T&T Catholics gather to address the ecological disaster the Earth faces

“I feel very much ignored and excluded by the people who have the ability to make changes”. A statement from Angelo Kurbanali a youth voice during the Laudato Si Movement Chapter of Trinidad and Tobago’s screening of “The Letter” on Thursday March 16th 2023.

The local Chapter invited key stakeholders within the Catholic community of Trinidad and Tobago to view Pope Francis’ “The Letter” a film created to highlight the ecological disaster the Earth and humanity now face.

In 2015 Pope Francis wrote Laudato Si, the first encyclical or papal letter focused on the environment. The Holy Father, in his open letter to humanity calls upon each of us to have a change of minds and heart with regards to how we treat each other and the most vulnerable within our midst. Within the film, Pope Francis’ team highlights the voice of, the poor and marginalized, our youth, the indigenous populations, and the Earth and all her creatures.

The opening lines of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si, offers clear instruction on how each of us, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, are called to love the Earth. “As a mother who nurtures us and a sister who was created alongside us”.

Following the screening of “The Letter” on Thursday 16th March, stakeholders were invited to share on the impact the film had on them personally and reflect on the status of climate change and justice within Trinidad and Tobago. His Grace, Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon, noted the need to find the “Greta Thunbergs” within our local context and the Principal of the Principal of the St John Vianney and the Uganda Martyrs Seminary, Father Jason Boatswain described the impact of the movie in three words. He noted the need for dialogue, relationship and the importance of the human person. Chief Executive Officer of the Catholic Education Board of Management (CEBM), Sharon Mangroo expressed concern about children not connecting “what we teach in school to them and their real lives”.

For the full highlights of the evening either scan the QR Code or visit CatholicTT on YouTube to watch. Please like and subscribe to stay tuned to our local Catholic content designed for your faith formation needs.