JPIC Newsletter January 2022

Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Newsletter

We Renew Our Commitment to End Human Trafficking!

PHOTO: REUTERS

In our 2004 corporate stand, we said “We will educate ourselves and educate others… we will advocate with others for policies and programs that deal with the prevention…” of human trafficking.

Together, let us engage in 500 actions against human trafficking involving prayer, advocacy or education, between January 20 and February 8. Our Chapter Acts urge us to be daring in our response.

In this new year, and on the occasion of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month in the U.S. and the upcoming International day of Prayer on the feast of St. Josephine— patron saint of trafficking survivors, February 8—let us recommit ourselves to end this pervasive form of modern slavery.

Let us rise up to the “compelling and urgent call,” (GC 2021) to eradicate human trafficking.

This is an opportunity for sisters, affiliates, partners, students in SNJM Network of Schools and our friends to act together to renew our commitment to our Corporate Stand.

500 ACTIONS 20 DAYS!

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Spanish, Portuguese)

z U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (English, Spanish)

z CATHII (French) z Canadian Organizations List (English, French)

In this JPIC newsletter, we highlight a few recent antitrafficking activities around the Congregation. 

1. Take action: pray, advocate or be educated 2. Record your action here.

WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER!

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z Talitha Kum (French, English,

Steps to Action!

IN

January 2022

Four websites with action, educational and prayer resources (or find your own):

3. Check our progress here.

4. Share this newsletter and encourage action!

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SNJM JPIC Newsletter

Jimmy Lopez, trafficking survivor and speaker.

On January 8, 13 SNJM Sisters and Affiliates from Southern and Northern California, Portland, OR, Seattle, WA and Spokane, WA participated in the virtual Freedom Walk. The event is organized annually by the Southern California Partners for Global Justice, a coalition of religious communities, organizations, and agencies working on issues of global injustice.

Five Ramona Convent Secondary School students and several faculty members also attended. Students from Ramona’s Peace and Justice Society, Samantha Castro, Lauren Luevano, and Valeria Torres created and delivered the opening prayer.

Among the invited speakers was Jimmy Lopez, who shared his harrowing story of fleeing gangs in Honduras when he was eight years old, only to be trafficked for labor in both Mexico and the United States. He was then placed in a detention facility for two years before being released with the help of the organization Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking.

Jimmy’s story reminds us why we all need to recommit ourselves to our Corporate Stand on Human Trafficking. 

Surviving Human Trafficking in Latin America The participation of the intercongregational members of CATHII (Action Committee against internal and international human trafficking) in a webinar in Spanish against human trafficking, last December 2, was a great experience of interculturality. This event allowed the French-speaking participants from Quebec to get in touch with the reality of Latin America.

During this webinar, three survivors of trafficking from Mexico, Colombia and Argentina spoke about the hell they experienced, either in sexual exploitation or

forced labour. They gratefully acknowledged the help they received from a religious congregation and support groups, which paved the way for their recovery.

As a result, after returning to school, each of these courageous women is now the chairperson or facilitator of a survivor’s group in their respective countries. This webinar also helped participants see the survivors as stakeholders and not as victims.

January 2022

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This event gave us momentum and solidarity among the 15 countries of the three Americas, including Brazil and Peru, represented by Sr Ana Maria Vilca Mamani. The participation of French-speaking members was made possible with the support of the SNJM Congregation.

On behalf of the CATHII, ¡gracias!

Thank, you! Merci! 

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PHOTO: DESIGN PICS INC/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE

2022 L.A. Freedom Walk Against Human Trafficking

SNJM JPIC Newsletter

Angela Rose House

IPJC Relaunches Video Contest

The Sisters, Affiliates and Partners in the Windsor Mission Centre place a high priority in their commitment to supporting, assisting and partnering with Angela Rose House, which offers supportive housing for refugees. Most of the women and children living there and those who are now in apartments, had to flee their homeland due to violence and lack of safety.

Once again this year, the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center (IPJC) is calling for all high school juniors and seniors to create an original, dynamic video on social justice. The winners will receive prizes and their videos will be posted on the IPJC website and YouTube. Click here to see last year’s winning entries. 

According to data from Talitha Kum, women and girls together account for 72 percent of all human trafficking victims globally. Because of their vulnerable status, refugees can be particularly susceptible to human trafficking. Angela Rose House provides stable housing and other critical resources to refugees to help minimize their risk of being trafficked. 

SNJM Collaboration Supports Trafficking Survivors Over the past five years, Sister Rosemary Everett has applied for and received an SNJM Ministry Grant for a retreat for human trafficking survivors in the South Bay area of California and surrounding region that is put together in collaboration with the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking (with fiscal agent Community Solutions), and their Director of Strategic Development, Sharan Dhanoa.

Presenters include both survivor leaders and experts in the field of anti-trafficking. Notable among them is Ruth Silver-Taube, professor of Law at Santa Clara University. She is currently the Legal Services Chair of the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking, a delegate to the Santa Clara County’s Human Trafficking Commission, an Advisory Member of the County’s Hate Crimes Taskforce.

This year’s retreat, Cultivating Self-Sufficiency in the Anti-Trafficking Movement includes workshops on career development, finances, office tools, computer literacy, resume building, interview skills, and workplace rights. Attendees are eligible for a certificate of completion.

Also presenting is Savannah Sanders, the founder of SexTraffickingPrevention.org and author of Sex Trafficking Prevention: A Trauma-Informed Approach for Parents and Professionals. 

January 2022

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SNJM JPIC Newsletter

Anti-Trafficking Prayer Calendar

J A N UA RY

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We pray for all people who have been dehumanized through abuse and exploitation.

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F E B R UA RY

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We pray in thanksgiving for all who work collectively and tirelessly to end human trafficking.

We pray for those in restaurants and factories forced to work long hours with no or low wages.

We pray that churches around the world unite to educate and act to end human trafficking.

We pray for children and all workers exploited in mining precious metals for electronic devices.

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We pray for an end to sexual exploitation at major sporting events.

We pray for young women offered jobs, but instead coerced into sex slavery.

We pray for those asking corporations to end human trafficking in the supply chain.

We pray for those working to update laws against human trafficking.

We pray for the global project of women religious, Talitha Kum, to end human trafficking.

We pray that companies in the travel industry train employees about human trafficking.

online.

We pray for children exploited

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We pray for domestic workers who are often exploited.

We pray for farmworkers who are trafficked.

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We pray for vulnerable migrants who are exposed to the danger of being trafficked.

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We pray for girls trafficked by armed groups for sexual exploitation or forced marriage.

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We pray for those who run houses to support human trafficking survivors.

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We pray that all survivors of human trafficking get the support they need to live in freedom.

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We pray that those who traffic in human beings will have a transformation of heart.

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Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita and International Day of Prayer and Reflection Against Human Trafficking We pray our actions and prayer to end trafficking will make a difference today!

PHOTO: TOM STODDART ARCHIVE, TIP REPORT

Uniting in Prayer February 8 To mark the occasion, the Red Kawsay anti-trafficking network in Peru will hold a prayer vigil on February 7 and take part in an online prayer marathon with its own threeminute video. The event, open to all, will be held from 9am to 5pm Rome time.  CALENDAR ADAPTED FROM U.S. CATHOLIC SISTERS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING’S REFLECTION & PRAYERS TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING, 2022

January 2022

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