Editorials

In this Sunday’s gospel (Mk 7:31–37), we find Jesus healing a deaf man with a speech impediment. With a touch and a word — “Ephphatha,” meaning […]

The grim outlook on life in Trinidad and Tobago was superseded for a few days by the spectacular Olympic performance of Caribbean athletes from islands normally […]

We encounter a pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry in this Sunday’s Gospel (John 6:60–69). After teaching about the Bread of Life, many of His disciples found […]

The Gospel passages for August thus far, in this Ordinary Time of the liturgical cycle, have focused on the food for the journey. At the heart […]

As we find ourselves midway through the July/August vacation in Trinidad, our nation grapples with a series of heart-wrenching losses. The spate of murders and the […]

Every four years, the eyes of the world focus on the Olympic Games, a celebration of human athletic achievement which embody values that resonate deeply with […]

In a powerful message for the Fourth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly this Sunday, Pope Francis has called for renewed appreciation and support for […]

This Sunday’s gospel from Mark offers a reminder of the importance of balance, compassion, and spiritual nourishment. It seems timely, as we face trauma following the […]

The Gospel for this Sunday (Mark 6:7–13) recounts Jesus sending out the Twelve Apostles on their first missionary journey. This passage provides a powerful model for […]

With last week’s passage of Hurricane Beryl, the urgency of disaster preparedness has never been more apparent. The 2024 hurricane season forecasts all indicate above-average activity, […]

In an era marked by increasing social isolation and technological dependence, families face unprecedented challenges. As Forbes magazine reports (‘Gen-Z, The Loneliness Epidemic And The Unifying […]

“Master, do you not care? We are going down!” The desperately frightened disciples cried out these words to Jesus as a violent storm battered their small […]

By Leonardo Tull On August 8, 2008, I became a father to Luke, one of the best moments of my entire life. And what especially gave […]

The Canadian vlogger, Christopher Hughes, peered into Pandora’s box and electronically recorded the miseries and evils he saw within. Guilty or not of the charges laid […]

This Sunday’s Gospel from Mark 2:23–3:6 take us through a series of controversies and conflicts that ultimately reveal a profound truth about Jesus as the Bread […]

The Catholic Church places a profound emphasis on the sanctity and dignity of children, rooted in the teachings of Scripture and the wisdom of the Church’s […]

As the Church celebrates its birthday this Sunday, Pentecost, the words of Pope Francis and the Scripture readings shed light on how we can allow the […]

The birth of our son Theo, took Brent and me five long years. Two miscarriages shattered our hopes each year, leaving us exhausted physically and emotionally. […]

Happy Birthday to us! The history of the Catholic newspaper within the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, is a testament to its enduring […]

From this Sunday count 33 days to the universal Church’s celebration of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi on May 30. In this Archdiocese, a spiritual journey […]

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. It’s a time when the Church reflects on the vocation of the priesthood, and more. […]

The Catholic Church’s recent declaration Dignitas infinita (Infinite Dignity) by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith emphasises the profound dignity of every human person. […]

The following is Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi message given on Easter Sunday, March 31 from the central loggia, or balcony, of St Peter’s Basilica. Dear […]

It’s Easter Sunday morn and the angel (“young man”) tells the women that the disciples must return to Galilee where they will meet Jesus. Why Galilee? […]

This Sunday is a day of stark contrasts – the joyful proclamation of the Lord and the anticipation of His kingdom, yet the knowledge that before […]

Central to our Christian faith is the belief that our physical death is not the end but rather the gateway to and the beginning of a […]

In this Sunday’s Gospel, John 3:15–21, we encounter some of the most well-known words in all of Scripture. The passage begins by evoking the image of […]

This Sunday’s Gospel passage for the Third Sunday of Lent from John 2:13–25 holds significance for this sacred season as it portrays Jesus’ actions in the […]

This Sunday’s Gospel, from Mark 9:2–10, is the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain. This salient event reveals the glory of Christ to Peter, James, and […]

In this country, in times not-so-long gone by, there was a clear distinction between Carnival and Lent. As Ash Wednesday dawned, all Carnival activity came to […]

This Sunday is traditionally celebrated as the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, a Marian celebration tied to the healing of the sick and infirm. In […]

It’s that time again, as the spirit of Carnival begins to build, and for mas players and fete-goers alike, the excitement and joy is palpable. There […]

This Sunday’s Gospel reading from Mark 1:21–28 offers us a powerful message of hope and liberation that resonates profoundly even today. It recounts Jesus’ teaching with […]

A happy and holy New Year. On Sunday, the Church celebrates the Epiphany of the Lord. As it so happens, this year it is immediately followed […]

Jesus in the rubble. This is what a Lutheran Church in the West Bank City of Bethlehem displayed as their 2023 crèche scene. Vivid, raw, contemporary, […]

The border between Guyana and Venezuela is once again a major source of contention between the two neighbouring countries. At the heart of the conflict is […]

The Kingship of Jesus is a sign of contradiction. In His life, He wore no golden crown but a crown of thorns; no horde of servants […]

Pope Francis’ message for this Sunday’s World Day of the Poor, the seventh annual observance, is a powerful call to serve those in need. The Holy […]

None of us is insulated from the horror that is war. We are one body of humanity, created by the One, True, Living God and regardless […]

The XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod has ended, and in his homily at the closing Mass, October 29, Pope Francis brought the month-long reflections […]

The gospel reading from Matthew this weekend (Mt 22:34–40) underscores the two greatest commandments: to love God with all one’s heart, soul, and mind, and to […]

The following is Pope Francis’ message for World Mission Sunday, Sunday October 22.   Dear brothers and sisters! For this year’s World Mission Sunday, I have […]

World Mental Health Day was October 10. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is aimed at heightening awareness of mental health issues and “mobilising […]

The days and weeks leading up to Budget Day usually produce a litany of demands from various sections of society. There are meetings between the Finance […]

In a world marked by rapid change and constant challenges, the role of the Church in fostering unity, understanding, and compassion has never been more critical. […]

Ours is an age of nation-building, pioneering a newly born Republic, searching for new standards and new frontiers. In such a situation, who could adopt worse […]

This weekend, Trinidad and Tobago celebrates its 47th anniversary as a Republic, just one month shy of our celebration of our 61st anniversary of independence. But […]

While much of the population are aware of the presence of Venezuelan migrants in seemingly every community in both islands, the fate of migrant children’s education […]

There are reportedly only about 1,500 Catholics in Mongolia’s population of 3.3 million. Yet, Pope Francis chose to make a pilgrimage to the landlocked East Asian […]

The Trinidad Express newspaper runs a daily feature where people are asked what they love about Trinidad and Tobago. The answers are invariably the same. People […]

Pope Francis’ message for the World Day of Prayer for the care of creation – September 1, 2023 Dear brothers and sisters! Let Justice and Peace […]

Now that the Local Government Elections are over with all the relevant political parties and commentators having their say, this Sunday’s Gospel passage may be instructive […]

Tomorrow, thousands of citizens will cast their ballots in the August 14 local government election. To say that this election has been mired in controversy is […]

If you followed the social media platforms with the photos and videos of our 35 pilgrims at the World Youth Day celebrations, one thing was evident: […]

After a year’s postponement because of the Covid-19 pandemic, World Youth Day (WYD) 2023 formally begins in Lisbon, Portugal this Tuesday, August 1, Emancipation Day, and […]

Pope Francis’ message for the third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly – July 23, 2023 Dear brothers and sisters! “His mercy is from age […]

The registration of Form One students at their new schools has by now been completed and September holds the promise of new experiences, new friends, and […]

The race is well and truly on for the local government elections due to take place August 14, a mere five weeks away. And as is […]

Nine decades ago, beginning on May 10, 1933, the evil of Nazism was on the rise in Germany. Nazi-dominated student groups carried out public burnings of […]

The death of Massy Energy Solutions Limited (MEES) employee Allan Lane Ramkissoon has again brought into focus the need for a review of the Occupational Health […]

I was married to Kathryn in December of 2001, and we had the conversation together on having children and so, our daughter’s existence was planned and […]

With local elections looming in a few weeks, the nation is already seeing the seeds of discord being sewn between parties with calls for international observers […]

Tech industry experts and entrepreneurs worldwide have been warning governments and societies to glance over their shoulders at the advances of artificial intelligence (AI). They all […]

On the political hustings, politicians on both sides of the divide peddle language that resonates with the population. We are told that ‘the voice of the […]

The recent Brent Thomas fiasco has brought some profoundly serious issues to the fore and demands honest and unbiased responses from Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, Minister of […]

Motherhood is a symphony of many. It is not a role with one task or purpose nor a simple definition but an intricacy of experiences, experiences […]

The month of May in the universal Church has always been Marian focused by nature, but for us at Catholic Media Services Limited (CAMSEL), the month […]

Leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) met in Port of Spain for a two-day symposium on the region’s burgeoning crime problem April 17 and 18. What […]

Viral videos are talked about for a few days, and then just as quickly replaced by the next one. But there are always lessons to be […]

On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis invited the faithful to keep the most suffering nations in prayer. Here is the text of his address at the traditional […]

“Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark.” Caribbean women are survivors. They are not afraid of the […]

At the start of this most solemn and holy week, we rejoice with the people of Jerusalem as Christ draws ever nearer. Our rejoicing is bittersweet, […]

Newly appointed Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher came into office promising a reduction in murders by June. But within days the Commissioner realised that the Police just […]

In a reflective piece on last Sunday’s gospel of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman, Vicar General Fr Martin Sirju tackles a difficult subject in his […]

A few weeks ago, a document bearing the logo of the Archdiocese was circulating widely on social media. It contained the lyrics of a song entitled […]

There is something rotten in this land of ours, to misquote Marcellus in Shakespeare’s Hamlet and the stench rises to the highest heavens. Whatever the magnitude […]

Lent is a time to calm down, not lockdown, playing on the words of Nigerian rapper Rema’s superhit ‘Calm down’. For many of us, Lent is […]

The reign of the Merry Monarch signalling the beginning of the mother of all Carnivals begins soon, and with it will come the pageantry, the creativity, […]

‘The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world’ is a well-known poem by an American poet William Ross Wallace that praises […]

In a blog of 2013, Sentire Cum Ecclesia, Catholic blogger David Schütz discusses Pope Francis’ style of leadership in his post ‘Pope Francis: All things to […]

