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| St. Josephine Bakhita Patroness of Human Trafficking |
HAPPY EASTER
We had beautiful liturgies for Holy Week at the Cathedral here in Mombasa. With all the heat I truly do not know how the priests survived the long ceremonies with the many layers of clothes they were wearing.
On Holy Thursday I witnessed, for the first time in Kenya, the priest washing the feet of women and children. One of our friends, Cecelia, a 90 year old woman whose family was from Goa, India, was chosen for this ritual. Fr. Correa, an 80 year old priest whose family was also from Goa, knelt down to wash her feet. It was allowed because Pope Francis set this example last year. Fr. Correa had to be very careful in explaining to the parishioners. He said that he hoped that this wouldn't cause problems for some people. He said that things change and now we must change too.
For the Stations of the Cross we Maryknoll Lay Missioners used the Way of the Cross of Human Trafficked Victims. These were prepared by Sr. Mary O'Malley, MMM who has worked with these people. I have known that trafficking is common here on the Coast but now I have my own personal experience.
When I went to Likoni Dispensary Sr. Susan met me immediately. She was very distraught and wanted me to see a woman before she ran away. We will call her Josephine. Josephine was a huge woman who had come to this clinic claiming that she was pregnant and demanding a card to prove it. The staff could find no signs of pregnancy and she looked much too old to be pregnant. She had come twice before over the past several years, had taken a prenatal card and later returned with a baby for the immunization clinic. Sr. Susan was very suspicious of her circumstances.
So, my first encounter was with a woman who had a two year old child clinging to her dress and she claimed this was her child. She looked more like the grandmother and I, too, could find no sign of pregnancy. None of my training or experience had prepared me for this.
I called a social worker I knew and she could offer no advice. So I called a lawyer who works at another parish in the Archdiocese and she told me we needed to call the police. Yikes!!! The police are the last people I call when I have a problem because they are so corrupt. This woman would surly run away as soon as she saw them. So, I asked the woman to come to another clinic I was doing in two days nearby, ostensibly so that I could recheck the little boy and herself. She agreed and we began to make our plans.
First of all Sr. Susan needed to get the approval of the Parish Priest (Pastor). He told us, in justice, we needed to proceed and to his credit he supported us. Next step was getting the police to come to the next clinic. We sent the social worker of the HIV clinic to the police station on that very morning.
When the day came I was relieved that Josephine showed up at 9am. I notified the social worker. He was still with the police. I feigned needing to care for more sickly patients but by 10:30am Josephine was getting restless so I brought her into my office. While she was undressing I was texting the social worker telling him to come quickly. He said they were on their way...a common euphemism when someone doesn't want to tell you exactly how far or near they are! After a nice long exam done as slowly as possible I opened the door to see a police officer's uniform. I told Josephine to get her things together and I would be back.
The female officer had seen Josephine through the open door and said she knew her. She ran a children's home. I reviewed our concerns and they told me to just let her leave the office and they would confront her for questioning. Their investigation took all day and even led them to the local prison. Josephine is 58 and her husband is 29. He, of course, wanted children. So she would pretend she was pregnant and then buy children from local prostitutes when they delivered their babies. She paid as much as $1000.
The female officer had seen Josephine through the open door and said she knew her. She ran a children's home. I reviewed our concerns and they told me to just let her leave the office and they would confront her for questioning. Their investigation took all day and even led them to the local prison. Josephine is 58 and her husband is 29. He, of course, wanted children. So she would pretend she was pregnant and then buy children from local prostitutes when they delivered their babies. She paid as much as $1000.
Who knows the story of Josephine's life? Maybe she herself was trafficked as a child. Perhaps each of us is capable of the evils that led to the crucifixion of Jesus.
I share with you this banner of St. Josephine Bakhita that hangs in my parish of St. Patrick's in Urbana. It was made by a good friend in the parish, Pat, who uses her wonderful talents to bring beauty and inspiration to our prayer space. Bakhita suffered horribly at the hands of her owners but she found life when she came to know about Christ. It is said that she wished she had known him earlier to have helped ease her sufferings. Pat placed a butterfly on her chest as a symbol of new life. The chains on her wrists are broken and her hands are open in welcome and service.
As an aside, Pat used different textiles from parishioners to make her banners. The blue skirt Bakhita is wearing is actually from a dress of mine made from material from Kenya!
So, I wish you the joy of Easter which we should celebrate all the way up to Pentecost...as my mother would often remind us.
PEACE OF THE RISEN CHRIST TO YOU!!!!
