Dear Parish Family,
 
Yesterday Pope Francis decried the genital mutilation of girls and the trafficking of women. In his remarks he mentioned how widespread this is throughout many regions of the world. It is dangerous, and humiliates the dignity of women and attacks their physical wellbeing. We do not hear about this as much as should be reported. The United Nations figures at least 200 million girls and women have undergone the practice.
 
These are subjects that are near and dear to my heart. My daughter is a champion of working to prevent female mutilation and trafficking.  Tracy was asked by the Ambassador of Cambodia to create a program for her country against trafficking. She spent a month there working with principally radio (their main means of mass communication), news print and the internet to get the information out to the people.  Can you imagine selling your daughter or son at a young age in order to feed  your other children and elderly in your family? Tracy’s voyage to help end this horrific situation has taken her to other countries and around the United States as well.  She shares this:
 Human trafficking is happening all over the world INCLUDING the US.  It is not that it is ‘over there.’ It’s happening right under our noses in in our very own neighborhoods, including very affluent ones.  In 2020, 50% of human trafficking victims identified in Federal cases were young girls, under the age of 18.  Most girls are tricked or coerced into trafficking before they are 14-15 years old.  Most girls know their traffickers, they just don’t realize they are being groomed to be trafficked.  Family members, social
media stalkers and pretend “Romeo Boyfriends” emotionally, psychologically and sometimes physically trap these young girls and the trauma begins.  See Something – Say Something! Call the national human trafficking hotline 888 373-7888.
 
Let us  pray to the  almighty God through the intercession of the Blessed Mother for the protection of children, and  to give us wisdom and courage to share and not be fearful of reporting incidents to the authorities. We read in the Letter of St John: “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.  I come that they may have life and live it abundantly”
(John 10:10).
 
May the our loving God bless us and watch over us.
 Mary Jo