Celebrate the Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita by Working to End Human Trafficking

February 8^th is the Feast Day of St. Josephine Bakhita, who was enslaved and received her freedom with the support of the Cannossian Sisters. The Catholic Church has designated her feast day the World Day of Prayer, Reflection, and Action against Human Trafficking. This year’s theme is A Light Against Trafficking: An Economy without Human Trafficking.

U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT) and other Talitha Kum networks around the world are planning a prayer marathon on the feast of the patron saint of survivors of trafficking. We are offering a prayer service for use with local communities, parishes, schools and universities as well as a 15-minute prayer service in English and Spanish USCSAHT’s YouTube channel.  A light against trafficking. Online Marathon of Prayer against Human Trafficking in 5 languages.

USCCB’s Coalition of Catholic Organizations against Human Trafficking (CCOAHT) has prepared a resource kit to help celebrate the feast by combatting human trafficking. In addition, CCOAHT’s partner, the John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy at St. Thomas University, is collaborating with the University of Miami Health Systems Thrive Clinic to offer a webinar on victim-centered approaches to health care for survivors of human trafficking.

Registration is open to all. Learn more and register HERE.

What will you do during The Season of Nonviolence?

Today marks the start of the Season of Nonviolence.  Beginning on January 30th, the assassination of Mohandas Gandhi and ending on April 4th, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it was established by Mohandas Gandhi’s grandson, Arun Gandhi to encourage nonviolent living.

The 64 days that span the Season of Nonviolence offer daily challenges for ourselves and our communities to take up the practice of nonviolence in a deeper more meaningful way.  Here are a few ways to get involved over the next few months:

• If you are involved with our Nonviolent Cities Project, tell your local schools about it, see the call to action posted here.
• Post on your social media the daily themes, which can be copied from here.
• If you receive our daily “This Nonviolent Life” inspirational emails, post the quotes on social media each day to spread the message of nonviolence.
• Check out the M.K Gandhi Institute‘s materials which include taking a pledge, daily practices and a student journal.
• Take our Campaign Nonviolence Pledge and encourage others to do so as well.
• Sign up for an upcoming nonviolence course with Pace e Bene! Coming up we have a six-week course on Nonviolent Communication, a workshop on Mindfulness, a six-week course for your Lenten Journey Into Nonviolence, a workshop on Applying Meditation to Nonviolent Living and a Nonviolence in Education Workshop.   Scholarships are available for anyone who needs it too.

Finally, if you have time, read Rivera Sun’s latest article on “What the Anti-Coup Campaign Taught Us”.  It’s an important lesson in the power of nonviolent social movements that doesn’t often make it into the headlines.