On the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we share this new challenge for the Daughters of Jesus. Christ’s open heart is the source of every mission, including the one that leads us to reach out to the victims of human trafficking.

The fight against human trafficking requires a strong presence, a network, and coordinated action. The Daughters of Jesus in Mozambique are part of TAKUMO, the National Intercongregational Network that works to prevent and eradicate this serious crime against human dignity, in partnership with the UISG’s International Talitha Kum Network.

What is Talitha Kum and TAKUMO?

Talitha Kum is the International Network of Consecrated Life Against Human Trafficking, part of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG). It coordinates the efforts of sisters worldwide to combat human trafficking by facilitating networking, communication, and formation, in accordance with the UISG’s strategic plan and the teachings of the Church’s Social Doctrine.

TAKUMO is the national representative of this network in Mozambique. It is part of the Conference of Religious Institutes of Mozambique (CIRMO) and brings together congregations from across the country that share a common commitment: to prevent human trafficking and support its victims.

The Daughters of Jesus in the network’s coordination

After several years of inactivity, CIRMO entrusted the Daughters of Jesus with the task of revitalizing the network. Sister Pilar de la Puerta took on the role of coordinator, and Sister Kenia Margarita Castro Cedeño is currently taking the Talitha Kum Leadership Course with the expectation of assuming that responsibility soon.

On May 29 and 30, we held the first in-person training session on the spirituality of Talitha Kum. We heard testimonies from victims of human trafficking and were joined by a prosecutor who explained the legal framework and how to file complaints. Of the 29 members, 22 are religious men and women from 17 different congregations.

A priority of our most recent General Congregation

This commitment is central to our congregational identity. The 19th General Congregation explicitly calls on us to join networks of care and solidarity with those who are forced to leave their homes:

“We feel called to actively participate in various care networks. We recognize our interdependence and the need to collaborate with others. We want to join those who work on behalf of the most disadvantaged and all those who are forced to leave their places of origin: migrants, refugees, and displaced persons. Their situation challenges us and drives us to seek concrete ways of solidarity and support.” Resolution CGXIX – No. 22

In Mozambique, TAKUMO is a concrete response to that call: to identify existing networks, assess real opportunities for participation, and commit—guided by a spirituality of care—to serving the most vulnerable.