January 31 St. John Bosco

 Master Magician of  ‘Gospel Magic’

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them.

There are different ways of serving, but the same Lord is served.

There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God 

gives ability to all for their particular service.

—1 Corinthians 12:4-6

John Bosco is the patron saint of school children, apprentices, editors, magicians, and juvenile delinquents. In 1859 Dom Bosco founded the Salesians, formally known as the Society of Saint Francis de Sales, a religious congregation of men in the Catholic Church. The congregation was named after Francis de Sales, a 17th-century bishop of Geneva. Dom Bosco was canonized in 1934 by Pope Pius XI for his work with Youth during the Age of the Industrial Revolution.  

During the latter half of the 19th century, as Europe’s poor were suffering from the effects of industrialization, St. John Bosco saw how most of the children in his village remained uneducated and without faith in God. John grew up poor, but whenever he had an extra penny, he would go to the many circuses and fairs that visited his region of Italy. He watched in rapt attention when magicians performed the impossible. Being a precocious child, he reasoned some tricks out. Sometimes he would beg magicians to teach him. With this knowledge, he put on free magic shows for the village children. Being devout, he would take the opportunity to repeat the homily he heard at church on the previous Sunday to his audience.

As John Bosco grew up, he chose to became a priest. He was ordained in 1841 and dedicated his priesthood ministry to teaching and working exclusively with the poor children and youth in the city of Turin. He served as chaplain for a hospice for wayward girls and feeding and clothing the poor was his main concerns. 

When Don Bosco became a priest, he dedicated himself to helping children. 

He needed a way to get kids to church, back in school and accepting the aid he offered. He remembered his early success with the children in his village and realized magic would best catch the kids’ attention. He used to perform a trick where he turned three separate ropes into a single rope to illustrate the mystery of the Blessed Trinity. He also would pull coins from ears and change pebbles into candy, delighting the children in his care. It’s not a great stretch of the imagination to understand why magicians consider Don Bosco their patron saint.

Don Bosco’s efforts at teaching spiritual values with magic tricks was the beginning of the birth of what magicians refer to as “Gospel Magic” — the tailoring of a magic performance so that it can be used to teach catechism. Magic is an excellent means by which to get across a point, including religious ones.

Don Bosco wasn’t merely a magic dilettante who did a card trick here and there. He was Master Magician who invented many tricks, several of which very few professionals still understand.

In his diary, John Bosco described performing the classic tricks like the Cups-and-Balls. He vanished coins, read minds and knew the exact amount of money in a volunteer’s pocket. He was able to fool volunteers into mistaking black for white. He would multiply balls and eggs, change water into wine, and kill and chop up a rooster before bringing it back to life again so that it crowed better than before.

Don Bosco’s spirituality centered around an educational system of joyful hope. 

To him, education was a means to direct oneself toward God. He wanted Christians to delight in the Lord and to take to heart Christ’s admonition that we should all become “as small children.” (Matthew 18:1-4)

Prayer for the Protection of Young People

St. John Bosco, protector of the youth,

we come to you with trust and humility, seeking your intercession

for the children and young people in our world.

Guide them on their journey, and help them grow

in faith, wisdom, and love.

Shield them from temptation and harm, and fill their hearts

with the joy of your presence.

We implore your assistance in leading our young ones closer

to the heart of Jesus, who loves them unconditionally.

May they become beacons of light in this world,

spreading kindness and hope to all they encounter.

St. John Bosco, pray for us and for the young people of our earth,

that they may be a source of strength and inspiration for generations

to come. Amen.

Song: Saint of Youth Saint John Bosco

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-trp-001&ei=UTF-8&hsimp=yhs-001&hspart=trp&p=john+bosco+youth+%27good+magic%27+song&type=Y23_F163_212979_070121#id=2&vid=a9667f3fb1c12a3235de1ef93369b3fa&action=click

Season of Non Violence

In Their Footsteps

The legacy continues

"Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means 

by which we arrive at that goal.“

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

"You must be the change you want to see in the world.“

-Mahatma Gandhi

Worldwide Observance of the Season of Non Violence

January 30 - April 4

A Season for Nonviolence is a national 64-day educational, media, and grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that non-violence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our communities.

