Crime takes centre stage in Tobago

These words of advice and more were given to the Tobago Roman Catholic community yesterday as food for thought during their re-enactment procession of the Crucifixion of Christ.

The group journeyed from Government House Road, Scarborough to Mason Hall highlighting issues affecting today’s world such as rape, murder, kidnapping, corruption, juvenile delinquency and the lack of reverence towards God and their relation to Jesus’ death.

As they offered prayers for those affected by the problems and, in particular, parents who were concerned about the safety of their children and were seeking to protect them from bombs, bullets, injustice and abuse as well as those children who have actually turned away parental counsel and were now deliberately living lives of sin, it was pointed out that the entire exercise would be pointless if life continued as normal.

Another very topical issue, the scourge of kidnapping was likened unto a death sentence that was being ignored by the masses whose loved ones were safe at home.

The members were asked to remember that it was the hands of “somebody’s daughter, son or husband who has been nailed to the cross by cruel, senseless men. Like Jesus, the hours before their death may have been filled with unthinkable pain and agony. Meanwhile their distraught families can do nothing but watch and pray, like Mary at the foot of the cross, that their suffering will soon be over.”

Hope, however, came at the end of the procession and worshippers were assured that death and evil will not triumph.

“The rapists, murderers and others do not triumph. Out of the horror of Jesus’ crucifixion rose new life for all of humanity. There is hope. Let us rise from the ashes of our past and present shame and pain. He has overcome death so that we would never have to.”