By Vernon Khelawan

Last Friday, the Catholic faithful all over the Archdiocese answered the call to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. As in years past, school principals, Catholic institutions and organisations, as well as individuals, took seriously to praying, observing the fast and making that extra effort to give alms.

Intercessory prayer has marked Catholic culture for centuries, regardless of geography or ethnicity, so the call to a special day of prayer, first made in 2009 and repeated annually, has served as a worthwhile way to reawaken and strengthen this tradition.

And as Catholics make every effort to keep their Lenten resolutions, this day of prayer, coming just at the midway point in the season, should give fresh impetus to all our Lenten observances.

One of the observances that has grown in popularity in recent years is the re-enactment of Christ’s journey to Calvary on Good Friday. Some parishes have the privilege of having a specific hill designated Calvary, complete with the 14 stations – St Joseph, Mount St Benedict, San Fernando and Arima. Over the years the re-enactment has attracted considerable media attention.

Eight years ago the St John the Baptist Parish, St John Road, St Augustine, produced its first re-enactment, which signalled the start of an observance, which continues to grow larger with each passing Good Friday – a true and meaningful symbol of Catholic Culture and Identity.

As we enter the second half of Lent, let us encourage one another to make even greater effort to preserve and keep alive our Church’s rich traditions.