Almost everywhere around the world we see conflict. In Ukraine, the fighting has taken thousands of lives and displaced millions. Tanks, missiles, and guns are pouring […]

By Wendy Ann Jones Principal, Catholic Bible Institute Sunday of the Word of God is here again, and we have another opportunity to sit at the […]

We are now just a few weeks away from Carnival 2023, dubbed hopefully as the ‘Mother of all Carnivals’. After a hiatus of two years, it […]

Without a doubt, the most popular sport played worldwide is association football. For the past month, millions of fans around the world have turned their attention […]

One of the breakthrough outcomes of COP27, Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Change Conference, Egypt, November 6 to November 18, was the Loss and Damage Fund for developing […]

Life is uncertain! Things happen unpredictably that bring adversity into our lives. The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted work and travel around the world, the outbreak of war […]

Every year, special days are observed to cast a spotlight on a concern or issue affecting a community, society, or the world. Some of these special […]

It is time for this nation to assert its right to live in peace and security in our own homes. Home invasions are an ugly reality […]

Synod 2021–2023 has as its expressed aim “to provide an opportunity for the entire People of God to discern together how to move forward on the […]

This year’s Gospel passage for the annual Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed is emotive. Luke relates that a mother in the town of Nain weeps […]

The following is an edited version of Pope Francis’ message for World Mission Sunday, Sunday October 23. The full text is available online. Dear brothers and […]

On October 6, 2022, artist RemBunction in an interview with the Trinidad Express, ‘Cold Pot-iticians…too insensitive and out of touch’ said: “What we are seeing is […]

This is ‘Guava season’ for us: a time of harsh realities, of economic difficulty, of deprivation and sacrifice. It is also a time of distress globally, […]

The national budget for fiscal period 2022–2023 was read on Monday, September 26 in our Parliament, and in the coming days and weeks, what Finance Minister […]

We tend to think of our public holidays as little more than opportunities to relax and perhaps go to the beaches, and indeed this is important […]

In two issues of the Catholic News’ God @ Work business supplement, two interrelated business concepts were introduced to the reader who may not have been […]

There are several critical areas of concern today in Trinidad and Tobago. Addressing all of them would take more than one editorial. For those involved in […]

“The failure rate for school-based Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE) globally was 87%”,  (Re-Examining the Evidence for School Based Comprehensive Sex Education: A Global Research Review). This […]

This year 2022 can be a pivotal year in plotting a way forward for State with our diamond jubilee celebration of independence. It certainly has been […]

“This is not a fete in here this is madness.” That line by David Rudder in his 1987 classic ‘Madness’ may aptly describe the feeling of […]

Reliance, faith, trust, hope, readiness, and adventure. The Word broken for us in the Good News challenges us to surrender shadows of the make-believe ethos we […]

On Monday the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago will celebrate the 188th Anniversary of the Emancipation of African slaves from the yoke of institutionalised slavery. Amidst […]

Pope Francis’ message for the second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly – July 24, 2022 Dear Friends, “In old age they will still bear […]

The release of the Secondary Entrance Assessment results marks the end of one era in the lives of our Standard Five students and the beginning of […]

It’s hard not to think that we are at another turning point in history. Human history has always been attended by conflict, from villages, to countries, […]

There is only one way to be church today in the mind of Pope Francis – synodal. This is not by accident. The times in which […]

Every three years, the universal Church hosts an important international event that focuses on the issues and challenges facing the family. The first World Meeting of […]

Fathers today are grappling with ever-increasing responsibilities. There must be enough financially to ensure that his children have all the resources necessary to succeed in life […]

Social media commenters, and others outside of the platforms, were once again thrown into bitter discourse over the local politics of pettiness and division: the Opposition […]

On this first Sunday in June, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Pentecost and significantly, within the next two weeks, the Solemnity of the Most Holy […]

This Sunday the Church observes the annual World Day of Social Communications. Earlier this month, May 6, this paper celebrated its 130th anniversary of publication. We […]

The pathos and possibilities of the ‘Judas’ characters in the liturgical readings over recent weeks reveal a transition from a deceitful ‘love’ and distressing circumstances to […]

Today’s gospel (Jn 13:31–35) presents a challenge to the Christian believer –  that it is the looming betrayal of Jesus by Judas and His subsequent agony […]

May is the month of Mary and a time for all mothers in various forms. Pope Francis noted at the beginning of the year, “A mother’s […]

After two years, our children are all finally back in the classrooms. They have lost a lot over that time, not only academically but perhaps more […]

“Jesus, the Crucified One, is risen! He stands in the midst of those who mourned him, locked behind closed doors and full of fear and anguish. […]

In case you missed it, over the last two weeks there has been much discussion about the so-called ‘slap heard around the world’ which occurred at […]

Toss a rock into a still pond, and the ripple caused by the splash will eventually reach the point from which the rock was tossed. This […]

Sometimes by our own narration of our lives, the gaps between grace and human ‘gumption’ are revealed. The Word today tells of the “squandering of our […]

As he addressed thousands of visitors gathered in St Peter’s Square for his Sunday blessing on March 13, Pope Francis roundly condemned the war waged against […]

On the weekend of February 26–28, the nation was engrossed in the unfolding tragedy in south Trinidad with the four divers who lost their lives when […]

