February 8, the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, is the annual day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking. Bakhita was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery in Sudan and Italy. Once she was freed, Bakhita became a Canossian nun and dedicated her life to sharing her testament of deliverance from slavery and comforting the poor and suffering. She was declared a Saint in 2000.
Catholics worldwide are encouraged to host or attend prayer services on February 8 to create greater awareness about this human atrocity. There are numerous ways and levels in which you can become involved:
- Register to join the Vatican in solidarity against trafficking and find other resources like social media posts, daily messages, etc.
- Become a USCCB SHEPHERD to organize action or find ways to spot trafficking in your community.
- The U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking have several advocacy campaigns to help protect children and trafficking victims.
- Offer prayer intentions. The USCCB has a St. Josephine Bakhita Prayer card.
- View a PSA from the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking and the California Department of Justice.
