Our Ministries

What does the Commission do?

The Catholic Youth Commission is the Youth office of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain charged with supporting the 63 parishes of the Archdiocese in building holistic and comprehensive Youth and Young Adult Ministry in Trinidad and Tobago, so as to form well-rounded young people, in mind, body and spirit. In collaboration with our stakeholders, we offer effective opportunities where Youth and Young Adults may encounter Christ. We also offer opportunities for Formation in the way of Leadership training.

Staff Members:

Taresa Best-Downes – Episcopal Delegate for Youth

Sr. Therese Dookeran – Project Officer

Email: cyc@catholictt.org

Contacts: 624-0454/ 290-1665

Facebook page: Catholic Youth Commission – T&T  Instagram page: @rcytt

Board representatives: Selwyn and Albertina Rodulfo

Contacts: 766-3525

Website – http://www.ceett1982.org/

Joy-Filled Marriage

The Joy-filled Marriage Preparation programme will help to prepare engaged couples to embrace God’s plan for the sacrament of matrimony is an honor and a privilege.

In today’s climate, it is also a challenge. Joy-Filled Marriage is a marriage preparation program designed to meet that challenge. The two components of the program—Life Skills for Couples and God’s Plan for Love—incorporate rich Catholic theology with sound psychology.

This program offers a comprehensive approach to marriage preparation that covers not only the sacramentality and theology of marriage but also the practical life skills necessary to live out the rich Catholic vision of marriage.

This program incorporates a three-stage approach:

• Learning Stage: Couples learn sound principles and a fresh, virtue-based approach to life skills, as well as the Catholic vision of marriage and the beautiful and significant gift of sexuality.
• Discuss and Discover Stage: Through a variety of focused questions and activities, couples discuss their relationships, learn about themselves, and begin applying what they have learned.
• Plan and Build Stage: Couples recognize topics they may need to discuss at a later date, identify shared goals, and set a unified vision to build a joy-filled marriage. All this is captured in one wonderful keepsake, the Couple’s Journal.

This program will help participants:

• Appreciate what the Catholic Church teaches about marriage, and why
• Embrace the gift of grace that makes a lifelong, joy-filled marriage possible
• Explore important topics, identify shared goals, and set concrete plans to build a joy-filled marriage

The mission of Worldwide Marriage Encounter is to proclaim the value of Marriage and Holy Orders in the Church and in the world.

 Marriage Encounter is a weekend away from the responsibilities and practicalities of one’s daily life, in order to expand and deepen that life. An Encounter weekend is not a retreat, a marriage clinic, or a sensitivity group. Its aim is to help participants develop very special communication skills. Feelings and thoughts flow more freely, resulting in greater love, renewed and continuing dedication, and more joy in living out one’s chosen way of life.

The movement began as a way of improving communication between husbands and wives. But as insights grew, it became apparent that the techniques used in the sessions could benefit anyone whose vocation involves close, caring communication with others.

Marriage Encounter weekends are designed in such a way that both priests and religious can participate fully. The principles of love, commitment and effective communication translate quite easily to the relationship between a priest and his parish or any group to whom he ministers.

At a Marriage Encounter weekend a series of presentations is given by a team of Catholic couples and a priest. Each presentation allows you to look at yourself as an individual, and then to look at your relationship to those with whom you live and work and to whom you minister. Finally, you are led to look at your relationship with God, the Church as a whole, and the world. Married couples view all these relationships in terms of their own vocation, but the principles are freely applicable to the priesthood and religious life as well. The atmosphere is relaxed and non-invasive. You are provided the time and the space to address your own relationships without being interrupted by others making the weekend.

Ministry Contacts: Malcom and Lynn Joab

Email: mjjoab@gmail.com / lbjoab@gmail.com.

Contacts: 712-5681/620-3997

The word Retrouvaille (pronounced re-tro-vi with a long i.) is a French word meaning rediscovery. It is a marriage help program that gives couples the opportunity to sign off, get away, and examine their lives together in a real and realistic way.

It is for couples with marriages that are struggling, not communicating well, and those who are considering marriage separation or divorce and for those couples who are already separated or divorced that want marriage help. Retrouvaille offers tools needed to rediscover a loving marriage in a practical program that improves communication, builds stronger marriages, and helps couples reconnect.

Ministry Contact:  Oma and Robert Dipchan

Contacts: 753-3037

More Information available here.

Ministry Contact: Fr. Dwight Merrick.

Email: dwight_merrick@yahoo.com

Contacts: 299-2522

Mission Statement

To re-establish the process that helps people to learn the wisdom of God through scripture and the traditions of the Church and provide the on-going support for individuals to live and grow in that wisdom.

