Catholic Commission for Social Justice
…but still a long way to go
On August 30 and 31, I will be serving as one of several judges at London’s Notting Hill Carnival – Europe’s largest street festival. God has gifted his people with abundant talent. Artistic excellence is evident each year in many a band.
Gospel: Luke 13:22-30
Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’
Homily delivered by Archbishop Joseph Harris at the midnight Mass for the 50thAnniversary 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.
As we celebrate the 50th 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.
“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.