Monday, February 8 End injustice with prayer and action A Catholic sister and former slave, Saint Josephine Bakhita is for many a companion in the fight against human trafficking. Her feast day coincides with the U.S. Bishops’ Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Human Trafficking. In 2013 when this day was inaugurated, Bishop Eusebio Elizondo called upon the church to “lift our voices loudly in prayer, hope, and love for trafficking victims and survivors” and emphasized awareness and action on their behalf. |
Urgent need for items for victims of trafficking
Dear Cabrini Friends,
We just received an emergency call from a Victim Assistance Specialist with Homeland Security. She is working with 4 young men from Honduras who are the victims of child sex tourism.
She said, “Because of their cooperation and victimization, they are eligible to move to the US, which they will be doing immediately following sentencing of the perpetrator. I am trying to get things in place for their arrival next week (for trial) and want to ease the transition and have been having a very tough time. I’m hoping you can help… Some of the things I am looking for are:
- Warm clothing to include hats, gloves, pants, shirts, boots, etc. (the boys only have very minimal clothes suitable for a warm weather climate like Honduras).
- The boys are in their early/mid 20’s and they are all on the smaller side. All wear a size Small for shirts/jackets and here are the rest of the sizes:
Victim 1—Pants- 30×32, Shoe size 8
Victim 2 – Pants- 32×30, Shoe size 7 ½ or 8
Victim 3 – Pants- 30×30 or 30×32, shoe size 9
Victim 4 – Pants- 28 or 29×30, shoe size 7 ½
- Furniture
- Miscellaneous items such as dishes, sheets, towels, mattresses, food,
- toiletries, etc.
- Gift cards to stores such as Walmart, Target, food stores: Giant, Acme
Please let me know if you can help in any way.
Many blessings,
Karol Brewer
Cabrini Action & Advocacy Coalition cabriniformation@aol.co
Cabrini College students speaking truth to power
18 Cabrini College students made 38 lobby visits Friday on behalf of our brothers and sisters around the world who are refugees fleeing war, experiencing climate change, or hoping to live a fully human life. So proud of these students, as well as several hundred Cabrini students in prior years, who have risen to the challenge to master difficult material, negotiate political differences, discover their core values, overcome nervousness, in order to speak truth to power.
Well done! Wanda Hernandez, Cabrini Mission Corps Rachel Recolcolin, Julia Alexis, Sarah Davis, Cabrini Missioner Morgan Perry, CRS Ambassador Casey Semenza, Cabrini Missioner Vanessa Miranda, Katie Montella, Cristabel Ruiz, Mike Burrell, Jordan Floyd, Alissa Oliveras, Kiley Sharp, Jerome Bailey, Steve Halko, Leonard Brock, Amina Etienne, Kalle Blindenbacher
They spoke with aides to Senator Pat Toomey, Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr.,Congressman Joe Pitts, Congressman Robert Brady, Congressman Chaka Fattah, Congressman Patrick Meehan, and Congressman Brendan Boyle
Supporting the work of Catholic Relief Services and CRS University, they delivered 400 letters supporting CRS’s #IAmClimateChange campaign and the Green Climate Fund. They spoke in support of $1 billion in additional funding for Syrian refugees, as well as to maintain or increase poverty-focused development assistance.
Beginning in 2008, students each semester have traveled to our nation’s Capitol to meet with our elected representatives in conjunction with Catholic Relief Services and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops to “Confront Global Poverty.” This year, Pope Francis has placed special attention on Caring for Our Common Home and climate change, and these students responded by discussing climate change with congress during the very weeks leaders from around the world are meeting in Paris to come to an historic agreement.
Similarly, in this contentious time, these students also bravely spoke about Syrian refugees and our duty to protect refugees seeking safety.
These students truly continue the work of St. Frances Cabrini, the patron saint of immigrants, after whom Cabrini College is named. #JusticeMatters
More photos at https://www.flickr.com/ph
We are here to create something NEW
“We are here to create something NEW”
…These are the words of MSC General Superior Sr. Barbara Staley, spoken as she offered her opening remarks at the 2015 Provincial Assembly currently in session in Florham Park, New Jersey.
Missionary Sisters and lay leaders from the Stella Maris Province were united in an Assembly for the first time with the Missionary Sisters from Mexico and Central America. In the near future, the MSCs from Mexico and Central America will join the MSCs of the Stella Maris Province in forming a new entity.
Sr. Barbara reflected, “we are living the dreams and visions of our sisters of the past. We are building the future, which we look to with hope. Sisters and brothers, we are living in the rivers of grace and mercy; a grace that comes to us through charism.”
Fittingly, as the Stella Maris Province unites with the region of Central America, the theme of the Provincial Assembly is “interculture-ality”. To explore the implications of this new entity – this new union – Dr. Arturo Chavez, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mexican American Catholic College in San Antonio, Texas, led the Assembly in interactive exercises designed to consider the many dimensions of culture.
Taken from the work of Edward T. Hall and Eric H.F. Law, “culture is the particular way in which a human group interprets life and relates with nature, God, the world and other peoples. Culture is lived and expressed through traditions, relationships, food, music, religion, beliefs, thought patterns, myths and how we act. It is not only how we are, it is who we are. It is our history, our ethnicity, how we think about our families, who we include in our families, how we speak and when we speak, how we think about God and how we relate to God. It is how we relate to each other and how we relate to the stranger.”