Jubilee Ministries was established in 2007.  Our purpose at Jubilee Ministries is to assist the Church in its Evangelization mission.  We aim to do so by (1) using all possible forms of communication technology to develop up-to-date catechetical programs as teaching tools in order to more effectively impact the laity and (2) establishing specific ministries to facilitate teaching and other forms of pastoral support.

To date, we have developed alliances with both the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission and the Catholic Religious Education Development Institute (CREDI) to assist in realizing the mandates associated with the SYNOD resolutions in areas relevant to women & single persons and also with regard to the impact of music in this Archdiocese.  Under the umbrella of the Family Life Commission, we are responsible for the ministry to women and single individuals throughout the Archdiocese of Port of Spain. We have also partnered with the Catholic Religious Education Development Institute (CREDI) to develop and administrate degree and diploma programs specific to Catholic music.

Board Representatives: Charmion Lee Wing Gomes and Leave Le Vaughn De Leon

Email: jubileeministries.tt@gmail.com.

Contacts: 737-9309(c-l)299-2522

Ministry Contacts include: Wilfred Holder and Wendy Cezair. 

Email: kaishee@gmail.com

Email: experiencenewbeginnings@gmail.com

Contacts: 689-4694

Couples For Christ (CFC) is an international movement intended for the renewal and strengthening of Christian family life. It is recognized by the Vatican as an International Private Association of the Faithful.

Our Vision is “Families in the Holy Spirit Renewing the Face of the Earth”

Couples For Christ (CFC) started as a married couples only ministry, in 1981, but soon formed its Family Ministries into what can be described as a “womb to tomb” ministry that caters for every stage of your life:

CFC Kids For Christ (KFC) caters for young children.

CFC Youth For Christ (YFC) covers young persons from teenagers up to 20 years old.

CFC Singles For Christ (SFC) addresses the needs of single young adults 21 to 40 years

CFC Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD) ministers to mature single women, single parent mothers, separated, divorced or widowed women or whose spouse is not part of the ministry.

CFC Servants of the Lord (SOLD) ministers to mature single men, single parent fathers, separated, divorced or widowed men or whose spouse is not part of the ministry.

Couples for Christ is a work of Christ which raises up Christian couples and establishes Christian families committed to the work of evangelization, winning the world for Christ and total human liberation through the power of the Holy Spirit.

It grows mainly through the establishment of localized groups in different parishes.

Ministry Contacts: Mark and Wendy Poon Tip

Email:  markandwendy.cfctt@gmail.com

Contact: 680-7684 or 680-9329

Original Pain Therapy [OPT]

Are you trying to resolve personal or relationship issues?

Original Pain Therapy is a hybrid combination of individual counselling and psycho-educational workshop. You can use the two components together or separately according to your needs.

The individual therapy is a brief, effective therapeutic technique which targets your wounded inner child’s pain in an effort to heal past hurts and allows you to change your core material [inner filter], thus freeing you to become your authentic self.

The workshop spans five [5] weeks [3 hours per week] that allow you to trace the developmental stages of childhood from conception through adolescence using a combination of audio/visual, lecture and experiential exercises.

OPT helps adult participants understand the root causes of your self destructive behaviours and empowers you to heal and grow into the best you possible. Your authentic self was made for happiness, love and compassion in the context of healthy relationships.

For more info or to schedule a workshop or individual session please email: optworkshoptt@gmail.com

Ministry Contact: Lorraine Pouchet

Email: opt_lorraine@hotmail.com

Contacts: 753-2775.

Ministry Contact: Nicholas Voisin

Email: nicholasvoisin@hotmail.com

Contacts: 780-0703

The Billings Ovulation Method Association Trinidad & Tobago (BOMA-TT) is both a Ministry of the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission (AFLC) and a Non-Profit Company. The Billings Ovulation Method (BOM) is a form of Natural Fertility Regulation that has been scientifically proven to be 99% effective in the postponement of pregnancy. It should not be confused with the Rhythm Method which has limited efficacy. The BOM helps couples recognise their combined periods of fertility and infertility, which can be used to achieve pregnancy or postpone pregnancy. Women can use the Method to monitor their reproductive health throughout the reproductive life cycle from menarche to menopause. Dedicated teachers and members, not only promote the Method nationwide, but teach it with love one-on-one to whoever desires to learn.

