ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST

Saint Josephine Bakhita, who herself was sold into slavery, is the patron saint of human trafficking survivors. Her feast day is February 8th and it provides an important opportunity to reflect and pray for an end to slavery, exploitation, and trafficking. Saint Bakhita was born in 1869, in a small village in Darfur, Sudan. While still a young girl around 7 years old, she was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Her captors asked for her name but in her fear, and as a result of the trauma, she was unable to remember. Mocking her, they named her “Bakhita,” which means “fortunate”. During her time of captivity she was tortured by her various owners. She suffered brandings and beatings on many occasions. Once her owners cut her 114 times and poured salt in her wounds to make sure that the scars remained. During these early years of her life, she did not know Christ but she did believe in a Creator and had great awe and wonder for his creation. Eventually, after exchanging hands five or six times, Saint Bakhita found herself serving as a caretaker for a young girl at a school in Venice run by the Canossian Sisters. Bakhita was very intrigued by the Catholic faith. She learned many things from the sisters and was eventually baptized by the name “Josephine Margaret”. Against the will of her owner, who wanted to take her back to Africa, she went before the Italian courts seeking her freedom. The courts declared that Bakhita was a free woman because slavery had been outlawed in both Italy and the Sudan and they allowed her to stay in Italy. Saint Bakhita was attracted to the religious life and entered the Canossian Sisters where she remained for about forty five years. She lived out the rest of her days serving God and her community and teaching others to love Him with great faithfulness. Saint Bakhita died in 1947. Saint Josephine Bakhita was canonized in 2000 in St. Peter’s Square. At the mass, Pope John Paul II said that in Saint Josephine Bakhita, “We find a shining advocate of genuine emancipation. The history of her life inspires not passive acceptance but the firm resolve to work effectively to free girls and women from oppression and violence, and to return them to their dignity in the full exercise of their rights.” “Saint Josephine Bakhita, witness of redemptive suffering and generosity, pray for us!” Information supplied by The Bakhita Foundation. Prayer for Victims of Human Trafficking We pray for the victims of human trafficking that they may be helped to rebuild their lives after the traumatic experiences they have gone through. We pray that we, as the Church, will continue to defend victims of human trafficking. We pray for our governments that they may make and implement laws that will protect victims of modern-day slavery. We pray for those organisations dedicated to eradicating modern day slavery that they will be courageous in the face of challenges. We pray for those caring for the victims of human trafficking,  that their efforts to help the vulnerable and traumatised may continue. Amen Prayer from the Santa Marta Group

Our parish Synod meetings have now been completed. The feedback report which is currently being submitted to the Diocese can be seen below! Thank you so much for you prayers, efforts and contributions to our Synodal journey.