Caribbean theologians continue their mission during pandemic

As the Conference on Theology in the Caribbean Today (CTCT) prepares for its 27th conference this year, the Catholic News will feature various aspects of this unique organisation in the lead up to its Conference which will be held virtually November 8-12. For more information visit website ctctoday.org or facebook.com/CTCT1994. The following article is written by Ottrisha Carter.

Have you ever heard about the Conference on Theology in the Caribbean Today, better known as CTCT? Well, CTCT is celebrating its 27th anniversary this year.

According to CTCT’s working mission, their goal is: “To foster and celebrate pastorally grounded theological reflection in a relational Caribbean space.”

CTCT’s main venture is “a theological Conference held biennially in different Caribbean locations.” This year however, the CTCT will host its scheduled conference virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic.

This will be the first virtual conference that CTCT is hosting and it will take place November 8–12. The theme for this year’s virtual conference is: The COVID Effect: Turning The Tide.

Priests, pastors, pundits, imams, lay persons, theologians, academic researchers, religious workers, and ordinary thinkers are encouraged to prepare reflections and make presentations at what is undoubtedly one of the most important conferences to be hosted by the CTCT.

Presentations will allow for the varied forms of expression common to Caribbean people, including dance, poetry, song, visual arts, or paper presentations.

Not many know of the beginnings of this organisation. The conference’s founding members comprised Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Harris CSSp, the late Fr Michel de Verteuil CSSp and Msgr Patrick Anthony from St Lucia. The pastoral centres of the Archdioceses of Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, and Castries, St Lucia along with the Diocese of  Roseau, Dominica, all played vital roles as they took on the role of being sponsors of the first conferences held.

In February 1994, the first conference, which lasted for three days, was held in St Lucia. Sixty-one participants comprising clergy, religious and laity from several Caribbean countries, in addition to participants from the USA, took part in this conference.

CTCT has now grown into a space for Caribbeanists: Caribbean people and those with Caribbean roots or those who live in and study about or have any connection with the Caribbean. They are brought together by faith and strive to provide a safe environment in which theological reflections can be discussed openly.

Through these discussions, members are given the opportunity to form personal and spiritual relationships as they continue to explore and share their different religious experiences as fellow brothers and sisters in the Caribbean and the Caribbean Diaspora.