Catholics

ROMAN Catholic parishioners from various RC churches walked and sang hymns up the steep Picton Road in Laventille, as they participated in the St Francis of Assisi Peace Walk.

The parishioners started at the corner of Picton Hill and walked up to The Laventille Shrine (Our Lady of Laventille), where the march ended.

A number of parishioners wore jerseys with religious and anti-crime messages on them. They also carried religious and anti-crime banners during their procession up Picton Road.

They then participated in a mass and religious devotions at The Laventille Shrine where they continued singing hymns.

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Port-of-Spain, Edward Gilbert, spoke briefly at the mass and said he would stay with the parishioners for the entire day.

Leader of the RC ecclesiastical organisation, People of Praise Community Winston Garcia, said all of the RC ecclesiastical communities will be organising similar peace walks on a monthly basis throughout the country.

He said the St Francis of Assisi Peace Walk was organised to bring back a strong sense of spirituality because it was dying in the country.

He estimated the number of parishioners in the St Francis of Assisi Peace Walk to be between 600 to 800 people. There was a fairly heavy police presence during the walk.

“We’re trying to bring about a Godly consciousness among the people,” he said, “for we need to get to the lonely and broken people.” He said while the parishioners may not have political power, they have spiritual power which is more powerful and can make positive changes in the country.