Tag: family life

columns2015

Family – the world’s greatest resource

Post author By Web administrator
Post date October 10, 2015

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI

“Faith grows when it is lived and shaped by love. That is why our families, our homes, are true domestic churches. They are the right place for faith to become life, and life to grow in faith…I leave you with this question, for each one of you to respond to. In my home, do we yell, or do we speak with love and tenderness? This is a good way to recognise our love…Love is seen and felt in everyday gestures” (Pope Francis).

These profound words uttered by Pope Francis in his homily at the Mass for the conclusion of the recently held 8th World Meeting of Families (WMOF) encapsulate the heart of his message to us and to the world. The night before the Mass, in the midst of the amazing Festival of Families, he reminded us that: “Love is something we learn; love is something we live; love grows as it is ‘forged’ by the concrete situations which each particular family experiences. Love is born and constantly develops amid lights and shadows.”

Tags event, family life

columns2013

Experiencing the joy of faith

Post author By Web administrator
Post date November 10, 2013

I thank His Grace for allowing me to represent the Archdiocese at two major events at the Vatican recently. Since I had planned to be in London around the time of these events, this facilitated my trip to Rome. The first event was a Conference held during the October 23-25 21^st Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Family (PCF) on the theme New Anthropological horizons and the rights of the family.

Tags family life

columns2013

Let’s help families to flourish

Post author By Web administrator
Post date May 12, 2013

On Wednesday May 15, CCSJ will mark the UN International Day of Families by hosting a seminar at Santa Rosa Parish Hall, Arima from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. on the theme: “Justice for The Family, the basic cell of Society.”

This theme will incorporate the UN theme for 2013: “Advancing Social Integration and Intergenerational Solidarity“. Msgr Allan Ventour, parish priest, will open the session and Rebekah Ali-Gouveia, regional coordinator of the World Congress of Families, and I will be the speakers. Do join us.

Tags family life

columns2013

Children need both parents in their lives

Post author By Web administrator
Post date February 10, 2013

“Christians are people who have been conquered by Christ’s love and accordingly, under the influence of that love…they are profoundly open to loving their neighbour in concrete ways… faith precedes charity, but faith is genuine only if crowned by charity.” (Pope Benedict XVI, 2013 Lenten Message).

These words from The Holy Father’s 2013 Lenten message should spur us on to demonstrate our love for God and neighbour by reaching out to assist children and their parents. The Holy Father focuses on “the indissoluble interrelation” between faith and charity. His message is entitled “Believing in charity calls forth charity”.

Tags family life, Lent, parenting

columns2013

Strengthening marriage and family life

Post author By Web administrator
Post date January 18, 2013

“On the threshold of his public life Jesus performs his first sign – at his mother’s request – during a wedding feast. The Church attaches great importance to Jesus’ presence at the wedding at Cana. She sees in it the confirmation of the goodness of marriage and the proclamation that thenceforth marriage will be an efficacious sign of Christ’s presence” (CCC, 1613).

I remember as a child how I loved to listen to my mother reading stories from the bible to us, her seven children. The Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-12 – today’s Gospel) was one of my favourites.

Tags family life, marriage