There are hopeful signs that the worst of the global Covid-19 pandemic will soon be behind us. While vaccination rates in many countries especially in Africa […]

The current murder rate is higher than it was in 2021, and there appears to be no end in sight to the death of our children, […]

We are called to love. It is likely, though, you’ve experienced fake love, or you know somebody who has fallen for one or more of the […]

In the preparation of any official teaching or other liturgical documents to be presented to the People of God, Church officials must implore the Holy Spirit […]

Governments around the world have continued to urge their citizens to vaccinate, and some have taken stringent methods against those who are either unwittingly or deliberately, […]

No aspect of life today has remained ‘uninfected’ by the coronavirus. In the realm of sports, the popular English Premier League, for instance, has seen the […]

Two days before the start of this New Year, Christian Church leaders issued a message to citizens. Their message of December 30, 2021 was reported in […]

Following is Pope Francis’ homily on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and the 54th World Day of Peace delivered on New Year’s Day, January […]

J’ouvert is not far away. Ole mas 2022 coming! A time when the hapless citizen can make fun of the powerbrokers – in State, private sector, […]

On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we look forward with great excitement to the feast of Christmas. We are confident that the Saviour, who became incarnate […]

The heroics of delivering service excellence are really engendered by a deep-seated, passionate commitment to respect and honour for the heart wisdom of self and the […]

John the Baptist is the archetypal character in this Season of Advent, the season of hope. In our imagery of the story of John, he is […]

Today we begin the joyful season of preparation, Advent. We remember not just the Lord’s coming into the world as a baby some 2000 years ago, […]

From the CTCT Secretariat “The tide. tide is time, tide is timing, low tide, high tide, it’s the moment, the Kairos” (Don Chambers, CTCT, 2021). In […]

By Leela Ramdeen Chair, Catholic Commission for Social Justice/Archdiocesan Ministry for Migrants and Refugees Today, Sunday November 14, is the fifth World Day of the Poor, […]

A reflection on religious vocation by Sr Sarah Waterman O Carm As we prepare to usher in Vocations Awareness Week, what comes to mind? To me, […]

The Church celebrates the solemnity of All Saints and the commemoration of all the faithful departed—All Souls—at the beginning of this new week. We are immediately […]

The very title of the Pope’s World Mission Sunday Message 2021 – “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20) – […]

Following is the homily delivered October 10 by Pope Francis at St Peter’s Basilica to begin Synod 2021–2023. A certain rich man came up to Jesus […]

Today the local Church joins with the rest of the world in celebrating World Mental Health Day. The theme of this year’s celebration is Mental Health […]

The very limited number of students who will benefit from this is itself an indication that we are still very far from real normalcy, but it […]

There is much concern about virtual schooling, and whether and how our younger children are learning effectively through it. But many children are entering Forms One […]

Message to catechists from Sr Juliet Rajah CHF, Directress of Catechetics It’s September once again, and the Church acknowledges and celebrates all catechists throughout the Universal […]

Each day, as we go about our daily business, we have choices to make. We want to be smart and sure when processing often difficult decisions […]

Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon made an impassioned plea at a pre-Independence Day Mass for all eligible citizens to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Tomorrow, September 6, schools […]

This Independence finds us more dependent that ever. Dependent on First World countries for vaccines, dependent on government for hampers, dependent on the rich to help […]

It will all be over in a matter of a fortnight. Every year, school-aged children and the nation’s teachers and principals look forward to the July/August […]

The haunting image of Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines in a blood-stained shirt after he was hit with a stone […]

This week, the 2021 School of Liturgy continues its work virtually, over a period of about three weeks, from August 2 to August 21, with lectures, […]

This Sunday is Emancipation Day, and Trinidad and Tobago retains the singular honour of being the first country in the world to have declared a public […]

His Holiness, Pope Francis, has declared this Sunday the first-ever World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. What a blessed way of recognising those who span […]

As the Covid-19 pandemic has unfolded this year, with the emergence of new, more transmissible variants, it seems clear that the only way out is vaccination […]

The shocking reality of the effects of climate change on British Columbia, Canada captured world-wide attention recently.  With the temperature reaching an unprecedented high of 49.5° […]

Often, we hear that the family is the basic cell of society. What’s the condition of the many ‘cells’ which constitute the body of society, and […]

This is a difficult time. It is a time when we yearn to touch the hem of the cloak of Jesus and feel and know that […]

When my first child Christian was born, I made a promise to myself that I would be a better father to him than my father was […]

We live today in a world where trust is a bad word, largely because there has been so much disappointment emanating from those in whom trust […]

The nation is fearful and tense. Despite all medical attempts to flatten the curve, infections continue at an alarming rate. Medical statisticians cannot say with certainty […]

Covid-19 has ravaged nations around the world. We here in Trinidad and Tobago have not been spared.  Few countries have. The human family has had to […]

On this Pentecost Sunday, the words of today’s Responsorial Psalm echo the tortured pleas of creation everywhere: Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, And renew the […]

I have spent the past five years doing the most meaningful, purpose-driven work in advancing the mission of the Church. It is imperative to recognise that […]

The month of May is a special month, for various reasons. Last Sunday, western countries celebrated Mother’s Day. The Church has long associated the month with […]

