There's a dark, little-discussed side to large groups of people gathering for big sporting and other events -- from the Olympics to the Super Bowl to the annual College World Series in Omaha. It is an increase in human trafficking, particularly sex trafficking. During the June 14-24 baseball tournament, Catholic-related groups and other organizations planned to lead prayer sessions to raise awareness and bring the power of prayer to the issue. The prayer series is an ecumenical effort supported by the Archdiocese of Omaha. "The CWS is an exciting event for Omaha, but sex trafficking increases, with young girls trafficked into our hotels and motels," said Sister Celeste Wobeter, a Notre Dame Sister who helped organize the prayer series, with representatives of a number of faiths leading sessions in two-hour blocks from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. at a Salvation Army chapel. People have been invited to join in the prayer at the chapel at any time, for whatever length of time they can, Sister Wobeter said. A website was created for the effort.
Kurt Hilgefort, is a Catholic father of six who publishes his thoughts on his blog Shadows of Augustine . He responded to my seven question survey with the following answers. Kurt is the first layperson to respond to the seven question survey and I think that his experience is extremely relevant to me personally and I hope that you are inspired by his thoughts as well. If you would like to respond, please send an email to fellmananthony@gmail.com with your thoughts and I will be happy to publish them as well. 1. What is the biggest challenge to your faith that you have faced so far? The biggest challenge for me has been the whole dying to self thing. On an intellectual level, there are no barriers. It comes down to a matter of accepting the authority of the Church that Christ founded upon Peter. My challenge is not in the intellect, but rather in the will. The challenge for me has always been to continually seek conversion. I want to be transformed, but I want it to be over all ...
