International ONLINE PILGRIMAGE of Prayer – 8 February 2024.

Congratulations to Abby Avelino, MM, Adina Balan, CJ and all the wonderful team at Talitha Kum and the UISG Rome, on yet another successful and meaningful international online pilgrimage of prayer and awareness against human trafficking, Thursday, 8 February. The online Pilgrimage of prayer and awareness against human trafficking took place, across all continents and time zones. It began at 9:30 am from Oceania, followed by Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, South America, and finally concluded at 4:30 pm with North America.

Over 50 countries participated and the central block, for the second consecutive year, was entrusted to young people engaged against trafficking.

As in recent years, at noon, a message from Pope Francis was read by Sr. Patricia Murray, IBVM. The full message is available at: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024

The event was broadcast live in 5 languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian) on

www.prayagainsttrafficking.net

“Trafficking is around us, in our cities, but is often invisible to our eyes. With this Day, we want to increase awareness of trafficking, reflect on the situation of violence and injustice suffered by the victims of this global phenomenon, and propose concrete solutions. We invite everyone to listen and observe attentively, to dream together with the young people of a better world and to act for change, starting from personal, community, and institutional commitment to effectively counter the causes of trafficking and exploitation,” said Sister Abby Avelino, MM, coordinator of the Day.

THE NETWORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY

The initiative is coordinated by Talitha Kum, the international anti-trafficking network with over 6000 sisters, friends, and partners. It is promoted by the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and the Union of Superiors General (USG), in collaboration with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the Dicastery for Communication, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, Caritas Internationalis, CoatNet, the Focolare Movement, the Jesuit Refugee Service, the International Union of Catholic Women’s Associations (WUCWO), JPIC- Anti-Trafficking Working Group (UISG/UISG), The Clewer Initiative, the Community Association Pope John XXIII, the International Federation of Catholic Action, the Italian Catholic Guides and Scouts Association (AGESCI), the RENATE Europe network and the Santa Marta Group, together with numerous other organizations worldwide.