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May 14, 2021
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May 15, 2021

Archbishop Gordon on pandemic and Pentecost: “Let’s push back to God”

By Kaelanne Jordan Email: mediarelations.camsel@catholictt.org

Twitter: @kaelanne 1

Archbishop Jason Gordon said he is “excited” as he spoke of two “big things” happening for this year’s Pentecost, which will be observed Sunday, May 23.

The Archbishop mentioned that the Archdiocese of Port of Spain will be among nine different countries participating in a televised Novena to the Holy Spirit. The novena began May 13 (Ascension Thursday) and will go until the eve of Pentecost.

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Archbishop Gordon, who is among the guest speakers, will deliver a reflection on ‘The Mystery of the Blessed Trinity’, to be broadcast May 15 at 8 p.m. on Trinity TV. The rest of the novena featuring other international participants will be broadcast locally as follows: Sunday, May 16 at 8 p.m., Monday, May 17, 9 p.m., Tuesday, May 18 at 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 19 at 9 p.m., Thursday, May 20 at 9 p.m., Friday, May 21 at 8 p.m. The novena is being streamed on Trinity TV’s Facebook page.

Trinity will carry the live stream of the vigil on the eve of Pentecost at 3 p.m. from Rome. A live Mass with Archbishop Gordon from Archbishop’s House chapel is on tomorrow, Saturday, 21 at 6 p.m.

Speaking during an Ask the Archbishop Live chat on Facebook, Wednesday (May 12), the Archbishop shared that the Archdiocese will be praying in a special way for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit on families during Pentecost.

“…and so, we asking all our families to gather on Saturday night….and in that gathering bring your families around the television and let us celebrate the liturgy together and call down the Holy Spirit on families.”

Archbishop Gordon was asked to give some advice to persons who feel as if they are losing faith.

He opined that faith is not about feelings.

“When we feel the feelings drying up, that’s the time when the faith kicks in. Don’t go in the feelings; push in the faith.”

He appealed to those persons to make a daily plan of prayer and relate to God about how you are feeling.

“Push back to God, don’t pull away,” he beseeched.

Continuing the discourse, Archbishop Gordon had this piece of advice for those who are stir crazy: have a routine.

“That’s the most important thing. Wake up in the morning and wake up at a particular time. Participate in daily Mass… Whatever tasks are there for you, focus, do them well…take a few pauses during the day and interact with people, that’s important,” the Archbishop said.

He also mentioned incorporating exercise with sunlight and taking courses that will help persons grow in faith/spirituality.

On the Archdiocese’s survey on hymns, homilies, and hospitality, the Archbishop said that 1,800 persons have since taken the survey. He implored faithful to please complete the survey. “If we got about 10,000, 15,000 people taking the survey, it will really give us a sense of what you think. We want to serve you and we can’t serve you if we don’t know what you think. And if we don’t know how to improve, then we can’t get better,” Archbishop Gordon said.

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COVID-19 in Trinidad

Commenting on the 615 COVID-19 positive cases reported Wednesday, May 12 by the Ministry of Health, Archbishop Gordon appealed for citizens to do the safe thing. “We have to pull back; we have to stop the socialising…. Sometimes the best way we can show love is to do the responsible thing,” he said.

Questioned on his experience since receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, Archbishop Gordon replied that he was “completely floored” by the vaccine. He told Catholic Media Services Limited (CAMSEL) host and Web and Social Media Officer Tshenelle Bethel-Peters that though he experienced night sweats, chills, and fatigue, he does not regret taking the vaccine.

“Everything from England which mainly had AstraZeneca says this is worth it. They (England) were up to 1,200 deaths a day, now deaths are down to single figures… so they could have done nothing…now they’re opening back up….”

Archbishop Gordon reminded citizens that the longer they wait to get vaccinated, the worse it will be for the country. He emphasised that all have a moral responsibility first to keep safe, and second, to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

As Trinidad and Tobago joined the world in celebrating International Nurses Day, May 12, Archbishop Gordon observed that persons who did not understand nursing as a vocation before, now do. He referred to nurses as heroes, those on the frontlines who have made incredible sacrifices of putting themselves at risk every day.

“We are not respecting them when we are being indisciplined, when we are mixing and mingling….and I would say, if you know anyone who is a nurse, call them, thank them, but most of all, pray for them because they have been of incredible service….”