REPORTS AND COMMUNICATION ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Spiritual nourishment and a fraternal breakfast were the first experiences of the morning. During the Eucharist, Fr. Pedro Deza, a Discalced Carmelite, highlighted the Eucharistic meaning of the Chapter logo, the challenge of living in communion, safeguarding one another’s lives, and the wounded Church which cries out. He also brought out to light the responsibility for discernment in the decision-making body known as the General Chapter, as well as the commitment to protect life in order to be reborn in communion. During the VIII World Day of the Poor, he reminded us that the prayer of the poor rises to God.

A big part of the day was left free for the capitulars to choose from. Fraternal sharing, a visit to the sisters in the provincial house and a long walk enlivened the afternoon.

When we returned, we went to the chapter hall for the presentation of the report on HUMAN TRAFFICKING and the congregation’s response to this horrible reality. The history of denunciations and the fight against trafficking by some CMT sisters, such as Martha Pelloni, has grown in recent years with Sr. Marcela’s denunciation and the occurrences that followed. The latter joined the afternoon&night session to witness and share her testimony with us.

We watched the video based on the testimonies collected in the book “Your names are written in heaven,” a testimony of victims and survivors of trafficking—lives that were shattered, destroyed, and broken by violence and abuse—and the rescued lives. The students of the Santa Teresa de Goya Institute (Argentina) have dramatized some of them.

The General Animator read the report that deeply moved the listeners, leading us to express our gratitude for the courage of those who denounce the crime and accompany the lives of the victims, their processes of liberation and healing. It also provoked pain and desires for conversion at a personal and congregational level in order to live as the suffering Church asks of us.

It made us feel challenged and moved to do something to continue with this pastoral action, to adhere to the cause of the fight against trafficking in every possible way, each one in the place where we are. Open our ears and listen to the cry of the abused Church, and seek to respond to their needs.

Finally, after a brief dinner break, we shared our reflections and some questions that arose around this theme that pierces us and resounds as the voice of God in our consciences. We confessed that it is a divine deed, that the power of the Spirit is restoring the lacerated Body, and that there is much life.

At the end, Sister Marcela invited us to protect life, starting by taking care of each other and everyone around us, with determined determination, taking the path of forgiveness and reconciliation, of healing and guardianship of life.

PUBLICATION LANGUAGES “Your names are written in heaven”