This post was written by our provincial superior, Sister Mary Anncarla Costello, in honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
The California province of the Sisters of Notre Dame has a corporate stance against human trafficking. We share a very special association and long-time partnership with the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) and it is a privilege for me to serve as president of CAST’s board. I wanted to share an idea with you that I am extending to other groups as well.
Are you looking for a way to make an impact on our society—or at least the part of it in which we live? Why not get involved with a very worthy cause close to our hearts? I would like to invite you to consider holding a short gathering of your friends/coworkers/parishioners and acquaint them not only with CAST but with some education about human trafficking. CAST has a wonderful PowerPoint which you could present at your gathering. Here’s how the gathering might go:
- Simple refreshments
- Welcome
- Opening prayer
- Why you are doing this (to give feet to our “corporate stance” and do something concrete to raise awareness)
- Show the PowerPoint
- Allow for reactions and conversation
- Invite participants to pray for victims of trafficking and those committed to assist them
- Invite those who wish to leave a donation payable to CAST
- Thanks and departure
This could easily be done in about 75-90 minutes and what a difference it could make in terms of raising awareness and support for CAST!
If you are interested, please contact me during January (Trafficking Awareness Month) and I can provide you with the PowerPoint, materials, and maybe even a speaker if you would rather have someone else present the PowerPoint. Email me at acostello@sndca.org and use the link below to learn more about the excellent work that CAST does to combat slavery and trafficking.
In the Hands of the Potter 