Mozambican Church concerned about human trafficking

Hermínio José - Maputo, Mozambique

According to the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Sister Marinês Biassibet, more and more people, especially women and children, were being deceived by traffickers, whose preferred destination is neighbouring South Africa.

Accompanying victims is also an important form of pastoral care.

The Mozambican Commission known by its Portuguese name of Comissão Episcopal Para Migrantes, Regufiados e Deslocados is appealing to families, parishes, schools and Church organisations to take an interest in what is happening around their neighbourhoods. The Commission is encouraging especially Church organisations to offer some form of pastoral care if the menace of human trafficking is to be contained. The pastoral care can be through awareness creation or providing pastoral guidance on how to deal with the issue of human trafficking, migrants, refugees and displaced persons. Accompanying victims is also an important form of pastoral care.

Poverty -a driver of human trafficking

Human trafficking in Africa is a big problem. Some of the drivers include high levels of poverty, widespread unemployment, corruption among law enforcement agencies and the lack of awareness among communities.

Vatican Radio to broadcast Pope Francis’ Mass live on shortwave frequencies

On the morning of Sunday, 29 September, between 10.25 am - 12.15 pm, Pope Francis will mark World Day of Migrants and Refugees with the celebration of Holy Mass in St. Peter’ Square.

In an exceptional move, apart from the usual live broadcasts, Vatican Radio will also carry live the Pope’s Mass on Shortwave radio. The Shortwave frequencies will be beamed to English speaking African countries: kHz 15575 OC; Portuguese - Africa: kHz 17635 OC and French-speaking countries in Africa on the Shortwave frequency of kHz 13815 OC

 (Additional reporting: Paul Samasumo, Vatican News)