The Internet is being used by the Catholic Church to share useful information with the general public in Trinidad, Tobago, the Caribbean and the world.

There are many foreign Catholic websites that help to research anything from saint names to feast days, and which also provide parish information and Vatican statements.

There are also a few locally based websites that have useful information on our Archdiocese, parishes, religious orders, lay communities and organisations. In some cases, finding out what time Mass is held at a particular parish is just a click away.

Here is a look at a few websites for anyone interested in accessing the T&T Church online. They are useful if you are in another country and want to keep up with what's happening at home, or are planning to visit T&T and want to find a parish close to where you will be staying. Some sites belong to groups and communities and explain their role.

Archdiocesan website

When checking out the archdiocese online, visit the official Archdiocesan Website, www.archpos.org. Here you will find Mass schedules, parish priests and phone numbers. You can also find out about lay communities, religious orders, commissions, Catholic schools, retreat centres and the history of the Archdiocese.

One can access Archbishop Edward Gilbert's profile, his official statements and list of engagements.

There are also links to many other Catholic sites, many of which are featured here.

Parish websites

Santa Rosa , Arima

The most current parish website is that of Santa Rosa parish, Arima, www.santarosatt.org. This site has a lot of useful information, including the office hours and Mass schedule.

Parishioners can access the Parish Dateline newsletter online. There is also information about the patron saint, Santa Rosa, and a list of all the parish priests who have served there.

Also featured are the various groups and activities based in the parish, but some of the information, especially about the parish youth group, needs updating. This parish website is an excellent resource for parishioners and visitors alike.

It also invites feedback on such issues as what colour of paint and style of windows should be used in the planned remodelling of the church.

Holy Rosary

The Church of the Holy Rosary, Henry Street , Port of Spain , is famed as one of the most beautiful in T&T with its ancient stone façade and stained glass windows.

It is fitting that its website, www.tntol.com/rosary has a beautiful welcome page. The site is also easy to navigate. Its best feature is the virtual tour, which takes you smoothly through a series of photos of the church, with special focus on its famous stained glass windows.

Available on the site is the Mass schedule, as well as some information on the Sacraments and devotions. One can post prayer petitions or find out when the various parish meetings are held.

There is even a history of this remarkable old church and information on its stages of restoration. There should be a new segment to add to this section since the church is preparing to install a new roof.

This parish website needs updating generally. It has not had a new message “From the Pastor's Desk” since early 2004. I hope it is updated soon as it is a wonderful interface between this parish and the wider Church.

St Finbar's

This parish website is quite simple and straightforward, www.trinidad.net/stfinbars. The opening page features pictures and an illustration of the church. It contains parish information such as office hours, Mass and confession times, and instructions for arranging baptisms, marriages funerals, special masses or announcements.

There is a parish directory, geographic information on Trinidad and Tobago , and Finbar's Focus , the parish newsletter. The newsletter needs updating since the last issue posted was from July 2004.

Lay Religious Communities

Living Water Community

www.livingwatercommunity.com greets you with angelic music, so make sure your speakers are on. There are, insights into what the community is about, its social projects and activities, bookstore, coffee shop, catering service and much more. On the page headed "All Are Welcome" are schedules for Mass, prayer meetings and Eucharistic Adoration.

You can read the “Prophetic Word” from the Wednesday night prayer meetings, e-mail prayer requests and learn a few Catholic prayers, including how to say the Rosary and the Divine Mercy chaplet.

Emmanuel Community

Another religious community with an online presence is Emmanuel Community at www.emmanueltt.org . There you can learn about the community itself – its vision, mission and leadership – or you can read articles about the Church's teachings on abortion and suffering. There is a library of articles and information about the community's ministries and activities. The site is very simple and easy to navigate.

Religious Orders

Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny

www.clunycarib.org is a personal and pleasant website. One of its best features is the "Meet us" page, which has photos of all the sisters of Port of Spain , St Joseph , Arouca, San Fernando , Scarborough , Emmaus Centre in Arima and other provinces. Past pupils of schools run by the Cluny sisters and anyone who has met a Cluny sister can log on and be greeted by smiling and laughing faces they recognise.

The site also features sisters from St Lucia , Dominica , Grenada and St Vincent convents. The story of how the order began can be read on the site, accompanied by beautiful illustrations and pictures. You can learn about the spirituality of the order, make comments, get an idea of the worldwide structure of the Cluny sisters, and even find out how to join the order.

Monks of Mount St Benedict

On the opening page of www.paxabbey.com is a colourful, artistic interpretation of the familiar Mt St Benedict Abbey and a photo of the church altar. The site is lively, very well put together and up-to-date. You can browse the photo gallery, read news, and even test your knowledge with a fun quiz. There is information about vocations, scripture readings, products and services. Just as the Mount is an excellent place to visit, this site is a good browse.

Catholic Organisations

Social Justice Commission

The CCSJ's online home is located at www.rcsocialjusticett.org . There you can read the official newsletter, catch the Social Justice Quote for the Week, and tap into many other resources. It is a good place to read about the social justice issues arising in T&T.

Catholic News

Your weekly Catholic News can also be accessed online at our website, www.catholicnews-tt.net . Read the front-page stories, editorial, parish news, special features and much more. You can also go through the archives to get the stories you missed.

Although the paper's entire content is not available online, the site provides a gist of the news in the archdiocese and you can subscribe online for the paper to be mailed to you.

You can also read the special supplements such as Ruth, Ephphatha, as well as the youth pull-out Vision.

Couples for Christ

One of the most entertaining and dynamic sites in the Archdiocese is www.cfctrinidadandtobago.org . The banner at the top is always filled with scenes of familiar faces and fun activities from actual Couples for Christ events. It is up-to-date, with coming events rolling across the notice board on ticker tape.

There is information about Couples for Christ and all its ministries, with each ministry having its own link. The site features a photo gallery and Catholic 101, a link that provides the basics on Catholicism. CFC is developing a Fun Zone with jokes, games and weird facts. You can also submit prayer requests.

Credo Foundation

The Credo Foundation for Justice can be found at www.credofj.org . This site allows you insight into the work and purpose of the Credo Foundation. You can read about their projects and the various homes they run -- Aylward House, Sophia House and the Drop-in Centre. This is a functional, well-organised site that really captures what Credo is about.

Sites in development

The Caribbean School of Catholic Communications (CSCC) now has an online presence at www.csccedu.org. Only the opening page is currently functioning, as the site is still in development. The site is expected to feature information on courses, online registration, a chat room and a discussion forum. Also in the works are websites for Teams of Our Lady, and St Paul 's RC Church, Couva.

It is good to see the local Catholic Church has such a strong online presence, making it accessible to the wider Church. I hope to see more parishes and groups begin spreading the Good News via the World Wide Web, and that existing websites are continuously updated and improved.

The world of media and the Internet is constantly changing. Let us keep up with it so we can truly be a Church for today's world.

Visit our Links page to go to some of the above mentioned sites >>