THE EDITOR: A letter appeared in the Catholic News of Nov 11, 2007, under the caption “Distractions in Church” written by Lionel Lee of Chaguanas.

In the interest of space I quote one sentence: “….. but we do not have to further lengthen it by the number of announcements in repetition including birthdays, anniversaries et al, so we avoid having to indulge in the ‘concert hour’, as I term it, when we sing birthday and anniversary greetings”.

In context, I further quote from a book entitled Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger – Pilgrim Fellowship of Faith – The Church as Communion” appearing both in the introduction on page 12 and in the heart of the book on page 142 in bold.

“That is why the letter from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on “communion” is able to say that there are no foreigners in the Church: everyone is at home everywhere, and not just a visitor. It is always the one Church, one and the same. Anyone baptized in Berlin is just as much at home in the Church in Rome or in New York or in Kinshasa or in Bangalore or wherever he may be as in the Church where he was baptized. He does not need to report his move; it is all the one Church. Baptism springs from this Church and by it people are born into her”.

I went to Eucharist in Port-of-Spain in July last year. The same Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, from whom I received the Body of Christ, read the notices.

When she asked all visitors to stand I remained seated precisely because of the aforementioned quote. She repeated the request twice more and I noticed that she was looking directly at me but I remained seated.

I am not a non-Catholic attending a Catholic Church and I never felt like a stranger or visitor attending Eucharist in different churches in my diocese or in the region or in the US.

I totally agree with Mr. Lee and I find it ridiculous to be asking “visitors” and “strangers” to stand and say your name and from whence you came. If Catholics need that to feel at home and welcome, well so be it; they probably need to question the depth and solidity of their faith.

I often wonder about the fruits of fantastic and intense Liturgical workshops, courses and seminars facilitated by stalwarts like Dr Everard Johnston, Bro Paschal Jordon OSB, Frs Clyde Harvey, Garfield Rochard, Michel de Verteuil and others in the 70s and 80s.
GRENADA READER   via email

DEAR EDITOR: With the beginning of a new year and most of the world in imminent danger of destruction by mankind, and with our own little country besieged by a wave of crime, murder, rape, incest, kidnapping, violence against our women and children of unimaginable proportions and a culture of fraud, corruption and mismanagement at every level of our society, I would like to suggest that everyone regardless of their religious persuasion should put aside a few moments to pray fervently to their Lord and Creator for His Divine intervention in redirecting us from the path of self-destruction that many of us have taken.

It would also be a good time to pray for the emergence within our midst of a group of new, dedicated and competent leaders with the interest of our citizens foremost in their minds and hearts, men and women of intelligence, honesty and integrity with the vision, the will and the ability to manage and administer the affairs of the citizens in a fair, just and productive manner so that there may be a more equitable distribution of the wealth derived from our natural resources among the citizens of our country, especially among those who are most in need.

May Almighty God help us in our time of dire need.

Martin Kavanagh, La Romaine

THE EDITOR: The best reply I have found to William Lucie-Smith (Express January 7) to the argument around Fr Rochard, the Parish Committee of Assumption, and the vagrant is in the Papal Message for the 16th centenary of the death of St John Chrysostom (L’Osservatore Romano November 21, 07).

Here are some passages:
“… at the beginning of his (John Chrysostom) presbyterate, the Emperor stepped up fiscal pressure on the city, provoking a riot during which several public monuments were destroyed. In its aftermath the people, fearing the Emperor’s anger, gathered in Church …’If we do not console you, where will you ever be able to find consolation?’ He said to them …”

In his preaching, during Lent that year, John reviewed the events connected with the uprising and reminded those listening to him of the qualities that must characterise the civic commitment of Christians, especially the rejection of violent means to obtain political and social changes.  In this perspective he urged those of the faithful who were wealthy to show charity to the poor in order to build a more just society.

At the same time, he recommended that the better educated agree to act as teachers and that all Christians gather in churches to learn to bear one another’s burdens …

He was tireless in denouncing the contrast that existed in the city between the wasteful extravagance of the rich and the indigence of the poor, and at the same time suggesting to the well-off that they gather the homeless in their own homes … he affirmed that the Church’s material assistance should be extended to every person in need, regardless of one’s religious belief. “The needy person belongs to God, whether he is pagan or Jewish. He deserves help even if he does not believe.” [End of Quotation from The Papal Message]

This then is the witness of St John Chrysostom, Doctor and Father of the Church. And it is this the tradition of the Catholic Church.

MARION O’CALLAGHAN, Woodbrook

DEAR EDITOR: As a male Trinidadian, aware of the current social environment, I am sufficiently bombarded visually by models, fashion shows, swimsuits and diving necklines (not plunging!).

This is a polite request to all ladies to desist from causing distraction at Mass or in choirs. One of our city churches has had to place a notice on its doors and addressed to ladies who tend to over-do their display.

Is this trend part of a post-modern society? “Neo –Paganism”, in the Archbishop’s words? May we all move against persistent “secularisation” and preserve the values of the Church.
“One Voice”, Port of Spain