“I feel like I have five jobs,” retorted a friend of mine in a recent phone conversation. It has been a rough year and an equally […]

As of Sunday, April 25 the number of Trinbagonians vaccinated stands at 34, 353 across the 21 centres, while simultaneously numbers of COVID positive cases have […]

Each year, the Church celebrates Good Shepherd Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Easter and notwithstanding the global pandemic, this year is no different. In a […]

The eruptions of La Soufrière volcano are a stark reminder that the Caribbean territories share a common backyard, and the affairs of our neighbours are our […]

Societies everywhere are grappling with the problems posed by unbridled capitalism.  As a way of driving economic growth and innovation, capitalism has no rival. Yet it […]

Easter is about new life, but the smell of death is all around—murdered women, slaughtered young men, the loneliness of the death by COVID-19, increased homelessness, […]

When Spirit and human nature collide in the spaces of encounter in our Caribbean civilisation, a common exclamation is: “Buh look at meh crosses nuh!” Whatever […]

The 33-day Consecration to St Joseph ended on Friday, March 19, the Solemnity of St Joseph. From initial feedback, the challenge was appreciated with registered participants […]

On the first-ever papal visit to Iraq, Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journey from March 5 to March 8 to a fractured and war-torn land, the Pope acclaimed: […]

In the 1990s, Christian teens and young adults walked around with a simple reminder on their wrists, a bracelet with the letters WWJD—What Would Jesus Do. […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has entered a new phase. Vaccines have been developed and authorised for ‘emergency use’. Some were developed using traditional methods but were developed […]

Perhaps more than any other year, we enter this Lenten season with a cloud of darkness hovering over our country. There is bitterness and acrimony everywhere, […]

Ironically, on this Valentine’s Day when love is commercialised as Cupids and cushioned in chocolates, public platforms resonate with protests regarding repeated violence against women in […]

This Sunday, we celebrate the grace and wonder of healing. A large, visible aspect of Jesus’ ministry was His healing of physical infirmities—He healed Simon’s mother-in-law […]

This Jesus Christ who speaks with authority has sometimes been challenged as liar, lunatic or Lord. This was the trilemma posed by CS Lewis in his […]

“Words matter” has become something of a mantra in certain mainstream media in the context of the presidency of Donald Trump and its consequences, evidenced most […]

Democracy is a gift, and while not a perfect system, it allows for freedoms and rights that can be easy to take for granted. Built in […]

The feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which we celebrate on the Sunday after the feast of the Epiphany, marks the official end of Christmas. […]

2020 has gone. It was a very difficult year as the coronavirus showed itself to be no respecter of persons, rank, nationality, gender, or age. Coupled […]

Caribbean family life is notably marked by the absence of the father in the home. This absence is in many instances supplanted by the extended family […]

Around the world, in countries and communities whether Christian or not, people will be striving to make this a wonderful Christmas. Closed borders will be opened, […]

A man came. His name was John. He came to bear witness to the Light. A popular and humble man among ordinary people, proclaiming a cryptic […]

The world is waiting in joyful hope for the release of a vaccine to combat the COVID-19 virus. Parents are waiting in joyful hope for the […]

This Advent may be more poignant than in previous years. With the world still essentially at pause because of the pandemic, the relief in the form […]

This weekend the Church celebrates the Feast of Christ, the King of the Universe.  At first glance, the gospel reading does not reflect our temporal image […]

The Archdiocesan observance of ‘Justice, Peace and Community Week’ (JPCW) commenced on Saturday, November14, and ends on Saturday 21. The theme this year is the same […]

This year 2020 would go down in the annals of history as no ordinary year. The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed countless lives and shaken our major […]

Most of us have been tuned into the upcoming election in the United States of America. We know the parties, the candidates, and even some of […]

It’s interesting and confounding at the same time, how the first commandment of love is so often compromised by the rule of Law. Love is meant […]

The human being is a social creature, and to be part of a group which represents personal ideals, and with which one could identify is a […]

The ongoing controversy involving FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), the FIFA-appointed Normalization Committee and the local governing body for football, the Trinidad and Tobago Football […]

There are many messengers who have been killed because the potency of their messages made their listeners decidedly uncomfortable. The names of Martin Luther King and […]

COVID-19 cases are spiking again, not just here in Trinidad and Tobago but in Europe, the United Kingdom, Israel, and some states in the United States. […]

It has been two weeks since most of our schools have reopened and our students, teachers, parents, and administrators are all grappling to master a new […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how much we are interdependent and, thus how much we need each other for mutual flourishing. The humanitarian response to the […]

How do you view leadership? Is it about setting the pace, showing good example, motivating others, accomplishing goals, and accurately hitting targets? What about helping people […]

We celebrate the 58th anniversary of our status as an independent nation without the usual degree of pomp and ceremony to which we have become accustomed.  […]

All people of goodwill would have been profoundly distressed, if not made afraid, by the post-General Elections’ behaviour, which seems to erupt every five years. It […]

The nation goes to the polls as this editorial is written. We pray for free, fair, and peaceful elections. The biggest challenge facing the new government […]

As Catholics, we have a long tradition of engagement in the political process as a means of putting our faith into action. We are called to […]

