today’s world, hunger, violence and poverty cannot be understood apart from the changes and degradation affecting the environment.” Pope Francis.
During this Justice, Peace and Community Week (October 20–27), let’s dare to truly care for one of God’s greatest gifts to us: Creation. Our theme of this year is linked to Pope Francis’ declaration on September 1, 2016 of Caring for our Common Home as the 8th Work of Mercy—to be added to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
CCSJ calls on all citizens to respond urgently to the prevalence of domestic/intimate partner violence in T&T. Since domestic violence is not part of God’s plan for us, and since our various faith communities instill in us the need to love our neighbour, it is more than time that we stop sitting on the sidelines as passive bystanders and develop/implement strategies to address this evil which threatens to overwhelm us. We need all hands on deck to promote integral human development and to eliminate this pervasive problem which has serious health, social and economic consequences for our society.
The archdiocesan observance of ‘Justice, Peace and Community Week’ on the theme: Caring for Creation: 8th Work of Mercy, commences on Saturday, October 20, and ends on Saturday 27. See Calendar of Events
In his message for World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in 2016, entitled ‘Show mercy to our common home’, Pope Francis declared ‘Caring for Creation’ as the 8th Work of Mercy. Here are extracts from his message:
While I was in London in August, a 10-year-old boy, who had tried to commit suicide twice, and who was receiving counselling, told me: “I am learning not to fear death”. Red flag! Family breakdown, child abuse, and child neglect can be traumatic. Our task is to be alert, to know the signs—including depression, and to know where to seek help.
T&T has the third highest rate of suicide in the Caribbean—with Guyana and Suriname first and second (WHO study). As reported in the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian on July 18, 2018, “According to the World Health Organisation statistics, every year, almost one million people die from suicide, a global mortality rate of 16 per 100,000, or one death every 40 seconds. In the last 45 years, suicide rates have increased by 60 per cent worldwide. Suicide is among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15–44 in some countries, and the second leading cause of death in the 10–24 years age group. These figures do not include suicide attempts, which are up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicide” (www.who.int/mental_health).
Saturday October 20 – 27
Theme: Caring for Creation: 8th Work of Mercy
All Archdiocesan Departments, Catholic Schools and Catholic organizations are encouraged to plan activities to observe Justice, Peace and Community Week (JPCW). Please use the Prayer Supplement that will be published in Catholic News for JPCW.