St. Josephine Bakhita, you were sold into slavery as a child and endured untold hardship and suffering.

Once liberated from your physical enslavement, you found true redemption in your encounter with

Christ and his Church.

O St. Bakhita, assist all those who are trapped in a state of slavery;

Intercede with God on their behalf

so that they will be released

from their chains of captivity.

Those whom man enslaves,

let God set free.

Provide comfort to survivors of slavery and let them look to you as an example of hope and faith.

Help all survivors find healing from their wounds.

We ask for your prayers and intercessions for those enslaved among us.

Amen.
The WUCWO was founded in 1910 and represents 100 Catholic women’s organisations worldwide. WUCWO promotes the presence, participation and co-responsibility of Catholic women in society and the Church.

Ending poverty, promoting justice and restoring dignity


Service Commission


International Concerns
February 8, 2024
Annual International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking

February 8 is the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, patroness of trafficked persons. Saint Josephine Bakhita was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery in Sudan and Italy. Once freed, she became a nun and dedicated her life to sharing her testament of deliverance from slavery and comforting the poor and suffering. She was declared a Saint in 2000.

U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking is a collaborative, faith-based national network that offers education, supports access to survivor services, and engages in advocacy to eradicate modern-day slavery.