DEAR EDITOR: Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor of Westminster denounces secularisation in Great Britain (Catholic News, January 7), but the Catholic Church is doing a good job by themselves.

Pope John Paul II at Maynooth emphasised the importance of always looking like priests and nuns and wearing visible signs of their consecrated lives he said; “People need signs and reminders of God. In the modern secular city where there are few reminders of God, you will only help the trends towards taking God off the street by adopting secular modes of dress and behaviour yourselves.”

Gregory Aboud of DOMA said, “The presence of the Police and Army (in uniform) in Port of Spain during the Christmas shopping period had a positive effect on crime in the city.” It is difficult to tell in photographs in the Catholic News recording religious events, retreats, symposiums etc who are priests unless one knows them personally. I rest my case.

I wonder if we are One Church, one with Rome. The Vatican insists that their celebrants, consecrated priests should be the only ones on the altar during Holy Mass. The wonder that is the Holy Mass is not understood, appreciated, respected and there is grave irreverence.

Reference should be made to Catholic Times March 29, 1998 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger’s clarification re lay ministry.

The Catholic News Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 pg. 14 Month by month review of 2006 October “Vatican order ends US permission for lay ministers to cleanse sacred vessels after Communion.”

How can lay members elevate themselves to the altar and perform roles of the consecrated priests?

I do not go to confession locally because I do not see “priests”. I am fearful that I could stop going to Sunday Holy Mass and receiving the Blessed Sacrament when I see the sanctuary altar treated as a community centre and people behaving as if it is Mass as in Carnival, parading in the sanctuary and on the altar.

Fr Francis Marsden in the Catholic Times Sunday, June 5, 2005 said:
“I have heard with my own ears that there are elements within the Church highly placed, very damaging very dangerous elements who are promoting vocations shortage in order to further their own agenda - the abolition of the celibacy requirement and the ordination of women.”

The Church is one. I was born living that, experiencing that. My faith was restored to some hopefulness when I saw the Bishop celebrating Christmas midnight Mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady in Washington Cathedral genuflect at the Creed “and was made man”.

Some congregations do not even bow their heads. We no longer sign ourselves when we say the “Glory be”. Why are we diluting our faith and are irreverent in our devotions?

Instead we say long prayers and call God’s name hundreds of times (cf Matthew 6:7-11).
I wanted to volunteer for the catechist programme but could not associate with the teaching material to which youngsters are exposed.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is discarded and every coordinator/teacher provides her own content, reinventing the teaching of our religion at the expense and loss of our young Catholics.

The sign of peace is sometimes patronising and definitely disruptive of Holy Mass. It does not bring the congregation together, instead many people have distanced themselves from the Church because of the lack of fellowship if exposed.

Cardinal Ratzinger was clear that dancing in church was taboo.The Adoration Chapel situation is heartbreaking. The Blessed Sacrament is abandoned, covered with a cloth by any and everybody. What irreverence! That behaviour is universal.

Catholics have been called “cash and carry” Catholics, some may be tempted to call us DIY (do it yourself) laity burying the dead helping ourselves to the wine/blood and Eucharistic service.

We really need to take a good look at ourselves and not fall into the secular trap. May God help us all.

Camilla Bartlett via email

Dear Editor: Calling all St Joseph’s Convent graduates residing in Canada, or visiting Canada this July 2007!

Members of the SJC Port of Spain Class of ‘67 now resident in Canada are organising a weeklong event in early July 2007 in Toronto to celebrate our 40th anniversary of graduation. 
And we want all other SJC grads to come join us and renew the sisterhood!

So we are reaching out through our faithful Catholic News to reach as many graduates in Trinidad and elsewhere by publishing our letter. We are already in touch with many who plan to attend this reunion and promise that it will be a worthwhile week and certainly one to remember.

All SJC grad years are welcome to attend so if you are a grad or know someone who is, please pass the word on.

About Toronto: The city is simply fabulous, especially in the summer months. “It’s like nowhere on earth. More than 100 cultures come together to create wonderful things – that means cuisine, shopping and art you won’t see anywhere else.”

We realise that some of you have been here before, and for some it will be the first time, so we are aiming to set up a programme of events that will allow attendees and their families to participate inexpensively, meet old friends and schoolmates and do as much or as little as they wish.

About Trinidad and Tobago: As dedicated “Convent girls” we are currently working on ideas for the “ex-pat” grads to give something back in a series of simple, practical ways and make a difference back home. To this end, we are hoping to arrange a keynote address at one of the events that shares what one SJC grad is doing in Social Justice to help reclaim the Trinidad we love, and how we too can get involved from this end.

We hope that our letter reaches many of you and wish to thank the Catholic News for publishing it and for their significant part in community building and renewal - and the wonderful potential it holds for us all.

For more information about the reunion, contact:
Glenda Best (née Guevara) at glendabest@rogers.com or
Janis Zroback (née Cezair) at sjcreunion@primus.ca
We look forward to hearing from you.

Glenda Best and Janis Zroback   via email

DEAR EDITOR: Fr Gabriel Julien recently conducted a Bible course for parishioners of Mt Lambert and San Juan.

Each weekly session was very interesting and we have learnt quite a lot about our faith. The following are some of the question raised. The answers to them have contributed to making us more devout Christians.

Q. Why is holy water used on entering a church? A. The holy water and the sign of the cross are reminders of our baptism.

Q. Why are candles burnt in a church? A. The candles are a sign of Christ – the Light of the world. That Light serves to enlighten and guide us (Jn 1: 1-10).

Q. Why does the priest kiss the altar before and after Mass. A. As a sign of reverence.

Q. Why is the sign of the cross made when passing a church? A. To pay homage to the Blessed Sacrament present in the church.

Q. Why are statues of the saints placed in church? A. To remind us that the saints are part of the Body of Christ in heaven with God the Father.

Q. Why do we make devotions? A. We make public devotions to pray for such needs as a crime-free society or for world peace. We make private devotions to pray for personal needs such as good health, a job or in times of trouble.

Thank you, Fr Julien. I hope you continue your informative lectures in other parish communities.

Theresa Mc Millan, Mt Hope, Petit Bourg