Catholics in Trinidad and Tobago are being urged to help reclaim the nation for God.

Delivering the feature address last Sunday at the annual Catholic Charismatic Rally, Fr Trevor Nathasingh charged Charismatic Catholics in particular with this mission.

Addressing the thousands gathered at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, Fr Nathasingh declared: “We have a responsibility to take back T&T in the name of God.”

THE parish priest of Point Fortin focused on the theme “Take back the nation” (Micah 2:12 -13) and didn’t mince words as he spoke in his customary straightforward, direct style, infused with a dose of Trini humour.

Fr Nathasingh acknowledged the inclement weather, telling the gathering to thank God for the rain but, more importantly, to thank God for the reign of the Holy Spirit.

He proceeded to identify what had to be done to take back the nation. The first thing he said was to put an end to the discord between communities within the Renewal. He said there were factions in the CCR “fighting for territory” and, to take back the nation, this had to stop.

He added: “God has anointed you not just to praise but for ministry. Too many people in the Renewal are still coming for the nice feelings, but there is work to be done. Once, we were pew potatoes, pew warmers, but we are now alive in the Church and, to take back our nation, there has to be a transformation from within. We have to seek the anointing, live in the anointing….”  

Fr Nathasingh continued that those in the CCR must become men and women of tremendous hope. “Strive to live a life of praise and exercise your charisms. If you do not use your charisms, they will filter away. We need more men and women anointed by the Holy Spirit to take back this nation,” he said.

The Renewal has helped empower parishes which would otherwise have become like skeletons, he stated. “This is our nation. This is my Church. This is our future. The Renewal will only become leaven in the Church when people in the Renewal become leaven to each other,” he added.

He called on Charismatic Catholics to begin the process of taking back the nation in their homes with their spouses and children: “Pass on the power of the Holy Spirit to your children. What inheritance do you want to leave for them? Money? Cell phones?” These things were temporary, he remarked.

He said most priests did not have the time to make home visits to bring those “living in sin and darkness back to God….So who do you think will have to bring the message to them?” the audience seated in the stadium’s main stand knew the answer. “To take back our nation, you need to become Jesus’ foot soldiers,” he told them.

Fr Nathasingh, a convert to the Catholic faith, drew applause when he said he believed that “as Catholic people, we have something unique to offer the world – our simplicity. I believe the Catholic Church has a unique message to bring the world back to Jesus Christ.”

He advised however that the job must start from within. “To take back our land we must start in the pews,” he said, calling also for “a new and forceful thrust of evangelisation”, he added: “You know the carnage, the sin, the degradation, the brokenness in our country. We are overflowing with money but there is still poverty….Catholic people of God, you are a tremendous asset to the Church and we have work to do.”

Fr Nathasingh, who shared that he is into his 19th year as a priest, called on single men to join the priesthood, joking that only real men become priests and that married men take the easy way out. He also urged fellow priests to work along with the Renewal.

The 2007 CCR rally, held for the first time in South Trinidad, began with praise and worship. Archbishop Gilbert then delivered the opening address, during which he congratulated the Renewal on its 40th anniversary.

He focused on his pastoral letter, “Deepening the Spirit of Solidarity in the Archdiocese” (visit the Archdiocesan website for the full text)which he had issued that Sunday. Heavy showers at the time affected the public address system and forced a ten to 15-minute interruption of the Archbishop’s address. The intermittent rain had many using their umbrellas and raincoats throughout the day.

After the lunch break, a healing service was conducted, followed by a testimony. Archbishop Gilbert returned to celebrate the closing Mass, at which Cedros parish priest Fr Wilfred John concelebrated. - RS