DEAR EDITOR: A lot has been said over the past two weeks about Frs Clyde's and Jason's so-called improper "reading" of Kerwin 'Fresh' Philip's character. One of our dailies went so far as to imply these senior priests were “naïve”'.

The position taken by some media houses, commentators and callers to talk shows really betray a misunderstanding of the ministry of these two priests in east Port of Spain.

I wish to quote the German poet Goethe, "Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and help them become what they are capable of being."

 These words aptly sum up Frs Clyde's and Jason's ministry in and out of the Rosary/Gonzales parish. These words remind us of the Catholic principle that every human being is made in the image and likeness of God; every human being!

I prefer to believe that the root of many a call or negative comment in the media and in private, is due to a misguided understanding of the theology of the human person or none at all.

As Catholics however, we ought to know better. The Church's ministry cannot be seen and framed under the lens of class prejudice, race, personal bias or negative history.

Our Catholic ministry to street kids and gangsters, prostitutes and prisoners/ex-prisoners, in sum to society's despised and rejected is informed by an honest prayerful study of the life of Christ and the biblical principle that men and women are created in God's image and likeness and ought to be afforded the dignity that is theirs.

Therefore, Frs Clyde and Jason are not oblivious or insensitive to the pain and loss of those who have suffered from gang violence as some are tempted to conclude.

Clearly, the onus is on Catholics to support all of the Church's ministry in the archdiocese: difficult and not so difficult, popular and unpopular.

According to Benedict XVI, “we cannot operate on the ‘everybody else does it’ model”. That is, if all of T&T were to condemn and distance ourselves, we ought not.

We instead must continue Christ's ministry of speaking of and witnessing to God's reconciling love to tend to the little, last, lost and the least amongst us. MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS OUR ALL OUR MINISTRIES.
Fr Matthew d'Hereaux, Rome, Italy

DEAR EDITOR: I was called and guided by God to share my experience with my brothers and sisters in Christ. As you read my story in your homes, before or after Mass or in your sanctuaries, I hope it does what the Lord wills.

My name is Marcia Joseph. I am 28 years of age and I belong to the parish of La Divina Pastora.

I AM A SINNER. I sinned gravely in the sight of the Lord for a long time. I drank, partied, lied, cheated, stole and was promiscuous. I stopped going to church immediately after Confirmation, I prayed only when I wanted something and was angry at God when what I prayed for was not supplied.

One night, following an after work lime where I drank, limed and engaged in promiscuous behaviour, God decided that he had had enough of my destructive behaviour.

I was lying on my bed preparing to go to sleep when I felt a tightening in my chest and the breath being sucked out of me. I tried to sit up but I could not. I felt like if I was going to die. After a while I decided to stay still and stop fighting the feeling, I relaxed and gave into it. It was then I knew that it was God trying to get my attention.

At first I tried ignoring it but I was plagued by a feeling of despair, death and destruction all the time. I tried talking to my friends, but of course they did not know what to tell me.

Some even went so far as to say it was the amount of Mackeson I was drinking probably my pressure was up. I knew what it was or who it was that was plaguing my waking thoughts.

After another promiscuous episode I gave in. For the first time in 10 years (when I did not go because of a baptism, funeral or confirmation), I attended Mass on August 12 and gave my life to Christ.

As I sat listening to the homily I felt a weight being lifted up from my soul and I started to cry. I went to confession the following week and I cried all the way through.

Since then I attend Mass weekly and I am in the process of becoming a catechist. I want to say to all, God is real and being able to commune with him is earth-shattering.

I cry when I pray because I turned my back on God so many years ago, but he never turned his back on me and I am so glad he did not.

Brothers and sisters, renew your covenant with Christ, repent and give him your soul, help your fellow man and preach God’s word so you may reap the rewards of everlasting life. Be active in your churches, in your communities, pray and forgive.

My experience was welcomed; I was lost but did not know it. God reached out to me, I wasn’t sick, in jail, or at death’s door before I heard his voice and his hand on my shoulder and for that I am thankful. If you haven’t really accepted Christ, do it now don’t wait until you are in one of those situations to call on him.

I hope my experience could help someone who is confused or hurting. Just let go and let God.
Marcia Joseph, Siparia