January 6 -- Peace Vigils to End Violence 

Faith based groups are holding candlelight peace vigils in NYC and throughout the country tonight, Jan. 6th, at 6:00 PM.  Let us join in solidarity with all those praying for peace in our world this evening. In addition visit Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns website to find out what actions you can take to urge members of Congress to support a bill (Khanna-Gaetz Amendment) prohibiting the use of funds for war with Iran and to choose diplomacy over war.  

January 5-11 -- National Migration Week. 

This year’s theme is “Promoting a Church and a World for all.” We are called to be a church that welcomes, protects, promotes, and integrates all, including immigrants and refugees. Pope Francis uses these four verbs to frame our responsibility toward our migrant brothers and sisters.  What Can We Do? See Justice For Immigrants Toolkit for sample letters and suggestions. https://justiceforimmigrants.org/

January 11 -- National Human Trafficking Awareness Day 

What are the facts about Human Trafficking?

• There are more than 40 million victims of modern-day slavery worldwide. Of these, 25 million       are victims of labor or sex trafficking and 15 million are trapped in forced marriages. 

• Nearly 23% of trafficking victims are girls.  Unfortunately, stakeholders have found that       individuals in situations of forced migration, such as refugees and unaccompanied children, are particularly vulnerable to labor and sex traffickers.

 • Victim identification remains a significant challenge to U.S. efforts to prevent trafficking,    prosecute perpetrators, and protect victims. 

• Calculated as a 150-billion-dollar industry, modern day slavery has become the fastest growing      source of illicit profit for criminals worldwide.

What is the Church’s position on Human Trafficking?

 • The elimination of human trafficking is a priority issue for the Church. Because every life is sacred and deserves to be protected;  we each have a responsibility to fight against the violence and degradation of our brothers and sisters. To learn more about the USCCB / Migration and Refugee Services’ Anti-Trafficking Program, visit: http://bit.ly/1Tcwcdq

 • In 2014, Pope Francis stated  “Modern slavery, in terms of human trafficking, forced labor and prostitution, and organ trafficking, is a crime against humanity. Its victims are from all walks of life, but are most frequently among the poorest and most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters.” 

• Women religious have played a vital part in the battle against human trafficking. In 2001, nearly 800 women leaders of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) passed a resolution dedicating over 1 million members “to work in solidarity with one another within our own religious communities and in the countries in which we are located to address at every level the abuse and sexual exploitation of women and children . . .” 

* As a religious community we are members of USCSAHT (US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking) .  Visit the website to learn more about how we collaborate with other communities in the fight against human trafficking. www.sistersagainsttrafficking.org. 

“Human trafficking is a crime against humanity. We must unite our efforts to free victims and stop this crime that has become ever more aggressive, that threatens not just individuals, but the foundational values of society.”      -Pope Francis

What can we do about it? 

Prayer:  Use these petitions for Mass or the Office during the month of January: 

For everyone who is trapped in a situation of slavery, that God will help to liberate them from their chains...
For an end to human trafficking, that the dignity of all of God’s children will be protected…
For survivors of slavery, that God guide them to a path where they might find wholeness and peace...
For all Catholics, that God inspire them to take action in their local communities to support and protect survivors of human trafficking…
For government leaders, that they continue to work tirelessly to end the slavery that continues to exist in our communities,...
For law enforcement, that God grant them the wisdom to recognize situations of forced labor and sexual slavery, and work  to protect its victims...
For the media, that they will raise awareness of the problem of human trafficking...
For social service providers, that God will grant them the strength and continued commitment to help survivors of human trafficking and support them on their path to wholeness…

Action: Watch The Price of Free (Youtube) about the work of Nobel Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi as he and his team dedicate their lives to rescuing and rehabilitating trafficked children in India. The film illustrates the link between consumer behavior in the US with child trafficking abroad and what it will take from each of us to clean up supply chains. Watch it with a group of sisters or parishioners and discuss it to raise awareness.  There is a discussion guide on the website https://priceoffree.com/ .  Develop your own awareness on this topic and share it with others in your community and place of ministry.  If not now, when?

 Check out our SCC website (www.scceast.org) under Social Justice for the Anti-trafficking Newsletter and other resources on Human Trafficking.