The Rock and Roll Rebel....

Ozzy Osbourne has been a great disapointment for me. There was a time when I thought Black Sabbaths music to be so profound: Speaking in real terms of Heaven and Hell. The lyrics suggest a dark and wicked world where the forces of evil conspire to bring down the good in everyone.... and here we are, puny humans blown with the winds caused by bad politicians and greedy businessmen. After Ozzy left, the new Black Sabbath became better known for the lyrics of the now dead Ronnie James Dio, who sang of circles and rings, magic and kings... and other mideviel concepts. Ozzy on the other hand became the rock and roll rebel. His theatrics and drug induces behaviour painted a picture of a man that no one wants to live with... that is excpet his manager/wife. Who profited well from this mans decline. Every time he fell, she rebranded him and sold him yet again. The rock and roll rebel became the Prince of Darkness... or so he was labeled. It is amazing that ozzy still has a career.

His new album is in the news. It's called Scream. He was inspired to put this together from a guy called Robert Latimer, a Canadian found guilty of the murder of his disabled daughter. About it Ozzy says: "To put your child to death is a big decision. I'm not one to go, 'You're wrong, you shouldn't do that,' or 'You did the right thing,' I'm in the middle of the road. I question myself, thinking 'How would I deal with that?' It's a very big decision to make."

Ozzy's anti-suicide song off of his first solo album "Suicide Solution"was misconstrued by two people in seperate cases who thought it promoted suicide and killed themselves. Their parents sued Ozzy, but lost.

I can't say I will be listening to Ozzy's new album. I won't endorse it. Instead I pray that Ozzy will one day open his heart to Jesus. What a day that would be:

Could it be you're afraid of what your friends might say
If they knew you believe in God above?
They should realize before they criticize
That God is the only way to love
Lyrics from Afterforever - Black Sabbath 1971

they look over and protect the city

On the Northern side of the Cathedral, Overlooking north Independence Square and Port of Spain there is a statues of Holy Saint Joseph. Pray for us St Joseph Patron Saint of Families.



On the Southern side of the Cathedral, overlooking south Independence Square and the City is Mary, Virgin, Immaculate Conception... orange hair and all.
Hail Mary Pray for us who have recourse to thee.

View of the outside of the Basilica Minor, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Port of Spain

Above: Looking east on Independence Square South



Above & Below: Looking West on Independence Square South





Above: looking west on Independence Square north


Above & Below: looking east on Independence Square North

Former Archbishops of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain

On the Wall in the Cathedral there are some pictures. I took a picture of these pictures. They are images of our former Archbishops.


* Richard Patrick Smith (1844–1852) - Top left
* Vincent Spaccapietra (1855–1859) - bottom, second from left
* Ferdinand English (1860–1862) - Top, second from left
* Joachim-Hyacinthe Gonin, O.P. (1863–1889)- Top right
* Patrick Vincent Flood, O.P. (1889–1907)- bottom left
* John Pius Dowling, O.P. (1909–1940)- bottom, third from left
* Patrick Finbar Ryan, O.P. (1940–1966)- Top, third from left
* Gordon Anthony Pantin, C.S.Sp. (1967–2000)- Bottom right

Our current Archbishop Edward Joseph Gilbert, C.SS.R. (2001–present) is not shown on this wall.

Shame Shame Dr Selwyn Cudjoe

My Politics is that of the Catholic Church. I will not associate or disassociate myself with any political party, especially on this blog. It did not bother me that 40 years ago Makandal Daaga desecrated the Cathedral. It did not bother me that he did not apologize for the act. The fact that his political Party "NJAC" got a minuscule amount of votes meant that many people did not agree with his actions or saw his movement and what it stood for as a good thing. Still, I think it is a good thing that he should keep fighting for what he truly believes in, as I fight for what I believe in, once there is no propagation of hate please Mr Daaga. Unfortunately in the hustings of an election, there is mud slinging that reflects a poor side of our (any any other) society.

Following from Prime Minister Patrick Manning statement that Mr Daaga should apologize to the Catholics, and all Christians, Dr Selwyn Cudjoe responded by letter. I found issue with his response and so made my own post on the Trinidad and Tobago News Blog, and of course copied it here.

Maybe Dr Cudjoe's politics is not that of the PNM's. I am Ok with that, since I neither hate nor love Patrick Manning. Dr Cudjoe's letter seems to give little consideration to black Catholics who then would have thought the action of desecrating the Cathedral as a bad thing.

So, is Dr Cudjoe saying then, that every person who had an enslaved ancestor in Trinidad or anywhere in the world should go into any catholic church and desecrate it. NO! that should not happen DR Cudjoe.

What about the North & East African Muslims who themselves had slaves? Should the Christians (Catholic, Ethiopian Orthodox, etc), defecate in their holy places? NO!

Is it right then that every person who feels they have been wronged should take the law into their own hands? NO! DR Cudjoe.

Come on Dr Cudjoe, Say it was wrong. Do not defend someone who
is wrong. Do not encourage the politics of Hate.

Stuff in the Cathedral

From my previous postings you would have seen some interesting items at the Cathedral. In future posts I will endevour to show more of these items.


The entrance doors are heavy wooden doors. On one of these doors is a Jubilee Plaque.






As you enter this is the view that hits you.






On the right of the entrance there is a metal installation of Jesus on the cross. Below Him are His Mother and the Apostle John. We can imagine Jesus saying to all of us what He says to John... Behold your Mother. After all, you are in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.



Behind the Altar the huge Stained glass window shows the Saint, Bernadette kneeling in pray to the Virgin. The grotto located in the church shows the same thing. "Hail Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us who have recourse to thee."


Key to every church is the baptismal font. Here we become Christian. Here our children become Christian.








Above the main entrance is the Choir loft. On the loft is the third Pipe organ installed since the Cathedral was dedicated.




Following Vatican II the high Altar was taken down and moved to the location shown here. That is, to the left of the main altar area. The Communion railing was taken down, however, a piece of it was moved to the front of the Altar, which is used now as the tabernacle. Praise you Lord, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Peter and Paul

As you enter the Minor Basilica, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Peter greets you with his keys and Paul with his Sword.