The Solemnity of the Ascension and the Church's teaching on the sacredness of the body are intrinsically linked.

Preaching the homily at last Sunday's "Neophytes" Mass, the archdiocese's traditional welcome to new faithful, Cathedral administrator Fr Allan Ventour described the Ascension as a "powerful feast" which unfortunately "we don't really celebrate". This, he continued, might be because of its position between two major Church celebrations -- Easter and Pentecost.

New members of the Church are captured at prayer during the Neophyte Mass.

To support his point, he invited anyone in the congregation to name two hymns in honour of the Ascension, noting that there were many on Easter and Pentecost.

He stressed the important role of the Ascension, as Jesus was physically taken into heaven with "both his divine and human natures" intact.

By not separating his natures, he was showing us that the body - flesh and blood - was holy and sacred, Fr Ventour told the sizeable congregation at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Port of Spain .

"The Ascension means we must take care of our bodies, not to abuse them, but to cherish them. It is God's gift to us. The Ascension demands that we be careful with our bodies for it is through our bodies we give honour and glory to God."

Fr Ventour said God wanted us to sit with Jesus on his right hand, but the journey there would not be easy.

Pentecost helps us to get there, he added, but "we can't have Pentecost without the Ascension".

He ended by urging all to continue reflecting on the true meaning of the Ascension for the remainder of the week.

Fr Ventour was the main celebrant in the absence of Archbishop Edward Gilbert, who was out of the country. Cedros parish priest Fr Wilfred John concelebrated.

Neophytes participated in the liturgy, presenting the gifts and offering prayers for themselves, world peace, Pope Benedict XVI, youth, parents, the marginalised, family life, and the unemployed.

Archdiocesan Cathechetical Director, Sr Columba Byrne, shares the sign of peace with new members of the Church.

After Holy Communion, Fr Ventour congratulated all new members of the Church and challenged them not to see this as the end of their Catholic education but a continuation of the journey started in the RCIA programme. He said he hoped they would avail themselves of the various seminars, talks and events in the Church.

As it was also Mothers' Day, members of the Cathedral Youth Group fanned out into the congregation to pin corsages on mothers, for whom the choir had earlier sang Ave Maria .

A few mothers in the congregation - the eldest mother, and the mother with the youngest child - received gifts.

Neophytes Christopher Sahadeo and Donnel Siewnarine later gave brief testimonies, and Archdiocesan Catechetical Director, Sr Columba Byrne HF, thanked all for their attendance and especially those who had organised the day's programme.

She invited everyone to the Catholic Centre car park for refreshments and some musical entertainment. - RS