By Fr Stephan Alexander Parish of St Martin de Porres, Coryal For many of us, the challenge of transcending the chasm between knowing about Jesus and […]

By Kevin and Annette Downes As we celebrate the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the Catholic role models for married couples, Annette and I reflect […]

Politics is defined as the art of gaining and keeping power. This is the classical definition of politics by the so-called Father of politics, Niccolo Machiavelli. […]

Protest action in the form of road-blocking, burning of tyres and debris, and placarding is nothing new. It is usually done to draw public attention to […]

“This is the dark time, my love” Guyanese poet, Martin Carter, wrote this lament in response to the invasion of British Guiana on October 9, 1953 […]

As faith communities gather to be nourished at the tables of the Word and the Eucharistic meal of sacrifice and thanksgiving, we celebrate the opportunity and […]

Darting through the congregation at St Joseph RC Church, Mon Repos, was my daughter, Annamarie, three years old at the time, who had just pulled away […]

“Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war…” Haile Selassie’s words in his […]

What is the state of our relationships? We continue to witness high breakup in marriage or no marriage at all, many people choosing to live together […]

These are strange and uncertain times, not unlike the experiences of the disciples as they locked themselves away in the Upper Room, for fear of the […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought out the best in many of us. We have seen communities applauding health care workers for their sacrifice, and scores of […]

Amidst the crippling socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 on our society, the Archdiocese of Port of Spain is working hard to secure food for everyone within our […]

We live in a world where the notion of motherhood is held up to such high esteem accompanied by many expectations. Even in God’s Word there […]

Animals are viewed by those who love them as agents of comfort, warmth and healing. They sometimes accomplish for people what fellow humans can’t for their […]

COVID conversations abound in our own local spaces and around the world. Though separated, isolated, and quarantined to save our lives, the internet has quickly become […]

Our first cover of the Lenten Season (March 1) asked what now seems to be a prescient question: “Are you ready for the sacrifice?”.  None would […]

“Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here, And you must treat it as a powerful […]

The palms hanging from our rear view mirrors and over our doors at home; our crucifixes hanging from our necks; our rosary rings and bracelets that […]

The coronavirus pandemic is a global war against an enemy we cannot see with the naked eye.  It has provoked considerable anxiety and frustration, irrespective of […]

There has never been a time in living history when the global village has seemed so small, when our common humanity has been brought into such […]

Globally, as of last Wednesday, there are 121, 357 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 4,380 deaths all in approximately 78 days. In the Caribbean, the number […]

Mountaintop experiences in Scripture and in our own lives are awesome. The views inspire stories in travel magazines, pilgrimage reflections and adventure projects alike. In the […]

Lent is an annual opportunity to rediscover the power of the Word. The Word was given special prominence on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, henceforth […]

It is the same palm that was waved in a carnival of excitement and colour to welcome Christ into Jerusalem that is burnt into ashes and […]

WE can no longer act as if we are not in a societal crisis. According to a daily newspaper we have recorded 46 murders for the […]

The World Day of the Sick will be observed on Tuesday, February 11 and it is fitting that special recognition and appreciation be accorded to the […]

When Simeon looked at the infant Jesus in Mary’s arms, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction that at last, all that he had hoped and […]

Today is the first celebration of Sunday of the Word of God, and it is no coincidence that the letter Aperuit Illis, September 2019, should fit […]

In the midst of the challenges we’re all facing in Trinidad and Tobago and around the world, we’re invited to respond to the call to be […]

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord which marks the end of the Christmas season. The theme of light endures, however, as […]

As we look forward to this new year, there are many issues that compete for our attention. As a nation, we continued to be worried about […]

With 2019 speeding to a close, leaving in its wake a trail of death and destruction, both manmade and natural, Trinidad and Tobago will certainly look […]

John the Baptist, imprisoned by the tetrarch, Herod Antipas, for daring to criticise Herod for taking his brother’s wife as his own, sent his followers to […]

To some, John the Baptist’s language can seem intemperate, but many have used the “brood of vipers” phrase with a certain glee. Precursor to Christ, the […]

The time is ripe for hope: the closure of Petrotrin, declining numbers at Mass and falling collections, a bleak economic outlook. There is also climate change […]

At the culmination of this liturgical calendar, today’s reading reveals that Christ the King, in attitude, appearance and dominion contrasts sharply with our secular perception of […]

Signs are everywhere around us, signalling the values and aspirations we nurture and harbour. The decisions we make about our lives as we strive to work […]

Today begins Vocation Awareness Week 2019. This week the faithful will observe several activities to keep the conversation about vocations to the priesthood, religious life and […]

The adage goes: “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me!”.  The thing is that harsh words can and do hurt. […]

Since the close of the Second Vatican Council, one of the core debates which has roiled global Catholicism is the question of the relationship between the […]

It continues to be a trying time in Trinidad and Tobago. On Wednesday morning, citizens were engrossed in the unfolding story of the early-morning rescue of […]

That there was a sag in missionary zeal after Vatican II is indisputable. To some extent this was due to the challenge posed by Nostra Aetate […]

When in 1976, Dr Eric Williams led our republic towards a parliamentary democracy and set this country ablaze on a mission, steeped in the belief that […]

