This week we celebrate the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita. She was taken from a happy childhood in Darfur and sold into slavery by Arab slave traders. Over 12 years she was sold four times and given away once. At one time left in the care of Canossian Sisters in Venice, Italy, Bakhita converted to Catholicism and refused to leave when her owner returned for her. Ultimately the Italian court declared her free. She chose to stay with and join the Canossian Sisters and was confirmed by and received holy Communion from the future Pope Pius X. She died on February 8, 1947, after 42 years of service, and was declared a saint in 2000.We’re both proud and humbled to carry her name in our Bakhita Empowerment Initiative working with those freeing themselves from human trafficking.