DEAR EDITOR: Despite the present circumstances surrounding the lives of all Catholics in our country of Trinidad and Tobago, we ought to persevere with the spiritual notion that it does not matter how one feels, what is important to know is God’s Spirit dwells in our minds and hearts and being faithful to His Word.

It is hard for us to focus on God when we do not attend Holy Mass or spend time at prayer daily. We ought to be happy that Jesus died for our sins. Do we really believe in God? Is living on planet earth worthwhile?

When one reaches the realm of knowing who God is and what He stands for, and obeying His commandments, then we would experience His specialty of making the impossible possible with His saving mercy.

This year, the resurrection is being explained more than ever so that it will be stuck in the minds of all of us, including yours truly. For many years, I allowed worldly ideologies to confuse my mind.

Though many seem to be logical, I have finally come to the conclusion that it does not matter where you fellowship. It matters that we all love one another and maintain a communion with God, our Saviour.

Resurrection is not only the physical aspect of Jesus but also a reflection of us humans who were dead spiritually and rise up to the transformation of a peaceful life.

Many of us still criticise the Catholic Church for worshipping idols and statues. Some say that Catholics are too strict and boring; not lively enough. There are people who after shaking hands and saying “peace be with you”, leave the church door forgetting the one they shook hands with and not even missing them the following Sunday.

While most members of other churches walk with their bibles and songbooks Catholics do not. Husbands leave religion to their wives and offspring.

Other people find that what they have to do on a Sunday or Saturday is more important than going to church. The Church needs to be a gigantic family and it needs to rotate members of the congregation in conducting services.

Every one ought to become involved. Though the rosary is a very powerful prayer, there are ones who try to influence us that praying to the Virgin Mary (the mother of Jesus) is wrong.

Though people criticise the Catholic Church, we still accept them for baptism, First Communion, confirmation and matrimony. There are many prodigal sons and daughters in our land.

At times I asked myself why wait on a wedding, funeral, first communion, confirmation or a dreadful day with the law to affirm ourselves with the spirit of God. Many of us do not read and update ourselves on the teachings of the Catholic Church.

There is so much to learn and comprehend. Whatever the percentage of worshippers in a church, the heavy vibration of worship, song and a comfortable sense of belonging is the key.

When we continue to seek first the kingdom of God everything else will fall in line. Problems at your workplace? Traffic problems – bumper-to-bumper traffic, taxi, maxi or bus taking too long to arrive? Put God first.

Family squabbles, friends disappoint you or not getting a job or money worries? Just take it to the Lord. We will have our ups and downs, our ins and outs, but God is always there to give us the victory.

Keep the faith brothers and sisters.

Gregory Neptune, Port of Spain

DEAR EDITOR: Today my heart bleeds as I listen to the death rattle of a once proud city.

For the first time in many years, I drove down Frederick Street on a Sunday morning (April 6), where once mangy dogs roamed the streets and rooted in the garbage I now observe mangy, dirty, unloved humanity inhabiting the dung heap that is our capital city.

How can we as citizens continue to ignore this degradation? Are we “brutish beasts”? We pursue our daily lives in a cesspit, with carefree abandon.

How can our leaders preach, smugly, from their multi-million dollar palaces while citizens struggle in shame and squalour? No fancy construction programme can raise us above this hell on earth.

A beacon flickers through this chaos. The college of the Immaculate Conception stands, as it has for so many years, strong, clean and orderly, pointing us in the right direction.
Juliet Roopnarinesingh, Westmoorings