Place emphasis on financially-challenged elderly

“Opening ourselves to others also requires us to be attentive to the needs of the new call because of the downturn in the economy, many persons lost their jobs and are undergoing severe financial difficulties. Similarly, because of the way our pension schemes are structured, many persons who have given their time and energy for the good of the nation now in their later years find themselves unable to cope with the financial demands.” He continued, “We have to invest in our older generations in who so much wisdom resides, and we have to invest in our youth which is our future, that which we will become depends on the emphasis that we put on preparing the younger generation for future responsibility.” Yesterday, in commemoration of Corpus Christi celebrations, thousands of devout Catholics walked from the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain in a solemn procession to Independence Square. Later they attended the mass at the Grand Stand, which was filled to capacity.

Archbishop Harris told the congregation, they must be open to all others who celebrate with them regardless of ethnicity, social capacity, or financial possibilities, because hospitality is one of the foundation virtues of Christianity.

He said only when they are open to others, one can say that hospitality is truly relived among Christians.

“Loving communities, my dear friends must not deceive simply as churches ... there must be communities in the Trinitarian home, communities open to embracing others, communities in which the love that is within us does not stay enclosed within the confines of the community, but spills over to embrace others.” He continued, “It is only when our parishes and clusters become transformed into communities of love and when we can celebrate with other communities of love will we begin to see a change in this land of ours. The embracing of others which is hospitality must have an institutional dimension as church and with other Ecclesiastes communities.”