Archbishop Gilbert, preaching his first sermon for the new year at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, San Fernando, warned the large congregation gathered to celebrate Midnight Mass that “if we don’t intervene as a community, 2007 will be the same or worse than 2006.”

He said that this was not a pessimistic statement but a “realistic” one based on history. The bad events of 2006 here at home and the world over must make us “think theologically” if we are to be part of a process of change  – “nothing changes automatically”, he said, with specific reference to crime and terrorism.

“Evil does not go away. It just becomes more pervasive. The only way to deal with evil is to replace it with goodness. The only way to live in goodness is to be in relationship with God and based on that relationship, to choose to live the values of God.”

The Archbishop said the challenge we faced in beginning a recovery from the influence of evil was to accept the fact that as ordinary people who were neither armed nor organised we could do little about the influence of terrorism and the actions of hardened criminals – the drug lords, the kidnappers, the murderers, the well armed youth gangs or “the victims of drugs who commit crimes because they are victims of drugs”.

What can we do? As people of values, said Archbishop Gilbert, we know those values sustain us, help us form community and to relate to others with respect and love. “We must find a way to convince people to choose to live them.”

The Archbishop urged the congregation not to become discouraged but rather to deepen those values in their lives. “We must witness to those values. We must find ways to share our values.

We share values through witness, dialogue, value formation, education and worship. Do not underestimate the power of witness. Each year at Easter, hundreds of adults enter the Church.

The reason they became interested in the Church was the witness of Catholics who touched their lives. Witness is a powerful instrument for change.”

People in the Nation are becoming desperate, the Archbishop noted, many “live in fear. They think we are beginning to lose control of the Nation.  It is time to look at the values that lead to salvation and peace. There is no other way to build the future.”

The Archbishop then went on to reflect on specific paragraphs stated in the Pope’s New Year Message before ending his homily.