As we get ready to celebrate the nation’s 43rd anniversary of its attainment of republican status, one of the thorny issues with which we are grappling […]

The great news of the accomplishment of Trinidad and Tobago’s Nicholas Paul is like a beacon in the darkness that too often dominates the headlines in […]

Trinidad and Tobago is in its 57th year of independence, and moving to 43 years of republicanism. Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Harris in his final interview with […]

The nation cannot forget the compelling headline of the Trinidad Guardian, July 21 – ‘The Breaking Point.’ This was followed by Archbishop Gordon’s July 28 column […]

It is almost becoming normative that people the world-over are choosing to take videos of human distress rather than attempt to help another in a situation […]

What kind of society have we become? What kind of people have we turned into? How can someone run over a human being lying ill on […]

Our nation has had to endure two traumatic weeks. The murder count escalated dramatically in incidents all around the country, on land and sea, sparing no-one, […]

As Trinidad and Tobago continues her weary struggle with the grim realities of runaway crime, potently manifested by the recent spike in murders, as she grapples […]

The Feast of Saints Anne and Joachim is observed annually on July 26 and while this is not a major feast day, it is an occasion […]

The tragic news of the murder of Elliot Verasammy, 62 and his daughter Sarah, hit a community and family hard. He was a well-known figure in […]

Discipleship is hard and may be costly. Living out Christian values often presents us, individually and collectively, with tough choices, and the choices we face sometimes […]

There is a popular local phrase often used to declare how impossible an achievement something will be for the individual. We say to others “that, and […]

When Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray, He began by establishing who God is in relationship to us and who we are […]

“We had not so much as heard that there was such a thing as a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2).  An informal and unscientific poll of practising […]

What do we think of when we think of cities? Of Port of Spain? We think of busy-ness and business— the world of money, of wheeling […]

As the crisis next door escalates in magnitude, we Trinis can either choose to bury our heads in the sand or take affirmative action, knowing that […]

In this Sunday’s gospel the themes of glorification, shame and love are presented to us. Perhaps, you may be tempted to think that these values are […]

The origins of celebrating mothers can be traced to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honour of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, […]

The unfolding tragedy in Venezuela continues to have reverberations in Trinidad and Tobago. The thousands who have fled our neighbouring state fill our streets and the […]

“As the Father sent me, so am I sending you. The Christian community is sent out into the world on a mission that will lead, ultimately, […]

No Good Friday lasts forever, there will always be a Resurrection Sunday. That is the hope we carry as Easter people, that not even death could […]

We know the story well. Jesus has a triumphal entry into Jerusalem, heralded and hailed with waving palms. We assume that some of these people would […]

There has been increasing talk these days about demons and spiritual warfare. The woes of our country, especially sexual abuse and gang violence, are seen as […]

A common contemporary trend is to move religion and religious tradition out of the public forum but when the Mathura’s story of being haunted by a […]

This third Sunday in Lent is an opportune time to evaluate how our Lenten journey is progressing. Ash Wednesday and all the resolutions that we made […]

Long after the ashes have been wiped from our foreheads we are still called upon to live out our Lenten journey, for it is in those […]

We’ve often been urged to treat our body as God’s ‘temple’. Today, on this first Sunday of Lent, as we break open the Word, the Tempter […]

PEOPLE and institutions that have lost touch with their brokenness and their humanity cannot offer moral guidance to anyone. As Jesus says in this weekend’s gospel […]

WHETHER we scan the local scene or the global environment, it is difficult not to feel that many of the institutions which have defined civilisation in […]

Trinidad and Tobago prides itself in being a hospitable and warm nation. Yet despite this self-assessment, the current maltreatment of refugees and asylum seekers might cause […]

When he saw the large catch he and the other fishermen had obtained at Christ’s bidding, Simon Peter fell to his knees recognising His power, and […]

In our Caribbean matriarchal society, decent men are often given short shrift. Many women say: “The only good man is a dead man”. This runs against […]

A current trend on social media is the ‘Ten-Year Challenge’—a look back at photos posted ten years ago, side by side with photos of the same […]

The average citizen could only look on in bemusement at the somewhat shambolic turn of events as the country recently approached the deadline for the inspection […]

“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance”— John the Baptist’s exhortation to the Pharisees and Sadducees who had no intention of dipping their feet into the water, […]

Welcome to 2019 and the official end of the Christmas season. After today, when the carols have been stilled, the parang and parang soca shelved, the […]

In purely physical terms, the new year is just the beginning of another cycle of the planet in its orbit around our sun, bringing the four […]

A huge wave of optimism was brought about by the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth century: freedom, reason and scientific technology would signal […]

A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ…(Luke 3:15). The Christmas Season throbs with […]

In recent times words like ‘pests’, ‘monster’, ‘animals’, ‘cockroaches’ and other derogatory terms have been used to refer to law-breakers. While this is intended to show […]

How do we find hope in these hard times, and how does the Church, standing shoulder to shoulder with her faithful, continue to be a sign […]

In 1925, Pope Pius XI established the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (formerly Christ the King). Originally in October, it was […]

There is not a soul on earth who wants to be poor; and none of us was created in order to endure poverty. Deprivation, indignity, suffering […]

The overwhelming generosity shown during the recent flood by so many sections of the national community was truly a heartening sign for those of us grown […]

