Catholic Commission for Social Justice
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI
As thousands prepare to ‘play’ themselves over the next two days of Carnival, CCSJ urges citizens and visitors to our blessed T&T to exercise self-control and modesty in dress and behaviour during this Carnival season.
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI
“Our life spreads light when it is given in service. The secret of joy is living to serve” – Pope Francis.
Much has been written about today’s gospel—Matthew 5:13–16. We are called to be salt of the earth and light of the world.
Pope Francis reminded youths at World Youth Day in 2013: “You too, dear young people, can be joyful witnesses of Jesus love; courageous witnesses of his gospel, carrying to this world a ray of his light.”
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI
“…the virtuous finds shelter in his integrity…Virtue makes a nation great; by sin whole races are disgraced.” (Proverbs 14:32, 34)
Today, January 26, we celebrate the first Sunday of the Word of God, established by Pope Francis last year by his Apostolic Letter, Motu proprio, Aperuit illis.
The title is taken from the opening words of St Luke’s Gospel which describes how the Risen Jesus appeared to His disciples, and how “He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Lk 24:45). If we read extracts from our scriptures daily, this should set us on fire to LIVE the Word of God. We can only build a virtuous nation if we ourselves subscribe to and live by Catholic virtues.
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI
“I must admit we are a bit late in developing a theology of women. We have to move ahead with that theology.” (Pope Francis, Sept 29, 2015)
The Vatican City State has a daily newspaper called L’Osservatore Romano (The Roman Observer). It reports on “the activities of the Holy See and events taking place in the Church and the world. It is owned by the Holy See but is not an official publication.”
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI
This year Pope Francis’ Message for the 53rd World Day of Peace (January 1, 2020) is entitled ‘Peace as a journey of hope: dialogue, reconciliation and ecological conversion’.