Sisters Train to Fight Human Trafficking

Sister Bridget Nwaankwo has witnessed first-hand the trauma experienced by human trafficking victims.

For nearly 10 years she ministered in a Nigerian shelter for young girls from several countries who were sold as sex slaves.  She has accompanied these young girls, some as young as 10 and 11 years old, on their journeys, held their hands during their darkest hours.

“They are so traumatized,” said Sister Bridget, a Nigerian native.

As the plague of trafficking continues to spread its evil tentacles, increasingly in south Louisiana, Father Jeff Bayhi remains vigilant in his crusade to rescue those young victims and provide them a hope they never had. The driving force behind Metanoia Manor, a home for trafficking victims operated by the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy, Father Bayhi has taken his passion international.

Twenty-seven women religious, all from Nigeria and including Sister Bridget, recently arrived in the Baton Rouge area for what amounts to several weeks of  training in ministering to human trafficking victims. Once their training is completed, at least 24 of the 27 nuns are slated to remain in the United States to minister at shelters nationwide.

“Everyone, from civil government and church authorities, know that the most successful programs are run as faith based and among the faith based the most successful sisters are run by religious sisters,” said Father Bayhi, pastor at St. John the Baptist Church in Zachary. 

Father Bayhi said he and Father Chuck Swanson from Chicago, who spends several months a year in Zachary, have been working with the Vatican for several years, urging the Catholic Church to become the leader in the fight of human trafficking. 

He admitted when Metanoia Manor was opened there was “no way” it was going to open without women religious.  

“The average employment for people who work in shelters for trafficking victims is less than four months,” Father Bayhi said. “No one does this for the money, only for the love of God.”

In November 2019 when the bishops and archbishops of Region 5, which includes Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky, made their ad limina visit with Pope Francis, a discussion was held regarding human trafficking and the role of the church. Father Bayhi, who attended that presentation, said one of the bishops in attendance agreed the church should be involved but asked, “Where do we find nuns?”

Father Bayhi had already established a working relationship with Sister Patricia Ebegbulem (Sister of St. Louis) who has been active in fighting trafficking in the sub-Sahara regions of Africa. Father Bayhi called Sister Patricia his “conduit” to five different religious communities.

“That was the impetus of having sisters coming to our country,” Father Bayhi said. “Initially, (sisters) must take it as a vocational aspect, as a calling from God. This is a very specialized ministry that calls for great strength.”

Father Bayhi said part of the training will include an inculturation process. He said Africa tends to be more stable in their family values as compared to the United States and a lot less spoiled by material goods.

“With that in mind, going into the shelter the nuns will learn a lot of words they have never heard before,” Father Bayhi said. “They will see a lack of respect for elders and authority and see some real anger and some wounds they have never known before.”

He said by being at Metanoia Manor the sisters have witnessed how the Hospitaler sisters approach the young girls and been exposed so many of the challenges.

Father Swanson  said through Metanoia the visiting sisters are learning the various types of programs that are being instituted, from helping the girls earn their high school diplomas, group and individual therapy.

Additionally, the girls are exposed to equine therapy which Father Swanson said they “absolutely love. They learn to care for something.”

Father Bayhi said that although many doubt the existence of trafficking in Louisiana, the problem is real. 

“The lack of awareness of the household of faith and the everyday person of the enormity of the amount of human trafficking that exists is incredible,” he said. 

Of the 78 young girls who have passed through Metanoia during the past several years, only one has not been a Louisiana resident. In Louisiana, 42 percent of children sold into slavery have been sold by their primary caregivers, their own parents. 

The Interstate 10 corridor from Houston to Florida is one of the worst in the country for trafficking. 

On any given night nationwide, Father Bayhi said a minimum of 20,000 children are on the streets being sold in sex slavery.

“We want the household of faith to hear this message from the pulpit to see the sisters who have become God’s angels in their midst and have now left their countries just for our kids, the ones that no one knows about or cares about,” Father Bayhi said. 

Sister Bridget said girls on the streets feel worthless and that nothing good can come out of them. They see themselves as hopeless, useless and nobody would want to take them in.”

“We take it from there. We begin to show them that they are God’s creatures,” she added.

“I say that these girls don’t have a moral compass because they’ve never been taught that moral compass,” Father Swanson said. “They have no spiritual direction, they have not been taught that way. The sisters have to build on practically nothing. 

“They really rehab these girls back to their youths.”

Sister Babalala Veronica, Sister of St. Michael the Archangel, said she has been trained in the works of mercy and to give hope to people who have lost hope, to give them new life and a beautiful future. But she also understands the challenge is more difficult when ministering to those who have endured the unspeakable horrors of trafficking.

“That is why we are having this training, to be able to know what to do and what to do at the right time,” she said. “It has exposed us to issues of different types of trafficking and the consequences of human life.”

The sisters embrace the challenges and understand reaching out to the most vulnerable is integral to their own vocation. Yet, they are human and are likely to be tested in ways they never could have imagined.

Working with a 12-year-old girl who has spent months or even years being sold as sex slaves can extract its own toll.

“I think that is the purpose of the training; it will empower us to prepare ourselves spiritually, mentally, emotionally so as to be able to give proper care and support to the survivors,” Sister Patricia said. “This is where God comes in to strengthen (their prayer lives).

“They know this is God’s work.”

Coping with the challenges, she said, requires the sisters to be open to learn and embrace other cultures and that includes offering counseling and support through a program called “Mindset, Reset.” 

“No two people are like,” Sister Bridget said. “These children form what they have experienced; they have been battered, shattered, so much so they have lost trust, lost trust in God, lost trust in people, even trust in themselves.

“We begin to show them they are God’s creatures.”

She said to be effective, the sister must exhibit gentleness, allow time to journey with the girls and to help them regain what they have lost. 

“When it’s too much for you, run to God,” Sister Patricia said. “And lay it all on his feet. That is the power of prayer; it gives you that inner strength.”

Father Bayhi said he is hoping the efforts at Metanoia Manor and other shelters throughout the country positively affect children’s lives.  

“Why should my life be worth more than each one of these children’s. You say that and it’s like their life is worthwhile too,” said Father Bayhi, wiping his eyes as tears failed to veil the emotion he experiences  helping girls who have been robbed of their own childhood.