Monday, February 8 is the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking.
It is also the Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, patron saint of Sudan and of those dedicated to ending human trafficking. Born in Darfur, she was enslaved as a child and eventually sold to a diplomat who took her to Italy where she valiantly asserted her freedom with the help of the Canossian Sisters of Venice. Join us in prayer, study, and action to mark this day.
Pray
Pray this prayer for the intercession of St. Josephine Bakhita.
Join a virtual prayer service on human trafficking on Monday, Feb. 8 at 10:15 am EST or a virtual Mass at 12:15 pm EST, sponosord by St. Thomas University and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Use this prayer vigil script individually or with a community: "An Economy without Human Trafficking."
Study
Watch this panel of survivors of human trafficking speak about the fight to end the industry on Monday, February 8 at 11:00 am EST.
Read the latest U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking newsletter.
Read this UN brief about the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on human trafficking around the world.
Act
Visit the U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking action center to send a petition, contact your representative, or take other actions against human trafficking.
Explore this toolkit from the U.S. Catholic Bishops' Conference on how to speak out against human trafficking in your community.
Find out how you can avoid buying products that rely on the work of trafficked people or unpaid labor.