DEAR EDITOR, Now that election day has been decided, we need to know what the different parties views on: abortion, euthanasia, the Abstinence programme in schools, sex education in schools, the family unit, definition of marriage etc.

At the moment, the focus is on crime and corruption, but these other issues are very important to our nation and will point the direction in which we go as a society.

Granted, most Catholics are ignorant of the implications of these subjects for their children and future generations, but I think that the Catholic Church as one body, must ask these questions of the parties and get answers.

We must stand up as Catholics and fight for what we believe in God's will. May God's light shine on our nation.
Anne Barcant, St Ann’s

DEAR EDITOR: Having read with interest page eight of the issue of September 30 marking the Golden Jubilee of Holy Cross, Arima and noted the many names of the first principals, staff and others who made this happy occasion possible, I wish to join in the tributes paid to them.

Please be good enough through these few lines to place on record another name, that of the very Reverend Canon Jeremiah Maher, parish priest of Arima from 1937 to 1960.

Parishioners of Santa Rosa, myself as assistant parish priest included, who cooperated with him 50 years ago to get it off the ground, will agree that without his initiative and labour there would never have been a Holy Cross College.

On receiving news of Canon Maher’s death in his native Ireland in 1961, Archbishop Finbar Ryan paid glowing tribute to him in the Catholic News of 22.07. 61.

Here is an excerpt of what he wrote in his own inimitable style: “In his later years the great object of his ambition was to provide secondary education for girls and boys. When the new girls’ primary school had been completed, in concert with the Sisters of St Joseph, he initiated a secondary school in the old primary school building. Holy Cross College, however, will always be his monument, the monument by which he would like to be remembered.”
Msgr Urban Peschier, Port of Spain

DEAR EDITOR: Thanks to the organisers of the Tobago Mini Conference in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Catholic Charismatic Renewal, held last Friday and Saturday (October 5, 6) with the theme “COME”.

I attended the conference and have learnt quite a lot from the various speakers. May God continue to bless those ladies and gentlemen who worked so hard to make the conference a success.
Theresa Mc Millan, Park Avenue, Mt Hope

DEAR EDITOR: Please allow me to use your media to express my gratitude to some very special people.

Despite some negative views often mentioned, I wish to express profound appreciation to the doctors and nurses of Mt Hope Hospital to whom I was entrusted during my recent heart surgery.

Their professional and pleasant manner, together with their God-given talents made me feel both secure and unafraid.

Thanks to them I am now making good progress and getting on with my life. Also, my sincere thanks to all my friends and neighbours, including our dedicated parish priest, Fr Francis, for their continuous prayers and good wishes. They have been truly a great source of comfort to my family and me.

To my dear loved ones, who seldom left my side, their presence, understanding and extreme patience was the basis of my healing.

The holy sacrifice of the Mass will be offered for all mentioned.  May God bless you all.
Carl Dalla Costa, Santa Cruz

By Sue Jerome-Scott

Your decisions determine your destiny
Think about it carefully
Trust God to guide you in every way
Praise and thank him endlessly as you pray.

Be God-fearing, he's all powerful to make you better
Under the feathers of his wings you can safely shelter.
God is so merciful, ask you will receive
Just be patient and believe.

We pray for our country and the rest of the world,
We are all God’s children, our cries will not go unheard.
O Heavenly Father, we honour you forever more
We will always try to abide by your law.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd
giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:11