The International Peace Museum aims to raise awareness about the transformative power of nonviolent principles in healing and empowering both individual lives and communities. This mission is embodied in the Season for Nonviolence, spanning the 64 days between the memorial anniversaries of Gandhi's assassination on January 30 and King's on April 4. 

During this Season, we strive to channel the spirit of Gandhi and King into education and inspire action towards peace and justice. Each of us holds the potential to be a force for nonviolence, creating waves of peace that extend far beyond ourselves. This way of life involves not only compassion, kindness, and consideration, but also the courage to stand against injustice. Throughout these 64 days, the International Peace Museum, in collaboration with our global partners, will present practices rooted in the legacies of Gandhi and King. Through schools, universities, churches, and communities, we endeavor to effect change. A culture of peace and nonviolence is created one choice at a time, one action at a time and one day at a time. 

We hope you will join us on this journey in supporting this national educational and community action campaign. Your generosity can make a profound impact on the success of this historic event. This momentous gathering of the King, Gandhi, Scott, and Mandela families signifies a powerful step towards a more harmonious world. 

Together, let us stand united in the pursuit of love, nonviolence, and enduring peace. Thank you for being a beacon of hope and a force for positive change.

Bearing Witness to Peace

                Lord God,

We come to you in our need.

Create in us an awareness of the massive forces

that threaten our world today.

Give us a sense of urgency to activate the forces

of goodness, of justice, of love and of peace.

Where there is armed conflict,

let us stretch our arms to our brothers and sisters.

Where there is abundance,

let there be simple lifestyle and sharing.

Where there is poverty,

let there be dignified living and constant striving

for just structures.

Where there are wounds of division,

let there be unity and wholeness.

Help us to be committed to the building of your kingdom.

Not seeking to be cared for, but to care.

Not expecting to be served,

But to place ourselves in the service of others.

Not aspiring to be materially secure,

But to place our security in your love.

Teach us your spirit.

Only in loving imitation of you can we discover

The healing springs of life that will bring

New birth to our world.

- Catholic Relief Services (Philippines)

Human Trafficking Prevention Month

 Human Trafficking is a Crime against Humanity

Human Trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery that involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit another; to obtain some type of labor or a commercial sex act. It is a crime under both U.S. and international law. It is a crime against humanity.

Human trafficking dehumanizes and commodifies human beings, depriving those who are victimized of their dignity, as persons made in the image of God. It denies the person’s basic human rights: the right to life, security, freedom of movement, and the freedom from torture and degrading treatment. It is antithetical to the tenets of our faith and the values of this nation.

In an address on April 11, 2019 the Holy Father Pope Francis, said, [Human trafficking]“constitutes an unjustifiable violation of the freedom and dignity of the victims, constitutive dimensions of the human being wanted and created by God. This is why it is considered a crime against humanity. Trafficking seriously damages humanity as a whole, tearing apart the human family and the Body of Christ.” (Catholic News Service)

Those Forced to Migrate are Especially Vulnerable
Traffickers thrive where vulnerability is high; where people are desperate and their options are limited or nonexistent. People on the move and recent immigrants are at particular risk of exploitation by traffickers because of their precarious social and economic circumstances.

The International Organization for Migration estimates the number of international migrants to be at least 281million people. They are refugees, asylum seekers, labor migrants, and those displaced by conflict or natural disasters. They are fleeing floods, famine, war, violence, endemic poverty, organized crime, and political corruption and the effects of climate change. They are both desperate and resilient. 

The adverse circumstances that force people to flee their homes can lead migrants to be deceived in exploitative recruitment abroad. Migration routes too often lead migrants into the hands of organized trafficking networks, exploitative employment, or situations of extortion. The very status of people as migrants, especially irregular migrants, exposes them to possible negative legal consequences, including fines, detention, or deportation. “Moreover, irregularity often leads migrants to work in sectors prone to exploitation, such as in the fishing industry in South-East Asia, the agricultural sector in Europe, and construction jobs in Northern America.” (World Migrant Report 2022,Chp 10, 258) 

Immigration and human trafficking are clearly interconnected, especially in the United States. Polaris estimates 77 percent of persons trafficked in the United States each year are immigrants (Polaris Analysis of 2021 Data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, pg. 8 of 29). Migrants and immigrants, including children, are sold for sex and labor and exploited across a range of industries in the United States. A recent New York Times report, “Alone and Exploited, Migrant Children Work Brutal Jobs Across the U.S,” revealed how U.S. companies are exploiting immigrant children. 

