“We must allow Trinitarian love to penetrate every nook and cranny of our land.”

So said Fr Jason Gordon as he preached the sermon at the closing Mass of the 33rd annual rally of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR).

Main celebrant was CCR national service team spiritual moderator Fr Wilfred John. Rev Leslie Tang Kai, ordained deacon the day before, proclaimed the gospel.

Visiting priest Fr Steve Zehler of the Diocese of St Augustine, Florida also concelebrated. Fr Zehler is a friend of Aunty Babsie Bleasdell and deceased Fr Michael Moses and took the opportunity to attend the rally and pay his respects. The rally was the first CCR event since Fr Moses’ passing.

Fr Gordon, Vicar for Administration, made the mystery of the Trinity the theme of his homily. Last Sunday was the feast of the Holy Trinity.

Speaking to the more than 3,000 that filled the main auditorium of the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, he described the Trinity as “the heart, epicentre, core of everything we know” as Catholics.

He said the world was created by God out of love and therefore everything has been created and marked by Trinitarian love.

“It is the deepest truth of who we are, the deepest truth of who we are called to be.” He said that to be a people of the Trinity we as a people have to make a choice for love, but on our streets now there is fear and hatred.

“We say we are people of the Trinity but we do not reflect Trinitarian love…. If we are to be people of the Trinity we can’t stand in indifference, continue in apathy, continue to act as if all is well, continue to count the dead bodies.” We can’t allow our standards, our basic civility to fall, he said.

Fr Gordon said we may not have an army to bring peace, but as Church we are called to love - love convincingly, ceaselessly, love until it hurts.

“We have to demonstrate that love. We have to allow that dynamic love of God to set fire to the land. The power of Church is the power of love. We have to propose a new way of Church and of being disciples of Christ. That is the power of conversion. Our lives have to be transformed, and it will show in this land”.

He added that if we truly allow Trinitarian love to penetrate deeply into family life in this country there would be change. Holding up the processional cross placed at the front of the stage, Fr Gordon said, “This is the cost of Trinitarian love. This is the price we have to pay. This is the answer to the problems in the nation.”

Theme of the rally was The country is in mourning…Let us listen to Jesus the Restorer!” Hosea 4:2-3, 14:3

Archbishop Edward Gilbert, who could not celebrate the Mass due to previous commitments, delivered the opening address.

He said the troubles Trinidad & Tobago is facing are occurring across the region and world. “The world is in conflict and in doubt. There is a breakdown in moral values across society.” He said however that a believing community always brings its problem to prayer. “God’s wisdom and strength will facilitate change, and we must be a community of hope”.

Speaking in medicinal terms, he said when there is pain the doctor looks to find the cause. He said in this case, the answer to the pain in society is “fundamentally spiritual”.

“There has been a slow but steady withdrawal from the world of the wisdom of God”. He said the solution is to bring together believers and people of integrity, with reason being the common ground.

He said the Church can no longer justify just filling churches and sending people home. They must be fed substantially with the wisdom of the Church and the Eucharist, he said.

The archbishop also touched on family life, the development of proper values and formation of youth.

The main talk on the theme was given by Sr Debbie De Rosia, who threw on a garment to represent a sackcloth.

She said in her hour-long talk that never before has the nation seen so much bloodshed and it is “incumbent upon us to teach the truth about God” and to take individual responsibility. “We’ve stopped bringing our children where our children ought to be. It is time to reprioritise, time to take stock.”

Debbie De Rosia praying with the youth

She said there was widespread injustice and called on “Catholic and Christian lawyers and judges to stand up for what is right”.

She urged Catholic teachers to not only teach academic subjects but teach their students about Christ.

The only thing that really matters is the salvation of every boy and every girl, she remarked.

Sr Debbie said the country is in mourning because many young people are not coming to know Christ. Instead, they are ending up in jail.

“If they knew Christ they would not have ice picks in their pockets, or guns, and there would be no need for you and me to be afraid”.

She said demons were at work in society and it was time we walk our streets and neighbourhoods to pull down their strongholds. “Make God first in your life… If we want back the nation, we must make peace, and be people of integrity.”

After Sr Debbie’s charged talk, she invited youth under 30 years to the front where they were led in making a commitment to Christ.

Youth played another prominent role in the rally’s programme as Joel Duncan led all in an act of repentance with an examination of self, family, Church, nation, role models and the generation gap. This was followed by a dance performed by young women to the music of former soca artiste, now gospel artiste, Jaydee, Draw Me Closer.

After the lunch break, youth once again took the lead in the healing service as they prayed for and anointed the sick and elderly. Two testimonies were also given before the closing Mass.

The music ministry was ably led by Winston Garcia.

The next major events on the CCR calendar will be the 25th anniversary of the Point Fortin-based Servants of Jesus Christ the Lord Community, and a teachers’ conference, both in September. - RS