Lead Editor - Newsgathering
ryan.bachoo@cnc3.co.tt
Roman Catholic Archbishop Jason Gordon has called on the nation to be more “generous” to the Mathura children. He made the appeal in his Palm Sunday homily at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in San Fernando yesterday.
On March 12, skeletal remains were dug up at the family’s property in Valsayn. The bones are believed to be Hannah Mathura but police are waiting on DNA results to confirm the identity of the remains.
“If we find a generosity in response to Christ, then we have to find that generosity in response to the crucified ones who are in our community right now. That generosity, pure nard, poured out on the families who have been killed in our societies over the last while,” he said.
“That pure nard poured out on those children from Valsayn and the horror they have had to live through in the face of what might seem like just terror in their life. That pure nard poured out upon those, who, every week we see fall.”
Archbishop Gordon challenged the congregation with a question: “How do we pour such great unction out unto the broken body of Jesus Christ in our communities in this time?”
He also questioned the conscience of the country: “Are we doing what we are able to do?”
Archbishop Gordon challenged the faithful “to be curious with this week.”
He added: “Enter into this week. It is the most holy of all weeks.”
In Port-of-Spain meanwhile, the Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception held a joint Palm Sunday procession through the streets of the city.
In front of the Roman Catholic Cathedral, Anglican Bishop Claude Berkley blessed the palm branches the Catholics were to use in their celebration at Mass.
Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Church, Fr Martin Sirju, said he enjoyed the Christian collaboration between the two denominations.
“Doctrinal matters can be very sticky when it comes to getting a common understanding but social projects are a ripe area for ecumenical activity. It is a good sign when Christians can come together and pray for a common cause, like today, not fighting for turf. Praying for the city, as Bishop Berkley mentioned, is a good place to start,” he said.
The procession came a week after five men were gunned down at Harpe Place in East Port-of-Spain.
Fr Sirju, noting that such collaborative efforts can only effect positive change in the city, said: “The pulse of the city is always an indication of the health of a nation. We should take advantage of all opportunities for common prayer in a spirit of detachment for the service of the common good.
“The problems of our nation and world are too large for any one denomination to handle. We must work together. Trauma is one area we must think more seriously about. How as Christian communities can we help heal trauma in communities? Is it a tough agenda? Of course. But that’s why we celebrate Holy Week. To give hope in difficult times.”
Fr Sirju celebrated Mass with Fr Peter Aduaka at the Catholic Cathedral in downtown Port-of-Spain. In explaining the story of Jesus’ triumphant return to Jerusalem on a donkey, Fr Aduaka chastised leaders in the society who live luxuriously.
“Though he [Jesus] is king, he chose to ride on the lowliest and weakest of all animals—a donkey. This is contrary to what we see today in our world where our rulers, our leaders, live in the best conditions while their people live in poverty.”
Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week and commemorates when Jesus entered Jerusalem and was greeted by people waving palm branches. It occurs on the Sunday before Easter.