Catholic Commission for Social Justice
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ
“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them to become what they are capable of being” (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
The Archdiocese’s pastoral priority this year is: The New Evangelization. The sub-theme is: Catholic family, become what you are. This theme reflects Pope John Paul II’s plea (in his encyclical, The Christian Family in the Modern World) for families to “become what you are, the domestic Church and the heart of the world.”
Gospel
Lk 3:15-16, 21-22
The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Gospel
Mt 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ
As we begin a new year, let us reflect on Pope Benedict XVI’s message for the 43rd World Day of Peace on the theme: “If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation.”
Gospel
Lk 2:41-52
Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.