With 30 days to go before the World Cup in South Africa, there is still time for each of us to act and prevent someone from being deceived, transported to South Africa and find themselves being used for prostitution during the World Cup.

On the evening and night of 9th April 2010, there was a storm and torrential rain in Okpara.  However, the morning of 10th dawned bright and dry and soon everywhere was fresh and even a little cool!  The canopies were soon set up for the outdoor celebration of Sr. Patricia Somer’s Golden Jubilee.  Decorations were put in place and all looked very well.

The TRAC Group (the campaigning arm of the Medaille Trust) has produced some prayer cards around human trafficking.  They are asking people to undertake to pray on a regular basis for trafficked people and for those who exploit them.  They would welcome anyone joining them in this campaign of prayer.  Click here for a PDF of the prayer cards.

Over 400 religious men and women from Ireland and Britain gathered in Malahide, Co Dublin  for a two-day conference on the 17th and 18th April 2010, entitled ‘Walking the Way’ that marked the golden jubilee of the Conference for the Religious in Ireland (CORI).

From 15th – 23rd May the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in collaboration with Coesfeld Congregations invite you to join them in a PENTECOST NOVENA for the end of human trafficking.  Click here for the Novena Prayers.

We are only less than 35 days away from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa which begins on June 11. The thought of the World Cup in Africa arouses great excitement and pride in most Africans.  But there is also great anxiety because this big event brings with it the terrible possibility of increased human trafficking.  This is especially true because South Africa is already a popular destination for this cruel crime. 

The Religious Sisters of Charity recently opened a new foundation in Nigeria.  Here Sr. Micheline O'Donnell tells us about the new foundation and the two events which marked its beginning:
"On Friday 5th March, the three sisters who were to form the new community,  Srs.  Micheline O'Donnell, Laeticia Amadi and Augustina Alozie set out for Bomadi in the Niger Delta, accompanied by Sr. Imelda O'Brien, the Regional Leader. 

As the preparation for the General Election gets well underway in the UK, TRAC, the awareness-raising and campaigning arm of the Medaille Trust has produced a set of questions and expectations regarding human trafficking to be presented to candidates and canvassers coming to homes prior to the General Election.
The RSC English/Scottish website has listed the questions and invites people living in the UK to ask candidates and canvassers the questions and engage them in discussion.  They also suggest that the candidates and canvassers be given a copy of the questions and expectations for reference.

Each year the Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  Pope Paul VI instituted this celebration for Vocations on the 11th April 1964. This year it will take place on Sunday, April 25th, the fourth Sunday of Easter. Pope Benedict XVI's message on the theme of 'Witness Awakens Vocations' is now available to be downloaded from the Vatican website.

Last month Culver City Fire Department in California offered CERT training (Community Emergency Response Team).  Sr. Margaret Farrell RSC signed up and was challenged to do simulated rescues that she never dreamt of doing!
As Sr. Margaret says herself, “Wow!... when I  signed up I had no idea what I was letting myself in for!!!  but it was a lot of information and also a lot of fun.