donalddeanchambers

Smal up yourself’ on the synodal bus ride

I have travelled on public transportation in different countries, and my experiences have ranged from dangerous to hilarious. In Jamaica, for example, passengers have their seats when a bus departs the terminus. The bus stops periodically along the route, not for passengers to disembark but for more passengers to embark, accompanied by the conductor’s words,Continue reading “Smal up yourself’ on the synodal bus ride”

Steps along the journey for Jubilee Year

In this article, I offer a step-by-step guide to various groups for celebrating Jubilee 2025 Year as a rest stop on the Synodal journey. Step One: Each member reads and silently reflects on the following excerpts from the previous article entitled ‘Jubilee Year 2025: A Spiritual Rest Stop on the Synodal Journey’, published in The Catholic News AugustContinue reading “Steps along the journey for Jubilee Year”

Jubilee Year 2025: A Spiritual Rest Stop on the Synodal Journey

Jubilee Year 2025: A Spiritual Rest Stop on the Synodal Journey As we eagerly anticipate the Jubilee Year 2025, it’s crucial to grasp its profound significance within the context of the Church’s synodal journey. This is more than just another addition to our busy pastoral calendar. Instead, it’s a pivotal moment that aligns with ourContinue reading “Jubilee Year 2025: A Spiritual Rest Stop on the Synodal Journey”

Opportunities and Choices

So much of life is on the dreaded periphery of our control.Our mothers and fathers,siblings,relatives.Ourpersonality types,temperament,mannerism.Ourethnicity,physical features,predisposed physiology,DNA.Oursocial status,cultural world,communities,Our world ofpolitical decisions,religious practices,social fabric.At birth, we are vulnerable, weak, and helpless, placed in a boat on a river and left to the mercy of life’s fast-flowing downstream current. We have recourse to the oarsContinue reading “Opportunities and Choices”

National Pride

MADAME: The Editor, Recently, a group of academic writers from West Africa, Jamaica, and the USA toured the Seville Heritage Park, the site of Emancipation Jubilee 2024. Managed by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT), its mission is “to inspire a sense of national pride . . .” However, the visit both inflated and deflatedContinue reading “National Pride”

Eucharist and Doubles

To what can we liken the Eucharistic celebration to the Catholic Tradition? In the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago, there is a culinary delight commonly known as ‘double. ‘ It is a typical street food consisting of curried chickpeas on two fried flatbreads. It is usually eaten for breakfast. However, the communal, participatory, andContinue reading “Eucharist and Doubles”

Technology cannot substitute humans

THE EDITOR, Madam: In a world increasingly driven by technology and automation, it is crucial to recognise the irreplaceable value of human interaction. A recent experience with my Visa credit card at Sagicor Bank Jamaica underscored the indispensable role of the human touch in businesses, providing us with relief and reassurance. During this experience, IContinue reading “Technology cannot substitute humans”

Emacipation

With a clenched fistI fightI injureI destroy I opposeI imprison diversity, difference, and divergence of opinions and people.I chain openness, transparency, accountability and freedom of expression,releasing anger, aggression, and antagonism.With open handsI welcome I feelI share I openI waveI receive I holdI releaseI play withdiversity, difference, and divergence of opinions and people.Emancipated minds and heartsContinue reading “Emacipation”

Synodal Bus

I remember travelling on minibuses in Jamaica. When the bus departs the terminus, it is full, with each passenger having his/her seat. En route to the destination, the bus stops periodically, not necessarily for passengers to disembark, but for more passengers to embark, accompanied by the conductor shouting to the onboard passengers, “Small up yuhself.”Continue reading “Synodal Bus”

Poverty of the Eucharist

“Jesus was . . . rich, but he became poor . . . to make you rich out of his poverty” (2 Corinthians 8: 9). It’s inspiring to reflect on the significance of the Eucharist and its message of transformation and hope. The idea that Jesus, who was rich, became poor to enrich others isContinue reading “Poverty of the Eucharist”