On her 75th death anniversary, Canossians celebrated with more fervor the feast of our Universal Sister, St. Josephine Bakhita. Earlier, on February 6, the Sisters watched online the unveiling of a ten-foot bronze sculpture (preghieracontrotratta.org) made by a catholic artist, Timothy P. Schmalz, dedicated to trafficking victims and to all women, especially the religious sisters who work to free women from modern-day slavery. It represents St. Bakhita lifting up the underground and ‘letting the oppressed go free’. The sculpture was unveiled in the Vatican and was blessed by Pope Francis after the Sunday Angelus. This event was coordinated by Talitha Kum, the international anti-trafficking network. Pope Francis thanked the sisters present for their courage and urged those with the responsibility to act decisively to prevent both exploitation and the humiliating practices that afflict women and girls in particular. (F. Merlo, vatican.va)
Canossian communities celebrated the feast, after nine days of prayer with lay partners, through Eucharistic celebration, procession and giving assistance to the poor. May St. Josephine Bakhita intercede for the prayers for healing, protection, and peace and freedom for the victims of human trafficking.