Unfortunately, the root causes of human trafficking, including the significant and unique vulnerabilities faced by those forced to migrate, have been largely overlooked. In the past, U.S. anti-trafficking policy has taken a primarily criminal justice approach. While interdiction and prosecution of traffickers is essential, it alone is not sufficient. 

If there is any hope of putting an end to this horrendous crime, government, law enforcement, social service agencies, and anti-trafficking advocates must focus on its root causes. Today that means mitigating the risks to populations most at risk for sex and labor trafficking -immigrants, especially women and children, who are forced to leave their homes.

The Project Women religious are leaders in efforts to put an end to the recruitment and exploitation of others by force, fraud, or coercion; to put an end to human trafficking. They educate the public about the dangers of human trafficking, accompany survivors on their journey to healing, and they work tirelessly to eliminate the root causes of human trafficking including forced migration.

Catholic sisters and their colleagues have seen firsthand how human traffickers prey on those forced to flee their homes by circumstances beyond their control. And they have come to understand the vulnerabilities created by sometimes inadequate or ineffective U.S. policy and law. 

U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking(USCSAHT) and the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd(NAC), faith-based networks that work to end human trafficking, deplore the increase in human trafficking in the United States and around the world, some of which results from unprecedented forced migration. 

Breaking the Link

USCSAHT and NAC are leading a months-long journey of listening, analysis, and action to address the dangerous nexus between human trafficking and forced migration. Catholic sisters have a long history of accompanying migrants and those who have been victimized by human traffickers. They know their strength and their vulnerability. They are prepared to address the threat human traffickers pose to those forced to flee their homes, and they are committed to finding practical solutions to this root cause of human trafficking. With this project, we hope to provide systemic solutions that will help to end the scourge of human trafficking by bringing together women religious on the ground, migrant survivors of human trafficking, and policymakers.

Join the Journey 

We hope you will join us on this journey to address human trafficking caused by forced migration. Collaboration among non-governmental organizations, government and communities is essential if we are to develop comprehensive solutions that protect people, deter perpetrators and prevent future instances of human trafficking.  Together we can create a world where exploitation is eliminated, and every person can live free with security, dignity and respect.

           

January 23 St. Marianne Cope

 Marginalized   Peoples

Saint  Marianne  Cope

‘Beloved Mother of Outcasts’

On January 23, Franciscans around the world honor the memory of St. Marianne Cope, the first American Franciscan woman to be canonized.  She was canonized in October 2012 by Pope Benedict and is the patron saint of outcasts and people with leprosy.  

Changing life on Moloka’i

On October 22, 1883, Mother Marianne and six other sisters left for Hawaii where they took charge of the Kakaako Receiving Station outside Honolulu; they also opened a hospital and a school for girls on the island of Maui. 

In 1888, Mother Marianne and two sisters went to Moloka'i—the leper “colony” where afflicted people were forcibly segregated. There they opened a home for “unprotected women and girls” in Kalaupapa. 

On Moloka'i she also took charge of the home that Saint Damien de Veuster had established there for men and boys. Mother Marianne changed life on Moloka'i by introducing cleanliness, pride, and fun to the colony.

Read more about Saint Marianne Cope

https://www.catholic365.com/article/30796/the-saint-of-outcasts-the-inspiring-life-of-saint-marianne-cope.html

As a saint for today, we celebrate her ministry and love for the Outcasts.  

We remember and we pray for and act on behalf of the Marginalized Peoples of our society.

Marginalization refers to social exclusion.  It occurs when certain groups of people get denied access to areas of society. Many factors can lead to this denial of access to institutions and opportunities, including historical bias and lack of funding.

Marginalized people don’t necessarily belong to one particular demographic: Marginalization occurs due to ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, socioeconomic level, and age. Marginalized groups are often at a disadvantage when it comes to obtaining health care, decent education, and employment that would improve their well-being.

Exclusion of groups of people places them in powerless positions.

