Make ‘Mercy Month’ a meeting of hearts

By Fr Stephan Alexander

General Manager, CCSJ and AMMR

November has arrived, ushering in ‘Mercy Month’, a sacred time when the Church in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain turns its heart more intentionally toward compassion in action.

One of the central moments of this month will be the commemoration of the World Day of the Poor on Sunday, November 16, when parishes and individuals will creatively utilise their ‘Tithe of Mercy’ to help some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and society.

As we prepare for this beautiful celebration, let us consider that this Jubilee Year offers us a special opportunity to recommit ourselves to an enduring truth of our faith, that mercy is not only something we give, but something we share. It is not merely charity from a distance, but a shared experience of faith, friendship, and hope.

Many parishes and individuals across the Archdiocese have been preparing—planning liturgies, distributing donation envelopes, organising food drives, and coordinating visits to families and individuals in need.

These expressions of care have long been part of our Catholic heritage, reminding us that mercy is most potent when it is personal and heartfelt. As we continue these and other efforts, we can also consider small ways to make them even more relational, to allow those we assist to become participants rather than just recipients.

Mercy has always been about encounter. It is what happens when the compassion of Christ meets the concrete needs of another person. In that meeting, both hearts are changed.

Like Pope Francis often reminded us, “the poor are not problems to be solved but brothers and sisters to be loved.” In our loving, let us learn from them how to see the world through the eyes of Christ Himself.

We may wish to dedicate our activities during the week of November 16–23, 2025—from World Day of the Poor to the Solemnity of Christ the King—to the intention of the poor, the most vulnerable, and the excluded.

In our parishes, as in our homes, we can make space in our pews, our rooms and in our hearts for those who are sometimes forgotten. It would be a lovely gesture to personally invite these brothers and sisters to attend the Mass, and afterwards to share a simple meal, a cup of tea, or refreshments with the community.

Moments like these create gentle bridges of friendship and trust. When people sit together, sharing food, stories, and laughter, something sacred unfolds. These gatherings remind us that the Church is not only a place of worship but a home of welcome, where mercy becomes visible and tangible.

Some of the following ways of deepening the spirit of encounter may also be considered:

• Invite parishioners and our honoured guests to prepare and enjoy a meal together, allowing conversations and new friendships to grow naturally around the table
• Create a fraternal environment where people can share their stories of perseverance or hope with each other. Listening itself can be an act of mercy
• Organise small groups to visit homes, hospitals, or shelters—not just to deliver gifts, but to spend time, listen, and pray with those they meet
• Encourage those assisted to take part in preparing the space, serving meals, and leading a prayer, affirming that everyone has something to contribute

These are not new ideas; they are part of the living rhythm of our Christian tradition, expressions of that fraternity which the first disciples of Jesus practised in their shared meals and mutual care.

When we approach mercy as encounter, we begin to see that those we serve often give us more than we can ever give them. Their faith, endurance, and hope in difficult circumstances can renew our own faith and remind us of the deeper meaning of Christian love. Mercy, then, becomes a meeting of equals before God, each of us poor in some way, each of us in need of grace.

This Jubilee Year invites us to rediscover that truth. The Tithe of Mercy is not only a call to generosity; it is an invitation to communion. When we share time, presence, and genuine interest in one another, our acts of mercy take on a sacramental quality; they reveal the face of Christ.

The Church in Trinidad and Tobago has consistently demonstrated its ability to express mercy in tangible, heartfelt ways. From parish outreach programmes to spontaneous acts of kindness, our people have long embodied the Gospel’s call to love.

Mercy Month gives us the chance to reflect on that tradition, to cherish it, and perhaps to add one or two small touches that make it even more personal and prayerful.

As we commemorate the World Day of the Poor, may our efforts draw us closer together. In every invitation offered, every meal shared, and every story heard, may we glimpse something of God’s own mercy at work among us. For it is often in these quiet encounters that grace becomes visible, and the Kingdom of God feels nearby.

The CCSJ asks for your support.

Please donate: Catholic Commission for Social Justice

Account #: 290 458 025 501

Bank: Republic Bank Ltd.

or you can contact us at:

admin.ccsj@catholictt.org