A popular rallying chant at faith-renewal sessions affirms that “When Jesus say ‘yes’ nobody can say no!”. It’s the call of the Shema in the Word […]

The heart of the nation is heavy from the recent spate of flooding the likes of which we have not seen in living memory. The Prime […]

The appeal of Facebook may be incomprehensible to some — the quick effortless way it sheds light on people’s personal lives; the claims of connecting people […]

All economies are subject to booms and slumps. The largest economies of the world suffer economic contraction almost in a cyclical fashion. Trinidad and Tobago will […]

Divorces are never easy. Other than the divorcing couple, there are many other persons who are also hurt in the process. It must have been difficult […]

People must assert and defend their constitutional and human rights.  Among these are the rights of parents to educate their children. The 1976 International Covenant on […]

It was a common adage when growing up that “Children must be seen and not heard” and “Silence is golden”. There are many others, biblical as […]

As the news of the rescue of Natalie Pollonais from the grasp of her kidnappers lit up the social and traditional media, the country breathed collectively […]

Taking the lead from the text of the weekend Gospel, let us take a moment to reflect on and celebrate the precious gift of ‘freedom of expression’ […]

Heart trumps verbal hypocrisy: the Gospels make clear the primacy of love. But, this truth can easily get lost. We learn today to define ourselves by […]

A ray of hope shone through the population as a police commissioner was at last appointed after acting positions spanning too many years. Gary Griffith was […]

Although leadership in the Church, society and even in our homes continues to be an ongoing challenge,when the Apostolic Nuncio imposed the pallium on Archbishop Jason […]

Over the past few months the eyes of our nation have been fixed on the appointment process of a new Commissioner of Police (CoP). The debate […]

‘From Captain to Commissioner’ the headline rang, as the potential appointment of former Army Captain Gary Griffith to the post of Commissioner of Police loomed closer. […]

For those of us old enough to remember, there was a time when local communities were real and vibrant. Neighbours knew each other’s names; children played […]

The results are out on the parish discussion on family life, the parish, leadership in Church and society, Catholic education and clergy and vocations. Most of […]

The threat posed by the weather system, Tropical Storm turned Hurricane Beryl, was met with trepidation by our neighbours from Dominica, Guadeloupe and Puerto Rico. Dominica […]

On Friday, June 22, there was a 5.3 magnitude earthquake at 9.54 p.m. that was felt in some parts of Trinidad and Tobago. Within twenty hours […]

As July begins, holidays and trips away from the daily routine and relaxation of the early rising to face the commute to school begin to come […]

“There is no one among your relatives who has that name”—This Sunday’s gospel (Luke 1: 61). Sometimes in life we set new trends—from a family of […]

I never thought I would make a good father, far less a good husband, but now, 17 years later I think I might be on to […]

Xenophobia is typically defined as a fear and suspicion of foreigners. As a behaviour, those who fall victim to this are usually searching for a better […]

In a time when people feel powerless in the face of economic uncertainty and reduced personal security, demonstrations are increasingly being used as a means to […]

One of our parish priests asked his former parishioner why she left the Church. Her answer was: “relationship before religion”. She was quite right. And quite […]

On August 2015 from Manila, The Philippines, Pope Francis addressed a weeping mother, “You respected the life you were carrying inside you, and God is going […]

We are living in a world where everything has changed and we have no sure footing. It’s postmodern, post Christian, post truth. This is particularly troubling […]

The recent testimony of Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, to committees of the United States Congress, in respect of the unauthorised use of customer data brought […]

The Second Vatican Council made a radical step in reminding the Catholic faithful that holiness is the striving and goal of everyone, not just priests and […]

The imbroglio surrounding the sea bridge between Trinidad and Tobago is having increasingly serious consequences for the residents, business people and visitors to Tobago. Despite its […]

Lent has raced to a finish and we now stand in the light of Easter, officially. But given the prevailing mood, it appears that the symbol […]

The country is going through its own Passion at this time. Many say like Jesus: “My soul is sorrowful unto death.” The government is losing the […]

The anguish of mental illness afflicts our homes, schools, churches and the streets of our nation, with the piercing screams of its sufferers often ignored or […]

It is not unheard of that people stand outside of the National Blood Banks or, General Hospitals selling pints of blood for as high as TT$1500. […]

The parlous state of our societies and the apparent paralysis of those charged with leadership of the institutions traditionally tasked with the guidance of society have […]

The admission by Prime Minister Keith Rowley that there is an ISIS cell in Trinidad and Tobago comes as no surprise to many. In July 2017 […]

The recent threat to disrupt the Carnival and to throw the country into a subsequent state of panic and confusion has seen the arrest, according to […]

The period of 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving will begin on Ash Wednesday. These 40 days, if well lived and pondered, serve not only […]

In a society suffering from a perceived lack of models, a phrase from the Letter to the Corinthians offered as part of this weekend’s Scripture Readings […]

Disturbing statistics were sent last December to regional vicars of the archdiocese. Most worrying is the continuing decline of numbers at weekend Mass, down from 17 […]

Last Sunday was the 104th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (the UNHCR) estimates that there were at least […]

Our beloved nation of Trinidad and Tobago is rich both in natural and human resources. In view of this wealth, our people must recognise the need […]