Super Nuns: the fearless sisters fighting human trafficking.

SUPER NUNS: the fearless sisters fighting human trafficking.

 UISG have always interesting topics to share with us and as this February 8th marks the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking they remind us that Pope Francis has repeatedly put the spotlight on the scourge of human trafficking and appealed for concrete action to root out its causes and protect the millions of victims of this modern slave trade.

He met members of Talitha Kum network and the Galileo Foundation to launch the SUPER NUNS community that aims to raise funds for the sisters engaged in rescuing victims of trafficking and help them restore their lives.

           

Talitha Kum has for 10 years operated the global network of Catholic sisters who are quietly dedicated to prevention, rescue and rehabilitation of human trafficking survivors.

The work the sisters do is challenging and often risky. They are out on the streets raising awareness, making contact with victims in dangerous contexts, sheltering them from traffickers and exploitation, providing a passage home and new skills with which to rebuild shattered lives.

The Super Nuns community is a project launched by Talitha Kum (an initiative of the International Union of Superiors General), that aims to reach a whole new range of potential supporters.

As Sister Patricia Murray, Secretary of the UISG told Vatican Radio, thanks to a partnership between the Galileo Foundation, some popular street artists and an international communications platform, the work of the “super nuns” will be illustrated for all to see, as will the great spirit of the survivors.

SUPER NUNS, Sister Pat explained, is an exciting new initiative geared to help the Talitha Kum sisters who are dedicated to rescuing those who have been trapped and trafficked to different parts of the world.

 “We are calling them SUPER NUNS because what they do is extraordinary work:  very hidden work,  quite dangerous work at times, where they rescue victims, women, men and children, and then shelter them and then there’s a process of rehabilitation and integration back into society,” she said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She went on to say that the use of popular media is a “whole new way of reaching out to people who wouldn’t have ever met a sister, wouldn’t know their work,” except for perhaps associating them with the areas we traditionally associate with them like schools, hospitals, clinics.

“But there are thousands of sisters working in the whole area of trafficking and engaged in anti-trafficking campaigns and also rescuing and rehabilitation, and I think art is a creative way” to raise awareness she said.

The image of the SUPER NUN, Sr Pat explained, resonates with the message conveyed by Superman and Superwoman: “it’s super in the sense of being daring.”

“It’s super in the sense of reaching places that were not reached in the past.  It’s super in the way that it’s calling for others to actually support this work,” she said.

That’s why, she explained, it can’t be just the work of individuals or of a network of sisters: it calls for global action to support this initiative in whatever way we can.

  “So this is a multi-faceted and quite a complex rescue and restorative operation,” she said, and a direct response to Pope Francis’ call for a culture of care.

She expressed her gratitude and admiration for the artists who have entered into this campaign with the nuns “so we can let a whole new audience of people know that this work is happening within the Catholic Church and that they can be part of it.”

Sr. Pat concluded inviting all men and women of good will, Catholics throughout the world, to support this initiative in the certainty that every penny they donate will go to the work on the ground. For donations and more information there is a link on the Talitha Kum website.

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