1. Economic marginalization: Economic marginalization refers to disparities in amassing wealth or getting a job. For example, many forms of employment marginalize racial minorities due to harmful stereotypes about what types of people make good managers or workers.
2. Political marginalization: Politically marginalized communities struggle to participate in parts of the civic process, like voting or gaining access to their political representatives. Jim Crow–era laws that prevented Black Americans from voting are examples of political marginalization.
3. Social marginalization: When someone can’t participate in everyday leisure activities, it’s known as social marginalization. Denial of access to clubs and organizations is an example of social marginalization.

Marginalization can result from intentional campaigns that exclude certain people from society. It can also occur unintentionally due to structures that benefit some members of society while making life challenging for others.

1. Discrimination and bias: Social forces, like racism, sexism, and religious hatred, can lead policymakers or community members to create structures that keep certain groups from participating fully in society. Apartheid is an example of this, as are institutional boundaries like the prohibition of marriage between people of the same sex.
2. Poverty: Poverty is a major contributor to marginalization. Impoverished people often don’t have the time or resources to advocate for their interests, either because they live in marginalized communities and lack access to necessary resources or spend excessive time and energy trying to provide for themselves and their families. The outsized effect money has in the political system exacerbates this situation. For example, many people burdened by homelessness cannot access mental health services or other social benefits that could improve their lives.
3. Structural disadvantages: Sometimes, society marginalizes people by denying them the space or accommodations they need to advocate for their needs and make their voices heard. For example, the lack of accessible housing for people with disabilities has increased poverty levels for this group.

When we marginalize groups of people, we harms society as a whole, but marginalized people shoulder the main burden of that impact. 

Here are some of its harmful effects:

1. Limited talent pools: Gatekeeping institutions and workplaces create a set of conditions wherein only certain people from specific backgrounds advance and have a voice. As a result, the same kinds of ideas circulate, and decision-makers don’t benefit from new perspectives and fresh ideas. Due to this homogeneity, ideas that might benefit marginalized people may not be broached.
2. Criminal activity: Marginalized people may encounter seemingly insurmountable challenges when pursuing legal means of earning a living, motivating them to turn to illegal means.
3. Mental health issues: Marginalized people often develop feelings of alienation and depression, compounded as their marginalization continues. The lack of access to necessary mental health resources forces whole swaths of the population to manage these issues independently.

A broad issue affecting many people with many different needs. There’s no one way to eliminate marginalization and its effects on society, but here are some measures that can make a difference:

1. Take political action. By getting involved in social justice initiatives, people can create powerful interventions in the political process and force representatives to listen to historically silenced groups. Political action requires both organization and alliances to build coalitions of people who can bring attention to a cause and effect change.
2. Learn about marginalization and its impact. Learning the history of human rights abuses and oppression creates more empathy and a better understanding of marginalized groups. It also dispels misinformation about how and why certain groups get excluded from society.
3. Invest in infrastructure and public services. Marginalized groups often lack basic tools and resources that are readily available to non-marginalized groups, such as internet access, working and accessible public transportation, and local medical clinics. By prioritizing these services, society can remove some of these oppressive barriers.

Intercessory Prayer for the Marginalized

For those deprived of their human needs, 
and their human rights:
that they may be given the dignity which God confers 
on all his people.
For all who are forgotten or thrown away, and especially for the poor,
the sick and the aged:
that God might change our hearts and move us to love them as 

the image of Christ.

For all who are lonely or afraid,
For teenagers on the street, old people in nursing homes, prisoners with no one to visit them, and all whom the world has forgotten:
that Christ might lead us to them.
For all who are forgotten or cast off,
that we might value each human life, as a priceless gift from God.
For those who are mentally disabled,
that we might cherish the gifts God has given them, and in their
Lives hear the voice of our Loving God.

January 2024 Human Trafficking Prevention Month

 Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Week II 

Message of Pope Francis

February 8, 2023

Journeying for dignity, against human trafficking, without leaving anyone

behind. I would like to repeat some of the beautiful expressions: “Walking

with open eyes to recognize the processes that lead millions of people,

especially young people, to be trafficked for brutal exploitation. Walking

with an attentive heart to discover the daily paths of thousands of

people in search of freedom and dignity. Walking with hope guiding our feet to

promote anti-trafficking actions. Walking together hand in hand to support

one another and build a culture of encounter that leads to the conversion of

hearts and inclusive societies, capable of unmasking stereotypes and

protecting the rights of every person.

