DEAR EDITOR: After having read Marion O’Callaghan’s article on the above-referenced subject and which appeared in the Catholic News of Sunday, October 1. I feel constrained to make my contribution to this issue, which is of serious concern to us Catholics.

Firstly, I must commend Ms O’Callaghan on her article, which was well researched and very informative.

I have observed over the years that there is also a decline in the standard set by our parish priests of yesteryear with regard to the preparation and delivery of homilies.

Of course, the obvious lack of preparation of any homily manifests itself in sub-standard quality of its delivery. Sad to say, many of the homilies themselves are irrelevant to members of the congregation, as they make no parallel to local situations.

Among the basic principles of teaching are:

• Moving from known to the unknown.
• Moving from the concrete to the abstract.

In a nutshell, therefore, the homilies deal more with the abstract so there is a consequent “disconnect” between the priest and his congregation, particularly those of the lower middle-class and lower rungs of society.

The foregoing is, to a large extent, linked to the foreigners who are assigned here to fill the shortage of local priests. Many of them take some time to understand our culture while a few don’t even bother to try.

While other religious groups do much evangelising by going out to meet the people at street-corners, at the market and at malls, we Catholics remain within the four walls of our church and expect people to come.

While others have introduced new music in keeping with modern trends we have not encouraged our local artists and composers to provide more local music.

Until the decade of the 1970s the Catholic Youth Movement played a crucial role in keeping a vibrant and dynamic Christian community wherever it existed. The resurgence of the Catholic Youth Movement in almost every parish will definitely assist in regaining some of the lost ground.

The Movement must provide opportunities for our young people to participate in drama, debating, public speaking, music and sport as well as provide some element of skills training relevant to the needs of the youths in their respective parishes.

In conclusion, in local parlance, we must “get up and get out” to reclaim our flock.
Jack A Warner, Mt St Benedict, parishioner

DEAR EDITOR: It is sad when professed Catholics, especially those of influence in our society, advocate the legalising of abortion.

Perhaps they are not convinced that the science in the study of the human embryo – human embryology –- has demonstrated that the human individual possesses his/her own identity from the moment of fertilisation (conception).

The proponents for legalising abortion see themselves as crusaders of a worthy cause seeking to protect prospective mothers from the health risks involved in the unprofessional termination of a pregnancy.

I wish to encourage such Catholics to read Luke 1:35-43. Mary, the mother of Jesus, having given her consent to the angel Gabriel to accept God's will, becomes pregnant.

She then in haste visits her cousin Elizabeth in Judah - which is about 90 miles from her home in Nazareth. And Elizabeth, under the power of the Holy Spirit, states that Mary is the mother of God.

Not a mother to be, but already a mother and the mother of a person. This statement is made even before Mary misses her period.

Perhaps some of these Catholics may feel that they have a professional responsibility to represent their clients in an impartial manner. But they are mistaken; for in Acts 5:29 we read “Obedience to God comes before obedience to man.”

Perhaps such “Catholics” are those who accept the teaching of Christ only in so far as it meets with their private judgment. Then of course they are not Catholic at all but follow a doctrine unto themselves.

I hope that upon prayerful reflection they would recognise that as much as one may wish to relieve the trauma of the mother of an unwanted child, one may not do so by the deliberate termination of a human life.
Kenneth Ramon-Fortune, Fatima Parish, Curepe

DEAR EDITOR: It was certainly a delightful experience reading the beautiful portrait of Sr Monique Moniquette “A Mighty Little Woman”, the item written by Denise Scott, which appeared in your RUTH supplement on September 17.

The record shows how hardworking and prayerful Sr Moniquette has been from her early days of joining the Dominican Order, and her work with the Dominicans at Holy Name Convent.

She was glad to mingle with and mould many students. St Dominic’s Home was the beginning of a new phase in her prayerful life. So that she was ready to face with vigour the challenges of the University of West Indies chaplaincy.

It is because of her simplicity and her life given selflessly that, no doubt, God has given her the strength to carry on. I am joining with Sister in praising those who continue to give her support.

If Sister is troubled by the problems, which face Caribbean island students, maybe it’s time those governments give a little more support to the Chaplaincy.

Remember that at the chaplaincy the welcome sign reads, “There are no strangers here, only friends you have not met”. Can you assist the Chaplaincy with your prayerful support and service?

Well done, Sr Monique and all of you nice hardworking persons at the Chaplaincy. Onward to a “mighty little woman” – Monique Moniquette OP”
Edward Persad, Santa Cruz