EMY - April: Human trafficking - Catholic Diocese of Manzini
Catholic Diocese of Manzini > Extraordinary Mission Year > EMY – April: Human trafficking
EMY – April: Human trafficking
Posted on April 1, 2020 by Neliswa Mdluli
Topic for April: Human Trafficking
Saint to contemplate: St. Josephine Bakhita
“Defend the lowly and fatherless; render justice to the afflicted and needy” Ps 82:3
She was born in southern Sudan. Josephine was kidnapped at the age of 7, sold into slavery and given the name Bakhita, which means fortunate. She was resold several times, finally in 1883 to Callisto Legnani, Italian consul in Khartoum, Sudan.
Two years later, he took Josephine to Italy and gave her to his friend Augusto Michieli. Bakhita became babysitter to Mimmina Michieli, whom she accompanied to Venice’s Institute of the Catechumens, run by the Canossian Sisters. While Mimmina was being instructed, Josephine felt drawn to the Catholic Church. She was baptised and confirmed in 1890, taking the name Josephine.
Josephine entered the Institute of St. Magdalene of Canossa in 1893 and made her profession three years later. Sr. Josephine rendered her service by cooking, sewing, embroidery, and welcoming visitors at the door. Her gentleness, calming voice, and ever-present smile became well known and Vicenzans still refer to her as Sor Moretta (“little brown sister”) or Madre Moretta (“black mother”).She soon became well loved by the children attending the sisters’ school and the local citizens. She once said, “Be good, love the Lord, pray for those who do not know Him. What a great grace it is to know God!” A strong missionary drive animated her throughout her entire life – “her mind was always on God and her heart in Africa”.
“For many years, Josephine Bakhita was a slave but her spirit was always free and eventually that spirit prevailed”.
St Bakhita, a daughter of Africa, who, yourself, suffered as a victim of Human trafficking
we honour and praise your name. We humbly implore that through your intercession we may be able to persevere in our battle to overcome this terrible evil of human trafficking experienced by so many in Africa and indeed throughout the world.
We know, St Bakhita, that victims of human trafficking are close to your heart. We pray that they may feel the warmth of your loving care and the presence of our Lord in their time of suffering and despair.
We pray especially for their rescue so that they may once again live in the freedom of the children of God.
This video has been prepared by the Extraordinary Missionary Year (EMY) team inviting us to pray for trafficking in persons in this month of April.
Sihloko saMabasa: Human Trafficking
Saint to contemplate: Josefina Bakhita Locwebile
“Vikelani emalungelo alabamphofu netintsandzane; nimele emalungelo alabacindzetelwe nalabeswele” Ps 82:3
Watalwa entasi neleSudan. Josefina watfunjwa aneminyaka lesikhombisa, watsengiselwa bugcili wetsiwa libito laBakhita lokusho kutsi unenhlànhla. Watsengiswa emahlandla lamanyenti, kwatsi nga1883 wagcinela kuCallisto Legnani, lincusa leTaliyane eKhartoum, kuleSudan. Emva kweminyaka lemibili wahamba naJosefina eTaliyane wamnika umnganakhe Augusto Michieli. Bakhita waba sidzandzane saMimmina Michieli, amphekeleteka eVenice endzaweni yebafundzi betelukholo labeyiphetfwe ngemaCanossian Sisters. Ngesikhatsi Mimmisa afundziswa, Josefina weva akhangwa libandla leliKhatholika. Wabhabhatiswa waciniswa nga1890, watfola libito laJosefina.
Josefina wangenela Sigodlo saka Magdalena Locwebile waseCanosa nga1893, wenta sifungo sakhe emva kweminyaka lemitsatfu. Josefina wanikela lusito lwakhe ngekupheka, kutfunga, kuhlobisa nekwemukela tivakashi emnyango. Bumnene bakhe nelivi leliphotisako nekumamatseka sonkhe sikhatsi kwatiwa kakhulu,nanyalo solo kutsiwa ngu Sor Moretta(“Nkhosatana lomncane lonsundvu”). Noma Madre Moretta (Make Lomnyama). Watsandvwa kakhulu bantfwana labebafundza esikolweni salabonkhosatana kanye netakhamiti. Wake watsi,” Lunga, tsandza iNkhosi, khulekela labo labangayati. Maye kungumusa lomkhulu kumati Nkulunkulu !”Umfutfo lomkhulu webutfunywa wamkhutsata emphilweni yakhe yonkhe -ingcondvo yakhe beyihlala ikuNkulunkulu inhlitiyo yakhe beyise Afrika.
“Iminyaka leminyenti Josefina Bakhita abesigcili kodvwa umoya wakhe bewuhlala ukhululekile kwatsi ekugcineni lowo Moya wabambelela”.
Bakhita longcwele, ndvodzakati yelivekati le-Afrika, wena lucobo wahlushwa nawuba sigcila sekushushumbiswa, siyakubabata, sidvumisa libito lakho. Siyakuncenga kutsi ngekusincusela kwakho singaphikelela kulomshikashika wekuncoba lobubi lobungaka bekushushumbiswa kwebantfu kulelivekati le-Afrika kanye nasemhlabeni wonkhe. Siyati, Bakhita longcwele, kutsi labo labahlukubetiwe ngekushushumbiswa badvutane nenhlitiyo yakho. Sengatsi bangayiva lemfudvumalo yelutsandvo lobanakekela ngalo nebukhona beNkhosi yetfu ngesikhatsi sekuhlupheka kwabo nekuphelelwa litsemba.
Sithandazela ikakhulukati kukhululwa kwabo kute baphindze baphile enkhululekweni yebantfwana baNkulunkulu.
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