Brigidine Sisters, together with their colleagues, remember St Patrick, patron Saint of Ireland, who as a young boy was taken captive and sold as a slave. After working as a herdsman he escaped and eventually became a priest, preacher and great missionary of the Christian faith.
May his story remind us of those today who are still being taken captive and sold as slaves into domestic servitude, forced labour, sexual exploitation or other forms of slavery.
As Patrick was given the vision and strength to bring good news of hope and possibilities for greater justice, may we be given grace to support and advocate for the rights of people suffering injustice and abuse at this time, especially asylum seekers, refugees and trafficked women, girls and men.