I hope that many people will accept your invitation to walk together against

trafficking: walking together with those who are destroyed by the violence of

sexual and labor exploitation; walking together with migrants, displaced

persons, those who are searching for a place to live in peace

and family. Together with you, young people, to reaffirm courageously the

value of human dignity. 

Talking  Points

• Alliance to End Human Trafficking (AEHT) is a collaborative, faith-based national network that offers education, supports access to survivor services, and engages in advocacy to eradicate human trafficking. We work to inform the public, prevent this assault on human dignity, and assist survivors to live fulfilling lives.

• Alliance To End Human Trafficking envisions a world without human trafficking with a network of services and resources to inform the public, prevent the crime, and assist survivors to achieve a fulfilling life.

• Our members include 200+ congregations of Catholic Sisters, coalitions and organizations working to end human trafficking and individuals who share our mission. Ending human trafficking is everyone’s work!

• Prevention is key to ending human trafficking, so education and advocacy are necessary but women and men need access to services to help them heal as well.

• Pope Francis calls human trafficking one of the most troubling of the world’s open wounds. It goes against our Catholic Social Teaching and robs people of their dignity.

• Many victims come from other countries where they are promised the American dream of getting an education and finding work only to have their passports confiscated, and fear of their safety or the safety of their family. They are taught not to trust law enforcement and speaking another language further diminishes their ability to seek help. Their dreams are turned into nightmares when they are forced to enter the sex industry, labor on farms, in hotels among other industries for 12 -to 14-hour days with no hopes of escaping their new-found life. 

Become a member of The Alliance to End Human Trafficking today:

https://alliancetoendhumantrafficking.salsalabs.org/sitemembershipform/index.ht ml

Let’s PREVENT  Human Trafficking

God, help us see that human trafficking affects all of us.

Show us what is ours to do to increase awareness

of human trafficking so that people do not become victims.

Help us become more aware of how social media, poverty,

Homelessness, immigration status may make children 

and others vulnerable to exploitation.

Enlighten us on how our obsession with consumerism

Serves to feed the demand for cheap labor.

Help us to commit to incorporate one action in our lives that

Will serve to stop the demand and help people not become

Victims of Human Trafficking.  AMEN.

Christ Be Our Light by Bernadette Farrell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH0FMhH7DrU

January 22, 2024 Feast Day Greetings!

 

On this feast of your Patron, St. Vincent, Deacon of Saragossa, your family, friends and Cluny Sisters send you special feast day greetings and prayers. 

En esta fiesta de vuestro Patrón, San Vicente, Diácono de Zaragoza, vuestra familia, amigos y Hermanas de Cluny os envían una felicitación especial y oraciones. 

 

Feliz día de la fiesta, hermana Vicenta!

St. Vincent, Spanish Deacon and Martyr

January 21, 2024 Feast Day Greetings

On this beautiful feast of Saint Agnes of Rome, your family, friends and Cluny Sisters send special greetings for a blessed and peace-filled Feast Day  celebration.  May you be blessed with much Love, Greetings and Joy.  We give thanks for your years of service and ministry to God’s people and now in Pomona, CA.     

Happy Feast Day, Sister Agnes Marie!

Protect the Young
St. Agnes, so young and yet made so strong

and wise by the power of God,
protect by your prayers
all the young people of every place
whose goodness and purity are threatened by 
the evils of this world.

Give them strength in temptation
and a true repentance when they fail.
Help them to find true Christian friends
to accompany them in following the Lamb of God
and finding safe pastures in His Church.
May you lead us to the wedding banquet of heaven
to rejoice with you and all the holy virgin martyrs in Christ
who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

 

2024 Church Unity Octave

In Light of the Synod Proposals and 

Considerations:  Church Unity

 

This year’s THEME of the Christian Unity Octave is take from the Gospel of Saint Luke 10:27….   

“You shall love the Lord your God…

And your neighbor as yourself from the Gospel of Luke 10:27

The THEME reflects the connection between love of God and love of neighbor with a particular concern for challenging the boundaries of who is considered “neighbor”.  Jesus is questioned as to the path to eternal life.  His answer is not to only observe the commandments, but to also imitate the love of God in giving of self for another.  It is a call for charity, mercy, justice and unity.

