History

Working in Service of Growing Missionary Communities 

Who is St Josephine Bakhita?

St Josephine Bakhita was born into a well-to-do family of the Daju tribe of south-western Sudan. Her father was the brother of the village chief. He owned a lot of land and had hired servants working for him. At the age of approximately seven years, Josephine was kidnapped by slave traders and consequently endured many years of physical, emotional and spiritual deprivation. Josephine continually searched for meaning in her experiences of life. When Josephine was placed by her mistress into temporary custody of the Canossian Daughters of Charity Religious Order (Canossian Sisters) in Venice, she discovered God for the first time. She gained her freedom while at the Convent and chose a life of service to the Religious Order, taking her vows in December 1896. For the next 42 years of her life, Josephine worked as a cook and a doorkeeper at the convent. She also travelled and visited other convents, telling her story to other sisters and preparing them for work in Africa. She was known for her gentle voice and smile.