His Grace, Archbishop Edward Gilbert announced in the Catholic News dated November 30, 2008 that Ms Leela Ramdeen has been appointed the Episcopal Delegate/Chair of the Archdiocesan Commission for Social Justice (CCSJ). The appointment became effective December 1, 2008.

Ms Ramdeen was Episcopal Delegate/Chair of CCSJ from March 2003 - March 2006 when she resigned to pursue her work as an Attorney-at-Law and as an Education Consultant.

Leela Ramdeen

Miss Ramdeen states:
"I deeply appreciate the opportunity to serve the Catholic Church and the people of Trinidad and Tobago once again as Chair of this important Archdiocesan Commission.

I would like to pay special tribute to Fr Michael Moses who had replaced me when I left in March 2006. It was with deep sadness that I learned of his passing on 12 March this year. His Grace rightly referred to him as a 'virtuous man'.

Fr Moses was a man who had a deep relationship with God and a passion for justice. The testimony of his short life is an inspiration to all of us who strive to promote God's reign of truth, justice, love, peace and freedom.  We thank God for his life of selfless service to Church and country. May he rest in peace.

I have returned to the Commission at an exciting time. As we approach the third sitting of Synod (the week-ends of January 23-24 and January 30-21 2009) I share the spirit of solidarity and anticipation that currently permeates the Archdiocese.

Today our Church, country and world face many challenges. But we go forward to meet these challenges with confidence in our ability to make all things new in Christ our hope. Catholics are a people of hope. Earlier this year the Holy Father urged Catholics in the USA to be a 'leaven of hope' in our world. This applies to us also in TT.  We can do this more effectively if we are ‘DOERS of the Word and not hearers only’.

Over the past few weeks His Grace has been reminding us in his weekly Column in the Catholic News that to create a proper attitude for the implementation of recommendations from Synod, we must reflect on what it means to be an evangelising people, a communicating people a moral people and a people of solidarity. As we journey as Church it would be helpful if all Catholics are ‘reading from the same page.’  The challenge is to devise creative ways of encouraging everyone to ‘catch’ the Archdiocesan's vision which is being finalised.

CCSJ's vision - ‘To be a fearless united voice challenging injustice, awakening social consciousness and fostering integral development’  - is in keeping with the overall vision of the Archdiocese. We are committed to work in collaboration/in synergy with others at all levels in our Church and in society to  achieve our mission.

Let us ask God to give us the Grace to walk the path of holiness as we strive to live what we believe and in doing so seek to transform our world to reflect Gospel values.”