Synod CHURCH Report

The Synthesis Report at the conclusion of the 16th General Assembly of the Church Synod on Synodality has been published. Looking ahead to the second session in October 2024, the text offers reflections and proposals and a commitment to LISTEN to all voices.  As we enter the Church Octave Week January 18 - 25, let’s take a look at the Synod’s synthesis report regarding Unity, Christian Unity.

On the road to Christian unity

With regard to ecumenism, the Report speaks of a “spiritual renewal” that requires “processes of repentance and healing of the memory” (7c). It goes on to quote Pope Francis’ expression about an “ecumenism of the blood”; that is “Christians of different affiliations who give their lives for faith in Jesus Christ” (7d), and it mentions the proposal for an ecumenical martyrology. The Report also reiterates that “collaboration among all Christians” is a resource “for healing the culture of hatred, division and war that pits groups, peoples and nations against each other”. It does not forget the issue of so-called mixed marriages, which are realities in which “it is possible to evangelize each other”.

Eastern Churches

Remaining on the subject of migration, the Report looks to Eastern Europe and the recent conflicts that have caused the flow of numerous faithful from the Catholic East into territories with a Latin majority. It is necessary, the Assembly says, “for the local Latin-rite Churches, in the name of synodality, to help the Eastern faithful who have emigrated to preserve their identity and cultivate their specific heritage, without undergoing processes of assimilation is the request of the Fathers”.

Daily Focus of the Church Unity Octave

 

Day 1, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Day 2, He answered...

Day 3, “Who is my neighbor?”

Day 4, When he saw him...

Day 5, He went to him...

Day 6, Then he put him on his own animal...

Day 7, “Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor?”

Day 8, "Go and do likewise."

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

A lawyer stood up to test Jesus.

“Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

(Lk 10:25)

This crucial question asked of Jesus by a lawyer challenges every believer in God. It affects the meaning of our life on earth and for eternity. Elsewhere in the Bible, Jesus gives us the ultimate definition of eternal life: “... that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (Jn 17:3). 

Knowing God means discovering and doing his will in our lives. Every person wants a life of fullness and truth, and God desires this for us too  Jn 10:10). Saint Irenaeus said, “The glory of God is a human being fully alive.”

The existential realities of life, with divisions, selfishness and suffering, often distance us from the quest for God.

Thus, our quest for eternal life brings us closer to Jesus, and in so doing brings us nearer to each other, strengthening our closeness on the path toward Christian unity. 

Let us be open to friendship and collaboration with Christians of ALL churches, praying for the day when we can all stand together at the Table of the Lord.

Prayer

God of life, You have created us to have life, and life in all its fullness. May we recognize in our brothers and sisters their desire for eternal life. As we follow Jesus’ way with determination, may we lead others to you.

We pray in his name. Amen.

UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS

Follow the DAILY FOCUS of the Church Unity Octave

https://www.usccb.org/committees/ecumenical-interreligious-affairs/week-prayer-christian-unity-2024

Happy Birthday MLK

 

 Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 15, 2024

 

One of the greatest Americans, Martin Luther King Jr. had a DREAM, a dream of unity, equality and justice that includes and embraces the dignity of all peoples.  As a Christian minister, he lived, wrote and spoke Jesus’ Gospel Message:

 

‘Let us Love one Another’

As Americans, we join together to celebrate and honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his life’s message by continuing to serve one another and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We continue to unite and treat all with equality and justice.  Let us too renew our commitment to live the Gospel of Jesus and love one another without distinction.

Building The Beloved Community

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived his life serving others. Following his example, millions of Americans serve on Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. At our children’s schools, at a local shelter, or lending a hand to help our neighbors – we bring to life his vision of neighbors working together to build a better future.

"We may have all come on different ships, 

but we're in the same boat now."

MLK 

Scott Barbour/Getty Images News/Getty Image

Whether you subscribe to "love thy neighbor" or "the sisterhood of motherhood," 

Dr. King’s words offer a prescription for empathy, 

encouraging us to walk a mile in another person’s shoes, 

no matter where you and your family are from.

How will we respond to this challenge in our country today?

