To commemorate the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, Talitakum Indonesia hosted a joint prayer event featuring various activities, including a Holy Mass and a novena dedicated to St Josephine Bakhita, whose feast day coincided with the celebration on 8 February.
Talitakum Indonesia comprises nine networks: Jakarta, Palembang, Medan, Lampung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Malang, East Nusa Tenggara, and Sumba. The Jakarta network, led by Sr Irena Handayani OSU, organised an interfaith prayer at Jakarta Cathedral’s Plaza Maria courtyard under the theme “listening, dreaming, and taking action in the fight against human trafficking”. The event aimed to engage participants in prayer, reflection, and celebration of the struggle for human dignity, drawing inspiration from the spirit of Laudato sí through the elements of earth, air, fire, water, and metal. The presence of two migrant families added strength to the prayer atmosphere.
Sr Irena highlighted the interconnectedness between humans and nature, stressing that addressing human trafficking requires a respectful relationship with all creation. “We listen to the earth as the foundation of our human dignity; water and its flow of compassion and empathy; air as the breath of freedom and justice; fire as the spark of resilience and empowerment; and metal with its ability to break through to life. By understanding these connections, we can gain insight into how to combat human trafficking and fight for respect for human dignity. Hear, dream, and act for a world where humans are intimately connected with earth, water, air, fire, and metal in praising the One God,” she said.
The event featured religious leaders representing Catholics, Muslims, Sikhs, Bahais, Protestants, Buddhists, and other faith traditions, each bringing a symbol of the different elements of nature. Cardinal Bishop Ignasius Suharyo was present and greeted all religious leaders and attendees.
Our prayer and reflection on each symbol unfolded as follows:
Fire. We express gratitude for the gift of fire, acknowledging its dual nature as a force of destruction and a catalyst for rebirth and renewal. Greed and power can turn fire into a deadly weapon. However, with wisdom and the divine presence, fire can also illuminate areas of darkness. May the good God keep humanity away from the misery of burning wars and conflicts and protect victims from unimaginable horrors and death from deliberate acts of violence.
Soil. The earth gently holds human life and generously nurtures it. We acknowledge its exploitation as a battleground for human labour and trafficking. May God protect the workers who, because of their poverty, are easily exploited here on earth.
Water. Water is the source of all life and the symbol of baptism. Each year, millions of people cross the waters in search of a better life, but they do not always succeed. May the power of water to cleanse, heal, and refresh give all the courage to overcome obstacles, and may hope, justice, and compassion flow in the face of challenges.
Air. All creatures breathe air to obtain life. We lament the many facets of pollution (greenhouse gas emissions, plastic and solid waste pollution, forest fires, and the climate crisis) and its impact on global health. We pray for systemic changes to ensure dignity and health for all living beings.
Metal. Technology is progressing rapidly, yet, in many instances, human exploitation is inherent in mining and labour practices. We pray for wisdom, fairness, and compassion in balancing our needs for development with human rights and the care for our common home.
The event concluded with a prayer from the committee followed by a prayer invoking St Josephine Bakhita’s intercession. We reaffirmed our commitment to combating human trafficking and exploitation and appealed for stronger laws and policies against slavery in all its forms, entrusting our efforts to God’s presence and guidance.
Sr Anastasia Ratnawati OSU is a member of the JCAP Migrants and Refugees Network. She is the Southeast Asia Project and Refugee Section Coordinator of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference. She is also a lecturer at Atmajaya University in Jakarta and a Laudato sí advocate. She wrote this article with reports from Jakarta Talitakum.