DEAR EDITOR: It is with great interest and concern that I read the letter by one “Bernard” of Couva (Aug 27) headlined, “How will the Catholic Church Survive?” The writer, though a non-participant, was able to garner enough information to condemn the work of Liturgy School.

It would have been so much more Christ-like and Christian for the said writer, who does not have his/her name published, to have expressed these concerns to the organisers who were always present and available throughout the duration of the School. That is, if the writer is really interested in the future direction of the Catholic Church and Liturgy School.

As one of the organisers I would like the writer to know that I am easily available; my name is listed in the telephone directory, so I can easily be contacted and we can discuss the problems that were raised.

It is true that this year’s Liturgy School did not attract as many people as in former years, and had the “interested” non-participant contacted the organisers the information would have been given that several parishes had to reduce their numbers because the fees were raised.

Added to this, the fact that there was no Liturgy School last year, and no definite news until relatively late about this year’s School, also accounted for a depletion in the number from a usual 250 to 160.

The writer also spoke about the problem of the young people not sleeping. We know that this is a problem (though not with all the young people) and we are looking for a solution so we would welcome suggestions.

I would like to mention that the week after Liturgy School I attended another Catholic seminar and though the location lent itself to greater control, the organisers had a similar difficulty with some of the young people. Perhaps the “interested” Bernard would like to offer suggestions. You’re welcome.

It still seems strange however, that the writer could see only wrongs perpetrated by the School. Yet when we read the comments from PARTICIPANTS, which were taken from the evaluation exercise, we get a different picture.

I wish to cite the example from the article “Liturgy School ’06: The Hermitage Experience”,’ which appeared in the same issue. Here we have the experience of a young participant (who has her full name published – Pearl Hamilton) and after giving perhaps a more balanced account of the activities sums it all up by saying: “The thing I cherished the most from Liturgy School was the abundance of knowledge I gained from the lecturers,” and concludes with, “Even though we had different reasons for coming there, we all left spiritually renewed and refilled.”

It is very important for us as Christians to follow what Christ says, and one of his most important sayings is, “Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye” (Mt 7:5).

May we all one day see eye to eye in the glory and happiness of heaven.
Felix Edinborough, Petit Valley

DEAR EDITOR: I refer to the letter by “A Very concerned Catholic”, Curepe published in the Catholic News of Aug 13.  Where blame is attributed to the priests for the present decline in membership because of their “very dull and boring sermons, not to mention being very flat in delivery.”

It is suggested that the word of God be so spoken that it “burns within the listener and is vividly relevant to his varied situations.”

I wish to remind the writer that although Jesus, on meeting the two disciples on the road to Emmaus caused their hearts to burn within them as he spoke, yet they did not recognise him until the blessing and breaking of bread which is the mystery and the miracle of the Mass!

There are many other things I should like to mention but because of space I suggest that the “Very Concerned Catholic” read the following books:

1. The Blessed Eucharist by Fr Michael Muller CSSR
2. Liturgical Time Bombs in Vatican II by Michael Davies

These books are published by Tan Books & Publishers Inc, Rockford, Illinois, 61105, USA. They may be available at local  Catholic bookstores.

I close with an observation by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, 199 (Pope Benedict) as quoted in the above-mentioned book by Michael Davies:
“I am convinced that the crisis in the Church that we are experiencing is to a large extent due to the disintegration of the Liturgy… where the community of faith, the worldwide unity of the Church and her history and the mystery of the living Christ are no longer visible in the Liturgy, where else then, is the Church to become visible in the spiritual essence? Then the community is celebrating only itself, an activity that is utterly fruitless.”
EB Diaz, Champs Fleurs

DEAR EDITOR: Greetings! Let us all thank God for his instructions to us, spoken through His three young prophets, Frs Henry Charles, Ian Taylor and Martin Sirju.

God is talking to us through these ministers of His. We should take heed and listen to His voice.

Fr Sirju, in his article on Page 16 of the Catholic News, August 6. Asked the question: “Do we have a plan to re-Christianise the Caribbean?”

In response to this question, I wish to offer Our Blessed Mother’s plan of prayer,  (principally through her holy Rosary) and consecration   to her Immaculate Heart, given to her priests (her sons) on October 7, 1986 (Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary) (See Message No. 336 – pgs 521-523) in the book To the Priests – Our Lady’s Beloved Sons (16th English Edition – April  1995).

Execution of Our Lady’s plan depends, of course, on those of us who have remained faithful and loyal to Our Holy Mother, the Church. In addition to Our Lady’s plan, I recommend, strongly, constant participation in Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration.

“To fight and conquer all this evil which is attempting to submerge the entire human race, you must have recourse to the powerful weapon of prayer. In fact, the new era will be able to come to you only as a gift of the spirit of the Lord, not at the fruit of the work of man.” (An extract from Message No. 336).
Carlyle Stephens, D’Abadie

DEAR EDITOR: On Friday, August 4, I had the shock of my life. A friend whose life had barely gotten started was a victim of MURDER. On Thursday, August 3 she came to visit us and we were being our normal kooky selves and making fun of each other until I had to go to work and said goodbye to her. Little did we know, this was the final goodbye. We said to each other, “See you tomorrow”, but that tomorrow never came for her.

It was early Friday morning, barely 5:30 a.m. we were awakened by her brother’s voice. We went to see what was the matter, thinking nothing of it until her brother exclaimed that his sister had been shot and died on the spot.

We didn’t believe, thinking it was just a prank he was pulling, only to find out that it was no prank but the truth. We did not even believe that she was dead even as we saw her asleep in the coffin for the last time. All we saw was an angel at rest.

In a moment everything can change and did change. My friend a vivacious, beautiful and friendly person became MURDER VICTIM 236 in Trinidad and Tobago for 2006, a 26 year old that we could only hope to meet, was shot in cold blood.

She in her short-lived life had three beautiful children who now have no mother but a bitter-sweet memory of her. We can only hope and pray that the hereafter that she has entered in Jesus’ Name has brought her more peace than she found when she was in this world.

We blame government, and point fingers to who is the wrong one for the crime situation in Trinbago but as the Crime Stoppers slogan goes “To fix Crime Fix Me First”.

I want to add to that “To Fix the Crime Situation, Look at the I in Crime and then fix the Me in Crime.”  We must realise, that the fault of the crime is on our shoulders and can only be stopped by an intercession of God, to heal our wounded land.

Eternal rest and eternal peace, grant unto murder victims in Trinbago, O Lord and may your perpetual light shine upon them. Who can say where the rest of 2006 and coming 2007 will go, Only God and time.
A Friend