From our Social Justice Team

                                                          Connecting girls, inspiring future.

We,  the CCSJ: St. Joseph/Mt. D’or and the entire parish community,  join the Archdiocese, the UN and the national community in observing International Women’s Day (March 08, 2012).  The theme chosen by Trinidad & Tobago for this year’s observance is; “Connecting girls, inspiring future.” The CCJS upholds the contribution of every individual to building a free and just society for “We are heirs of the work of generations and at the same time shapers of the future of all who will live after us”  (Social Doctrine of the Church: 274). The role of young women as shapers of the future call for a commitment to action to:

●        Remain true and unwavering in the Catholic faith;

●        Remain fearless in the fight against social injustice;

●        Become an advocate for freedom from violence and crime against women/girls;

●        Uphold Christian moral values in everyday activities;

●        Respect the rights of others;

●        Exhibit self respect control and discipline;

●        Observe God’s command to “love one another as He has loved us”.

This is no easy task when our young women are bombarded with unwholesome images of glamour, sex and popularity at every turn [advertisements, internet and television]. Our young women need our support not our criticism and condemnation. We as adults can adopt the role of Leaders in our Parishes, Families and Communities. Together we can connect our Girls and Young Women with Good Examples, Advice, Counselling, Mentoring, Social Skills and above all our Time and Attention.

Our Girls and Young Women can initiate positive counteraction to teenage pregnancy, premarital sex, adultery,promiscuity, teen sex, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, incest, drug use and sexually transmitted disesases. You can do this by:

• Using your social networks to communicate positive Catholic positions on the challenges that plague teens
• Use Twitter and Facebook as platforms for revitalizing Catholic culture and identity among young people
• Blog about your spiritual triumphs & victories
• Invite friends on Skype for conversations about your faith life

We the CCSJ of St. Joseph/Mt. D’or will like to make the first move by connecting our Girls and Young Women with information, thoughts and an opportunity to be heard. We encourage you on this day dedicated to women to take you place in global network, enter the global dialogue and speak from the position of a Catholic Woman. Visit the web-sites below and participate in the concerns of women in your region and around the world. CONNECT WITH THE WORLD, INSPIRE THE FUTURE!

http://catholicbookgroup.blogspot.com/p/about.htmlcatholicbookgroup.blogspot.comcatholicbookgroup.blogspot.comcatholicbookgroup.blogspot.com

http://womenspeak.tumblr.com/

 http://www.worldpulse.com/

http://www.xt3.com/index.php 

Good Friday Pictures

Sorry for being so late but here are some pictures of our Good Friday Walk

Rejoice, Jesus Christ is risen, alleluja, alleluja!

May our Risen Lord bless you, and fill your hear with his peace and light!

 “You have been taught that when we were baptised in Christ Jesus we were baptized in his death; in other words, when we were baptised we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death, so that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” Rom 6: 3 – 5

Once again we celebrate the Paschal Feast of our Saviour, brother, friend and Lord Jesus Christ. We celebrate our journey from death to the fullness of life.  Our Saviour who is so kind to us is sprinkling us with the water flowing out from his pierced heart. If only the smile on our face lasts few minutes longer than usual, if only there is hope and peace in our hearts then – as much as we can, as much as our hearts are opened – we receive the first fruits of the resurrection.

Without the resurrection, our Christian faith would be just hopeful thinking, no better than secular philosophies and fanatical religious beliefs. Some of us would probably be very lost and confused about many things in our day- to -day life. The seventeenth-century philosopher John Locke, wrote, "Our Saviour's resurrection is truly of great importance in Christianity, so great that His being or not being the Messiah stands or falls with it." What a great responsibility we have!

Today I wish all of you a very happy and joy-filled Easter. I also thank you for your love, prayers and support.

Yours,

Karol Wielgosz, O.P.

An ancient homily for the Holy Saturday

Homily for Glorious Saturday 

"What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages. God has died in the flesh, and the underworld has trembled.

Truly he goes to seek out our first parent like a lost sheep; he wishes to visit those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He goes to free the prisoner Adam and his fellow-prisoner Eve from their pains, he who is God, and Adam's son.

The Lord goes in to them holding his victorious weapon, his cross. When Adam, the first created man, sees him, he strikes his breast in terror and calls out to all: 'My Lord be with you all.' And Christ in reply says to Adam: ‘And with your spirit.’ And grasping his hand he raises him up, saying: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.

‘I am your God, who for your sake became your son, who for you and your descendants now speak and command with authority those in prison: Come forth, and those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.

‘I command you: Awake, sleeper, I have not made you to be held a prisoner in the underworld. Arise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Arise, O man, work of my hands, arise, you who were fashioned in my image. Rise, let us go hence; for you in me and I in you, together we are one undivided person.

‘For you, I your God became your son; for you, I the Master took on your form; that of slave; for you, I who am above the heavens came on earth and under the earth; for you, man, I became as a man without help, free among the dead; for you, who left a garden, I was handed over to Jews from a garden and crucified in a garden.

‘Look at the spittle on my face, which I received because of you, in order to restore you to that first divine inbreathing at creation. See the blows on my cheeks, which I accepted in order to refashion your distorted form to my own image.

'See the scourging of my back, which I accepted in order to disperse the load of your sins which was laid upon your back. See my hands nailed to the tree for a good purpose, for you, who stretched out your hand to the tree for an evil one.

I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side, for you, who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side healed the pain of your side; my sleep will release you from your sleep in Hades; my sword has checked the sword which was turned against you.

‘But arise, let us go hence. The enemy brought you out of the land of paradise; I will reinstate you, no longer in paradise, but on the throne of heaven. I denied you the tree of life, which was a figure, but now I myself am united to you, I who am life. I posted the cherubim to guard you as they would slaves; now I make the cherubim worship you as they would God.

"The cherubim throne has been prepared, the bearers are ready and waiting, the bridal chamber is in order, the food is provided, the everlasting houses and rooms are in readiness; the treasures of good things have been opened; the kingdom of heaven has been prepared before the ages."

Easter Triduum and Eastertide

Easter Triduum 2012

Holy Thursday (5^th of April): Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 6.30 PM in St. Joseph Church.

                                     

Good Friday (6^th of April): Stations of the Cross at 6.00 AM on the Calvary Hill (Procession begins from the Parish Church) Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 3.00 PM in St. Joseph Church.

Gloria Saturday (7^th of April): Easter Vigil at 9.00 PM in St. Joseph Church.

Easter 2012

Easter Sunday (8^th of April): Masses at 7.00 AM in St. Jude Chapel and at 8.30 AM in St. Joseph Church.

Easter Octave (9^th to 14^th of April): Everyday Morning Masses at 7.00 AM in St. Joseph Church.

Palm Sunday – April 1, 2012

1.    The St. Vincent de Paul Society invites you to their annual Palm Sunday Walk   This begins at Cyril Ross Home, El Dorado Road, Tunapuna at 7.30 am and ends at Mt. Lambert Church with Mass.  If you wish to meet the Walk at Curepe/St. Joseph you may do so at 8.30 am.

2.    Please collect a copy of the Mass times schedule for the Easter Triduum

3.    The Last Supper Meal, Jesus broke bread and shared with his disciples. Our Holy Thursday tradition we are encouraged to bring a loaf of bread which we will distribute to the poor and needy.

4.    Twice yearly, the collection at Christmas and Easter Masses only throughout the Archdioceseare pooled. It is from this collection that the priests& administrators serving in our archdiocese receive their monthly income.  Please give generously