I. Opening Prayer
O God, who led Saint Josephine Bakhita from abject slavery
to the dignity of being your daughter and bride of Christ,
grant, we pray, that by her example
we may show constant love for the Lord Jesus crucified,
remaining steadfast in charity
and prompt to show compassion.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen

(from the collect of prayers Proper of Saints, February 8, Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita ; Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved.)
 

II. Scripture Reading – 1st Reading – February 8, 2019 – Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita Hebrews 13:1-8

III. Catechesis Video Reflection Questions

Grades K-6

1. The City of Dodgeball the sons of Little Joe are forced to work without pay. How do you think they felt having to do this?
2. Why is it wrong to force people to work without pay or for low pay that doesn’t let them afford everything they need?
3. The scripture for today says: “Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment,
   and of the ill-treated as of yourselves,
   for you also are in the body.” How should we treat and speak about those who are being treated poorly?

Domestic Church

1. The City of Dodgeball the sons of Little Joe are forced to work without pay. How do you think they felt having to do this?
2. Why is it wrong to force people to work without pay or for low pay that doesn’t let them afford everything they need?
3. The scripture for today says: “Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment,
   and of the ill-treated as of yourselves,
   for you also are in the body.” How should we treat and speak about those who are being treated poorly?

IV. Witness Video Reflection Questions

Grades K-6

1. What did you learn from the stories of these various saints and holy men and women who were enslaved and forced to work against their will?
2. How would you feel if you were taken from your family like Bahkita and others in the video?
3. What can we do to stop people from being treated so poorly?

Domestic Church

1. What did you learn from the stories of these various saints and holy men and women who were enslaved and forced to work against their will?
2. How would you feel if you were taken from your family like Bahkita and others in the video?
3. What can we do to stop people from being treated so poorly?

V. Action Steps

Grades K-6

1. Before buying items for school use for parties, events, pilgrimages, apparel, etc. consider searching the Catholic Relief Services Ethical Trade Guide and see if there are alternatives available. CRS vets various companies and determines their compliance with fair and ethical trade practices, avoiding sources that may engage in human trafficking or abuse of workers and communities.. https://ethicaltrade.crs.org/
2. Write letters to legislators to encourage them to combat human trafficking.

Domestic Church

1. Before buying household items pick one a week/month and research the background of the item. Is it made by people earning a living wage? Is there any risk that it is a product made by people who are being trafficked? One place to find some items is the Catholic Relief Services Ethical Trade Guide. See if there are alternatives available for some of the items you purchase regularly. CRS vets various companies and determines their compliance with fair and ethical trade practices, avoiding sources that may engage in human trafficking or abuse of workers and communities.. https://ethicaltrade.crs.org/
2. Write letters to legislators to encourage them to combat human trafficking.

VI. Closing Prayer
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

(From USCCB handout for World Day of Peace 2015)

Additional resources:

No Longer Slaves But Brothers and Sisters

Catechism 2414,

Compendium 158-159; 144; 295-296; 245; 301-304;

Human Trafficking Workshop From CRS and Notre Dame (Facebook video)

CRS Efforts to end human trafficking

US Bishops’ Anti Trafficking Program