By Catholic Philly Staff Report • Posted September 25, 2023

Last week, the Knights of Malta presented an Anti-Human Trafficking Ministry Seminar at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center for priests, deacons, and lay Church employees.  The seminar was designed to frame the discussion that will help raise awareness about human trafficking with a very delicate touch.

The sessions were conducted by Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, former Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, Father Chuck Swanson of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, and Father Jeffrey Bayhi of the Archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska.

The Knights of Malta hope that discussing this topic within the context of the Gospel will lead Catholics from all walks of life to become involved in the mission of Prevention and Protection in spotting, preventing, and reporting potential traffickers in our community.

Attendees also heard a presentation and testimonial from guest speaker Sister Meaghan Patterson, SSJ, Executive Director of Dawn’s Place, a safe home that assists with filling the gap in services available to women recovering from the trauma of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

To learn more about the Knights of Malta, visit https://www.orderofmalta.int/about-the-order-of-malta/knights-of-malta/.  To learn more about Dawn’s Place, visit https://www.ahomefordawn.org/history.