DEAR EDITOR: On Good Friday I participated in the annual Stations of the Cross hosted by Holy Cross parish in Princes Town . This solemn procession always leaves me with a firm affirmation of my belief in the Easter mysteries.

This year was a little different from recent years. The crisp morning air was pregnant with questions of the importance of such processions. Why did so many people leave the warmth and comfort of their homes to venture into the cold, wet darkness at five in the morning?

What went through the minds of the faithful as they welcomed the cross on their shoulders? What life lessons can we learn from this walk in Jesus' footsteps?

I turned these questions over in my mind and decided it was a matter of faith and longing. Faith in the sacredness of Jesus' sacrifice for us and longing to suffer with him, longing for acceptance, longing for forgiveness. Longing for that which we can rarely find on earth, unconditional love.

The morning was made more significant to me by an act of acceptance on the part of the priest and parishioners of Holy Cross Princes Town . In our midst were Christians of other denominations – Presbyterians and Anglicans, to name a few.

The Anglican leader, Canon Primus also joined in the procession and they were all so warmly welcomed and embraced by everyone. I felt joy in the knowledge that this was a start in encouraging Christian unity in our community.

I must commend Fr Sirju for extending invitations; perhaps he had not realised how much more meaningful the day became when people saw two Christian leaders side by side asking God for blessings on our broken world.

I also commend Canon Primus for accepting and participating. The two leaders are examples our youth are privileged to look at. It gave us hope that one day we will all put aside our differences and labour together towards bringing glory to God by our works. Have a blessed Easter.

Melissa Jerry Stoute, Princes Town

DEAR EDITOR: Please permit me to say something on behalf of a simple, hardworking, honest, frank and generous teacher who retired since April 2004. I have not seen anything in the Catholic News pertaining to her retirement.

Some refer to her as “Sister”, some “Miss”, but we regard her as “our little Mother Theresa”, as one of our teachers said. Another teacher expressed that the void left by her would and could never be filled.

Patrice R Harricharan taught in private Roman Catholic schools from 1962 to 1973 when she entered the Government service.

She worked in our Roman Catholic primary schools for almost eight years before going on to the Government Secondary school where she continued to co-ordinate the Roman Catholic classes on Wednesday morning and even taught classes herself, organising retreats and getting tutors from time to time for RC classes as the occasion arose.

I think as a student I need to say thank you “Miss”, “Sister” or “Mother” as you were to all of us. Quiet as you are, we need to say thanks and to acknowledge what you have done and continue to do. Bye, best of luck

Arnold Ramcharan, San Fernando.

How I wish
I could capture that Easter joy
And put it in a bottle
Put it into a song
Paint it like a picture
Write it as a poem
Sprinkle it like raindrops
Strew it like flowers

Let this joy kiss the earth like the morning sunrise
Let it caress each heart
Let it cover us like a blanket
Let it burst forth in song
Let it fall gently as a tear
Let it fall fresh as the morning air
Let it explode in our beings
Let it glisten like dew on the grass
How I wish it could last forever.

Lynette Rodriguez