Dr. Chavez asked the Assembly to consider the “Iceberg Analogy of Culture” created by Hall and Law. In doing so, sisters and laity contemplated the internal and external aspects of culture. The Assembly was invited to share in conversation about individual family heritage and traditions – how these serve to form an individual and his or her perceptions of others and of the world.
The first step in building an intercultural community, posited Dr. Chavez, is to get to know our own hearts. Being aware of our own heart, we come to a better understanding of our own power and how cultures have formed us.
One session of the Assembly focused on the way in which Cabrinian ministries are addressing the pressing issues of immigration, migration, refugees, asylum seekers and human trafficking. It is through these responses that we see how the Cabrinian charism is living and active in the world today.
Woven into the Assembly program were times for prayer and reflection each highlighting a different country present at the Assembly. Liturgies at the Assembly were offered in Spanish and English in honor of the new reality. In a further spirit of celebration, during Monday’s liturgy, Vicky Lucio renewed her commitment as a Cabrini Lay Missionary (CLM).
Nothing transcends culture like music and dancing. Therefore, no Assembly is complete without its own fiesta! With smiles and laughter, Missionary Sisters and laity shared the floor dancing to the beat of Latin, Swazi and American songs…united as one. For more photos visit: www.mothercabrini.org
Cabrini College Hosts Involvement Fair
On Thursday, September 10th, the staffers at the Cabrini Cottage attended Cabrini College’s annual Involvement Fair. The event is focused on providing students, both incoming and veteran, with information about clubs and organizations that are available to them on campus. Our staff wanted to be sure that we maintained a presence throughout the event to welcome students and to become familiar with or be reintroduced to our MSC sponsored organizations.
As some Cabrini students are looking towards their post-graduate future, our staff was there to remind them of the opportunity to possibly volunteer with the Cabrini Mission Corps. Cabrini students were also reminded of the urgency of anti-human trafficking efforts and the awareness that is being raised through the Cabrini Action and Advocacy Coalition (CAAC).
Our staff, as well as having a presence at the fair, wanted to informally introduce the new CMC missioners to the college community – Ashley Block, Vanessa Miranda, Morgan Perry and Rachel Recolcolin.
Lastly, another of our goals was to create increasing familiarity of the Missionary Sisters as the religious sponsors of Cabrini College; to meet Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, MSC and Sr. Grace Waters, MSC whom we are blessed to have on our campus; as well to heighten awareness of the MSCs’ presence and ministries throughout the world.
Cabrini Mission Corps – Capturing a year of service.
A year on mission is many things. It is a year of discovery, growth, spirituality and friendship. It is about learning who you are and who you are becoming. It is about giving of oneself and serving others. It is about the transformation of hearts – your own and those of others. It is about walking with others and walking in their shoes. It is about the hope of changing the world for the better. It is about being a “bearer of the love of Christ in the world.”
Please enjoy this video that captures the essence of service with Cabrini Mission Corps.
Advocacy Day – Anti Human Trafficking
The Cabrini Action and Advocacy Coalition joined with advocates from all over Pennsylvania at the Capitol Building in Harrisburg on Tuesday, June 9th, to visit legislators to discuss Senator Greenleaf and Senator Leach’s upcoming Safe Harbor Bill to protect minors who have been trafficked.
What does Safe Harbor do?
S.B. 851 would require law enforcement to report to the Department of Human Services any encounter with a minor who has been subject to sexual exploitation. The Department will develop and implement a state-wide protocol to deliver safe long-term housing, education, life-skills training, and counseling to the children who have been exploited. The bill would require that police be trained to identify and assist sexually exploited children. Most importantly, the bill would require that sexually exploited children be diverted from the criminal justice system to more appropriate human services.
Senator Daylin Leach (shown at podium) said, “There is no such thing as a child prostitute. There are only victims and survivors of child rape. S.B. 851 would establish a non-punitive response for juvenile sex-trafficking victims, and provide them with support to address their trauma and specialized services, which would be partially funded through enhanced penalties for traffickers, facilitators, and patrons of prostitution wherein the victim was a minor. Juveniles involved in sex-trafficking are already considered crime victims under international and federal law. Pennsylvania must advance anti-human trafficking reforms such as this legislation to protect these innocent children.”
New Cabrini Closet to Open in NYC
The Cabrini Closet, NYC is now open
The Cabrini Closet, NYC is Now Accepting Donations
Thanks to the hard work of the boys from St. Raymond’s High School, the Cabrini Closet NYC is now able to accept donations! CMC Missioner Melanie will be in the Cabrini Closet this Friday, May 1st from 2-6 pm to accept fashionable clothing, accessories, and gift cards. If you’re in the area, please feel free to stop by and get an advance look at this wonderful new ministry for survivors of human trafficking!
If you wish to make a donation but cannot make this date and time, please contact Melanie at 732-322-2956 or CabriniAandA@aol.com to schedule another time.
Cabrini Closet, NYC, 220 E 19th St, Lower Level, New York, NY 10003
Cabrini Action and Advocacy Coalition Focuses on Human Exploitation
Human Exploitation: Ending the Demand
Learn about the connection between the demand for pornography and human trafficking.
Attend this insightful workshop at Cabrini College in Radnor, PA.
Saturday, April 11th 2:00 – 4:30 pm
Widener Lecture Hall
Featured speakers:
Dr. Mary Ane Layden and James Tarring Cordrey
For more information, please contact: brvheart@blueroutevineyard.com
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