(Headquarters building for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C.)
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Migration designated February 8 as an annual day of prayer for survivors and victims of human trafficking.
February 8 is the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, who was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery in Sudan and Italy. Once Josephine was freed, she dedicated her life to sharing her testament of deliverance from slavery and comforting the poor and suffering.
?On that day, we will lift our voices loudly in prayer, hope, and love for trafficking victims and survivors,? said Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, M.Sp.S., auxiliary bishop of Seattle and chairman of the Committee. ?If just one person realizes from this day that they or someone they know is being trafficked, we will have made a difference.?