Priest chides twice-a-year church goers

Sirju gave his homily at the 10 am Easter Sunday Mass yesterday to a packed congregation gathered inside the Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish on Harris Promenade, San Fernando. Easter, considered the central feast of the Christian faith, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead after being crucified three days before.

Jesus’ resurrection represents for Christians, the triumph of life over death and the promise of resurrection for those who love and serve him. But many have failed to do so, Fr Sirju said, reminding church-goers that being baptised comes with certain responsibilities.

Sirju said that many have kept their baptism “in the tomb”, having never resurrected it through acting out the requirements of their faith — such as attending Holy Mass every weekend.

“But that doesn’t stop them from asking for my recommendation when they’re applying to go to a new school. Yesterday, a young man came to me asking for a letter of recommendation.

I had never seen this young man before.

What is worse, the man only knew about three or four people from the church. How could I recommend someone I do not know,” Fr Sirju asked.

“I am sure that doesn’t happen in the Pentecostal church.

There is something seriously wrong with the way we live our lives.” Sirju called upon Catholics to remember and to fulfill the requirements of their faith, and not just seek what they can gain from being associated with the Catholic Church