What day is this? It is The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. It is likely hard for most people to answer that question, but I would suggest that it is a day to deeply embed in our minds, hearts, and prayer lists. Never in the history of the world has there been so many human beings stripped of their innate dignity, including the women survivors we live in community with.
In the Catholic Worker Tradition, we pray, educate, and act. Pope Francis has urged us to take concrete actions to “combat this global scourge.” We are asked to “help one another to be more responsive, to open our lives and hearts to our sisters and brothers who even now are being bought and sold as slaves. It is never too late to take action.” One group that has been answering this call for decades is the Alliance to End Human Trafficking (formerly the U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking), which is a collaborative, faith-based national network that offers education, supports access to survivor services, and engages in advocacy to eradicate modern-day slavery. It is a member of Talitha Kum, the international anti-trafficking network. St. Bakhita Catholic Worker House is also a proud Member-Run House of their network. The Sisters, as usual, have been a prophetic witness to battling injustice and assaults on the dignity of human persons. Your actions are pivotal to our work; your prayers and support mean the world.
Speaking of education, we are launching our second Dorothy Day Deep Dive cohort group. Our first year was very fruitful, and the group seemed to really enjoy taking a deeper look at the life witness of Dorothy Day. We now invite you to our seven-month “Dorothy Day Deep Dive” entitled Dorothy Day—Patron Saint of Both/And. It will involve a cohort group of up to ten people who will gather once a month for seven months, learning about Dorothy and the Catholic Worker Movement. The cohort is designed for those who have already read The Long Loneliness and want to take a deeper historical dive into the theological, intellectual, historical, and spiritual roots of the Catholic Worker. The first ten people to register through email will be accepted. We are closing registration on September 20. Please see the syllabus and registration information below.
Thank you for your prayers, actions, and support. Thank you for being a part of the answer that will eradicate that question—What day is this?
A beautiful prayer that we often pray when students visit:
SSND Prayer for an End to Human Trafficking Card.
DOROTHY DAY—PATRON SAINT OF BOTH/AND: A Seven-Month Study
It is our hope that this experience will broaden and deepen your understanding of the Catholic Worker Movement, cofounded by Dorothy Day. With this in mind, we hope that you will feel a “revolution of the heart.” In turn, may her life witness inspire you to act!
- October 9, 2024 – Receive books and view documentaries: Don’t Call Me a Saint and Revolution of the Heart
- November 20, 2024 – Discuss Dorothy Day: A Biography by William Miller, Part I
- December 18, 2024 – Attend retreat: Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes
- January 30, 2025 – Discuss Dorothy Day: A Biography by William Miller, Part II
- February TBD, 2025 – Visit MU Archives: Dorothy Day-Catholic Worker Collection
- March 13, 2025 – Discuss A Harsh and Dreadful Love by William Miller, Part I
- April 10, 2025 – Discuss A Harsh and Dreadful Love by William Miller, Part II
*Most Sessions run on Wednesdays from 6:30 – 8:00 PM at St. Bakhita House with the exception of the visit to the MU Archives. Please include your full name, email, and phone number in your email to anne@bakhitahouse.org!
*PLEASE READ The Long Loneliness by Dorothy Day PRIOR TO THE FIRST SESSION. If you anticipate missing more than two Wednesdays, please wait until the next session. ATTENDANCE IS VERY IMPORTANT. All materials will be lent to participants. A $35 donation is appreciated. Scholarships are available.