January Stop Trafficking Newsletter (Boletín Stop Trafficking de enero}

 

To read the full Stop Trafficking Newsletter in English Newsletter go to:

Stop-Trafficking-EN.pdf

Para leer el boletín informativo completo de Stop Trafficking en español vaya a:

Stop-Trafficking-SP.pdf

During this Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the Catholic Sisters against Human Trafficking have issued two newsletters in January that focus on the grooming and trafficking of children on social media.

Durante este Mes de Prevención de la Trata de Seres Humanos, las Hermanas Católicas contra la Trata de Seres Humanos han publicado dos boletines en enero que se centran en la captación y la trata de menores en las redes sociales.

 

Awareness  Concienciación

Selling Children on Social Media.

Signs of Human Trafficking in Youth

• Avoiding you, friends, and family and having new friends they met on line or older friends
• Frequent tardiness or absence from school or work
• Sleeping often when they’re home and staying out late or all weekend
• Loss of interest in things they once enjoyed
• Having or bragging about money, expensive items, or traveling with no reasonable explanation
• Starting to use drugs or alcohol
• Frequent injuries with no reasonable explanation
• Having secret online accounts

Advocacy  Defensa  

Learn about:

Social Media Safety for kids

The Hidden Language of children and teens

Recommendations for Social Media Platforms

Livestreaming Child Sexual Exploitation

Image Based Sexual Abuse

 

Action  Acción

How can YOU impact change?  Read the Newsletter!  Advocate!  Sign Petitions!

                                     Block Websites! Take Steps to Protect Children!

January 2024 Human Trafficking Month

 Human Trafficking Prevention Month

by Proclamation

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., 

President of the United States of America,
 by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 
and the laws of the United States, 
do hereby proclaim January 2024 as
 National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.  
I call upon businesses, civil society organizations, communities of faith,

 families, and all Americans to recognize the vital role we play in combating human trafficking and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities aimed at preventing all forms of human trafficking.

Goals to Prevent Human Trafficking

To raise awareness of human trafficking

To educate about the role individuals and organizations can play in preventing and responding to human trafficking

To share examples of crucial connections that will increase the health and well-being of people at risk or experiencing human trafficking

To increase reporting of human trafficking and referrals to services

Focus Weeks

Throughout the month, each week will have a specific focus in preventing 

Human Trafficking.

Week 1   Introductory information to Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

Week 2   Connecting to promote individual Health and Well-Being

Week 3   Connecting to promote Family Health and Well-Being

Week 4   Connecting to promote Community Health and Well-Being

Week 5   Connecting to promote Societal Health and Well-Being

Throughout the month we become Aware, Reflect, Pray and Act.

Week 1 Questions:       What is Human Trafficking?

How will you inform others?

What action can you take this month to prevent Human Trafficking?

Possible Actions:            Show a video you can watch and share with others.

Have an Information Day this month at your parish, school, organization.

Start a Book Club and Discussion around an informative book or story regarding Human Trafficking.

Join Voices of Freedom:

An Oral History of Efforts to Address Human Trafficking

Voices of Freedom, a collaborative initiative between the Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP), the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), and StoryCorps, records, preserves, and shares the stories of survivors of trafficking and allied professionals.

With over 100 conversations recorded by more than 170 participants, Voices of Freedom is an ongoing collection of stories from people who have informed, shaped, and contributed to the successes of the anti-trafficking field over the past two decades.

Pray to End Human Trafficking

Loving Father,

We seek your divine protection for all who are exploited and enslaved.

For those forced into labor, trafficked into sexual slavery, and denied freedom.

We beseech you to release them from their chains.

Grant them protection, safety, and empowerment.

Restore their dignity and provide them a new beginning.

Show us how we might end exploitation by addressing its causes.

Help us reach out in support of victims and survivors of human trafficking.

Make us instruments of your spirit for their liberation.

For this we pray through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen    -USCCB

Human Trafficking Awareness Program

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdfKtnQnKuI

DHS Blue Campaign Human Trafficking Awareness Training

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6iZRGx9Xk4

Join the United Nations BLUE HEART CAMPAIGN

 

The Blue Heart Campaign raises awareness 

around the globe of human trafficking and its impact on people and society. 

The Blue Heart Campaign encourages 

involvement from governments, 

civil society, the corporate sector and 

individuals alike to inspire action and help 

prevent human trafficking

https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/blueheart/