The 8 February, is the Feast of St Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese nun, who as a child had the traumatic experience of being a victim of human trafficking. The Unions of Superiors and Superiors General of Religious Institutes have organized the Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking. I encourage those who work helping the men, women and children who are enslaved, exploited, abused as instruments of work or pleasure, who are often tortured and mutilated. It is my hope that government leaders may work decisively to remove the causes of this disgraceful scourge, it is a scourge unworthy of society. May each one of us feel committed to being a voice for our brothers and sisters, who have been humiliated in their dignity. Let us all pray…
Pope Francis: Angelus Prayer February 8th, 2015
The International Forum of Catholic Action joins in this initiative and invites all the national Associations to join also, to collaborate with the organisms who have
promoted it, by prayer, awareness and concrete actions in so many realities that are facing us.
Catholic Action is aware, in all contexts where it is present and at all levels, of its responsibility to intensify proposal and formative itineraries in order to help its members to ascertain the causes of this phenomenon that blesses human dignity, to denounce it firmly, to stir up a fraternal solidarity with those who suffer trafficking and to help them to be fully integrated into society. This also is an aspect of the culture of encounter that characterizes the CA en salida (which goes forth).
We invite the CAs in the world to celebrate the World Day of Prayer and Reflection against Trafficking promoted by Pope Francis.
We ask you to send documentation of your activities, to be shared on social media and on the IFCA website.
