Around the 8th February, dioceses throughout Spain mark the feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita,
patron saint of victims of human trafficking. In Madrid, this celebration has become a significant
ecclesial moment, reflecting a growing awareness and commitment within the local Church.
The central diocesan vigil, organized by the Commission against Human Trafficking of the
Archdiocese of Madrid, was held in the Church of San Juan de la Cruz. Participation continues to
increase from around 250 people last year to approximately 300 this year. The steady growth is a
clear sign that the message of Saint Bakhita is resonating ever more deeply.
The vigil had a distinctly international character. The five continents were represented both
symbolically, through candles and posters describing the reality of trafficking in each region, and
physically, as members of different continents took part in the celebration. Europeans formed the
majority, but there was strong representation from the Americas and Asia, especially within the
multicultural choir, and a few participants from Africa.
Each continent expressed both the suffering caused by trafficking and the hope and strength
emerging from those who move from victimhood to survivorship. The multicultural choir played a
central role, helping to create an atmosphere of silence, prayer, and contemplation. African fabrics
in the decoration and a beautiful image of Saint Bakhita added depth and colour to the liturgical
space.
Clergy, religious sisters and brothers, lay faithful, members of social pastoral ministries, and
representatives of congregations working against trafficking were present, alongside many
committed Christians. In the procession of the continents, men also participated, highlighting the
growing reality of labour exploitation in Spain and worldwide.
Bishop Vicente Martín, responsible for Social Pastoral Care in Madrid, underlined the importance
of awareness-raising in order to identify hidden mechanisms of exploitation in neighbourhoods
and digital environments. He stressed that the violence of trafficking can only be overcome
through a renewed vision that sees every person as a beloved child of God and a brother or sister.
In his final blessing, he thanked all those engaged in this mission for their courage and
perseverance and encouraged them to continue with hope in the Lord who walks with them.
The vigil concluded in a spirit of fraternity: warm greetings, conversations, and embraces reflected
the sense of being one family united in prayer and commitment. Though the struggle continues,
small flames of hope are clearly growing.
At the same time, the celebration of Saint Bakhita is gradually taking root at parish level.
Responding to the invitation of the Diocesan Commission, the Parish of Nuestra Señora de la Guía,
in the north of Madrid, marked the feast during its Sunday Eucharists. In this warm, community-
oriented parish, the second reading was dedicated to the life of Saint Bakhita, and her witness was
recalled in the homily and prayers. Her image was presented during the offertory alongside a
banner against trafficking, and the faithful prayed for victims and for greater awareness in society.
Through this liturgical celebration, parishioners were invited not only to pray but also to recognize
that trafficking can be present in everyday contexts and to respond with concrete commitment.
Together, the diocesan vigil at San Juan de la Cruz and the parish celebration at Nuestra Señora de
la Guía show that devotion to Saint Bakhita in Madrid is slowly but steadily spreading, strengthening prayer, awareness, and shared responsibility in the fight against human trafficking.
Begoña Iñarra (Coordinator of the Diocesan Commission against Human Trafficking in Madrid)