Over the past two weeks (July 11-29), I had the humble honour of leading the Train the Trainer course offered by the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission where participants discovered, through Blessed John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, that the body’s primary purpose is to reveal God, who is eternal Love.
“This will hurt a little bit, but I will try to ease the pain.” Realistic, yet caring. Factual, but empathetic, all at the same time. Richard Kramer, a doctoral candidate at the Catholic University of America was launching his initial probe into the state of being of the 33 participants seeking knowledge and understanding of John Paul II’s Theology of the Body (ToB). The 33 are engaged in an intensive reading and experiential pilgrimage to discover self.
In November 2008 Christopher West presented a seminar in Trinidad entitled “Created and Redeemed” in which he sought to explain the catechesis developed by Blessed Pope John Paul II known as the Theology of the Body (TOB). Twelve hundred persons attended the weekend seminar which was sponsored by the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission and since that time the AFLC has continued to present opportunities for further reflection and understanding of this crucial teaching which seeks to enlighten modern men and women on the goodness and beauty of God’s plan from the beginning when “God created man in his own image…male and female he created them” (Gen 1:27).
Holy Cross Parish, Princes Town recently completed its first Common Sense Parenting Workshop at the Princes Town RC School Library/Computer room.
The facilitators at this workshop were Angela Young Lai and Patrice David. The workshop which was held for six consecutive Wednesdays from 3.00 to 5.00 p.m. ended on Wednesday, April 6, with certificates being distributed to participants by Fr Karuna Kumar, our resident parish priest.
The Archdiocese Family Life Commission in collaboration with the Catholic Commission for Social Justice successfully launched one of the VIRTUS’s programmes “Protecting God’s Children” on March 29 at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Bushe Street, Curepe.
Facilitating the programme were Dr Dexter and Frieda Shim, a married couple nominated by the Archdiocese, along with Leela Ramdeen, Chair of Catholic Commission for Social Justice. Archbishop Edward Gilbert was among the 98 attendees of priests, deacons and administrators.
“I learnt to be a parent from my parents and together with my wife, I had very little problems with my children. However, it’s the grandchildren I cannot handle. I suffer with hypertension and I don’t want that to kill me, so I did the course. It has helped and I am so grateful. I hope more parents participate in this programme.” Henderson Matthew, participant.
The St Joseph RC Parish which serves the communities of Mon Repos and Ste Madeleine concluded its Common Sense Parenting (CSP) Programme on the parish feast day, Saturday, March 19. The six-session course, an initiative of the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission with funding from Republic Bank is available to all parishes, schools and other groups in Trinidad & Tobago.
The AFLC joined many other Catholic organisations in the Archdiocese and mounted a booth at the Catholic Youth Expo, held January 15 at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Tunapuna.
article appeared in Catholic News Dec 19, 2010
Scholarly evidence suggests that at the heart of the explosion of crime and delinquency in today’s world is the loss of the capacity of fathers and mothers to effectively care for the children they bring into the world. Even children who are having their physical and financial needs met continue to feel deprived, the main reason being “the basic and most important emotional need as a human being is to feel unconditionally loved and accepted” (Dr Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages).
The Archdiocesan Family Life Commission (AFLC) would like to extend heartfelt thanks to all of  you who supported the Family Fun Sports Day (FFSD) on August 31st, 2010 at Presentation Grounds, Chaguanas We wish to thank especially, all our Priests, Deacons and Family Life Units (FLUs) for your presence and active participation on the day. Once again, heartfelt thanks…
By Matisha Olivier
Over the past four months, the Family Life Commission – in association with Jubilee Women’s Ministries – has had the honour of celebrating the contributions of some of the Archdiocese’s most outstanding women. Â
As we bring this series to a close we go out looking towards the future. Today, we recognise some of our Archdiocese’s dynamic “Emerging Leaders” – Nicole Sogren, Tricia Hudlin –Cooper, Taresa D. Best and Natasha Lamy-Ramsden.
