I recently had the privilege of attending the Spirits on Fire Conference, a year-long formation program for Lay Leaders in the CSSJ mission and tradition. I’ve worked in my role as Director of the Women’s Table for nearly two years and have experienced the CSJ charism firsthand, so when I was given the opportunity to participate in an immersion program such as this, I agreed with much enthusiasm.

The Alliance to End Human Trafficking 2026 Conference brought together approximately two hundred people, each and every one of them passionate and eager to bring change. Sister Marilyn McGoldrick, CSJ, and sisters representing five congregations of women religious and the Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition, led a panel entitled “From Shadow to Light,” sharing insights they had learned over the past eighteen years working to raise awareness about this form of modern-day slavery.