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.)
Scripture Reading – 1st Reading – February 8, 2019 – Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita Hebrews 13:1-8
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)
Grades 7-12
Why is the dignity of the human person important? How does human trafficking take that away?
How is human trafficking similar to slavery?
How can we be vigilant toward human trafficking in our community?
What should be done for the victims?
How can we spread the word to our communities?
Parish Leaders/Committees
Faith Sharing/Parishioners/Bible Study
Witness Video Reflection Questions
Grades 7-12
What was her experience of human trafficking?
How was St. Josephine human dignity violated?
How can you use your life experiences to help others?
How has others life experiences impacted you?
Parish Leadership/Committees
What was her experience of human trafficking?
How was St. Josephine human dignity violated?
How can you use your life experiences to help others?
How has others life experiences impacted you?
Faithsharing/Parishioner/College Students
What was her experience of human trafficking?
How was St. Josephine human dignity violated?
How can you use your life experiences to help others?
How has others life experiences impacted you?
Action Steps
Grades 7-12
Parish Leadership/Committees
Faithsharing/Parishioners/College Students
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)