Board Representative: Mrs. Pauline Phelps

Email: billingstt@gmail.com

Contacts:  384-1659

Website: www.billingstt.com

Facebook: Billings Ovulation Method

Instagram: billingsbethodtt

Motto: In Defence of Life from Conception to Natural Death

Emmanuel Community is a Public Association of Christ’s Faithful.

The Vision and Mission, of the Community is to be:

The voice that proclaims the dignity and sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. Charity and Justice leads us to be actively ‘Pro – Life’.

We also proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God and seek to gather disciples for Jesus Christ.

Evangelization is at the heart of everything we do. We call people to Jesus for them to experience God’s Life, being healed, set free from the domination of sin and Satan, and to follow Jesus daily.

We Offer:

·      Advocacy and protection for the rights of the unborn

·      Life in the Spirit Seminars

·      Spiritual Growth Seminars

·      Theology of the Body Seminars (Adults & Teens)

·      Healing services

·      Pregnancy Crisis Counselling

·      Pastoral Counselling – by appointment

Our Ministries:

·      Evangelism – Monday nights

·      In Defence of Life (Pro Life) – Tuesday nights

·      Restoration (Gambling rehab) – Friday nights

·      Home Visitation – upon request

·      Mercy Ministry (Feeding the poor) – Tuesdays

·      Music (Choir) – Friday nights

 Calendar of scheduled events:

·      Evangelising/Prayer Meeting – Mondays @6:30pm

·      Restoration – Fridays @ 7:00pm

·      Healing – Fridays @ 9:15am

·      Friday Vigil – First Fridays – 9:00pm

·      Mass/Eucharistic Service – Daily @ 12:00 noon

·      Daily exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 9am-3.30pm

·      Counselling – by appointment

 Emmanuel – God with Us (Matt. 1:23)

Office Hours –   Monday to Friday

                           8:00am to 4:00pm

Contact Information

Address:    #46 Rosalino Street, Woodbrook

Phone:      628-1586/1064

 Email address: emmancommtt@gmail.com

Teams of Our Lady is an international lay movement in the Catholic Church, designed to enrich marriage spirituality and make good marriages better. The Blessed Mother is our Patroness, as a perfect disciple and follower of Christ. It is a suitable continuum following Engaged Encounter and Marriage Preparation programmes. Originating in 1939, it provides a proven method of increasing and improving prayer life, which will help couples grow closer to God, to each other, their family and community. A team comprises 4 – 7 couples that come together once a month, in the presence of a spiritual counsellor who provides theological knowledge and expertise. The team shares a simple meal, prayer, sharing on the “Endeavours” and a study topic. The Endeavours are at the heart of the spirit of Teams. Everything is held in confidence and all sharing is voluntary. We share and support each other on our marital journey towards God, yet we are not a therapy group.

What do Teams of Our Lady offer?

·      A way of living as Christian couples in today’s world.

·      A community of Christian couples united by the sacrament of marriage, helped by a spiritual counsellor

·      A community of couples sharing the same ideals

·      Mutual help that is spiritual, human and material

·      The opportunity to study and reflect together, which leads team members to deepen their faith and help them to form their conscience

·      Guidelines for life to help them to progress in the love of God and of others

·      An organisation to animate and promote the unity of the Movement throughout the world

We are part of the trans-Atlantic super region: the English-speaking countries of Africa, Europe and the Caribbean.

Regional couple (Caribbean): Peter & Linda Kowlessar;

caribbean.tool@gmail.com

Contact: 637 – 0804

WhatsApp : 737 – 2070

Expansion couple:  Sheldon & Nicole Thomas

Email: TTteamsexpansion@gmail.com,

Contact: 788 9749

WhatsApp: 745 – 0951

www.teamsGB.org.uk

www.equipes-notre-dame.com/en

Email: pcgentle@rave-tt.net

Contacts:  653-4585 (W), 367-5848

Ministry to Parenting is responsible for advising parents who are experiencing difficulties to with their children to complete the Common Sense Parenting Programme and/or the Parenting Bootcamp.

Board representatives:  Sandra Theodore 

Email:sandratheodorester@gmail.com/sandra.theodore@gloc.biz

Contacts: 766-6462 (c-S), 315-7813.

Some ministry contacts include: Saira La Foucade Joseph and Timitra Williams.  

Email: sairajosephlafoucade@yahoo.com

Contacts: 306-5546

Timitra Williams

Email: timihere@yahoo.co.uk
Contacts: 493-3585

Suzy de Verteuil

Email: suzydeverteuil@gmail.com
Contacts:387-8729

Fr. Dexter c/o – Arouca Parish Office

Email: peredexter@gmail.com
Contacts: 642-4314