1. Office of Religious Education
Deacon Kevin Boudreaux, Director
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
August 1, 2016

2. Contents Overview for the Office of Religious Education
Safe Environment Program: Protecting God’s Children
Q&A

3. Office of Religious Education (ORE)
Overview

4. Service Audience: Children/Students
Adult Learners (Parents/Parishioners)
ORE Volunteers
ORE Staff
ORE Staff
Assistant to the DRE for Safe Environment
Sheila Pearson
Assistant to the DRE
Lourdes Flemming
Assistant to the DRE for Programs
Terry Chrisley
Director:
Dcn. Kevin Boudreaux
Offices are located in the
Cody Enrichment Center, 2nd Floor

5. ORE Ministries as of August 1, 2016
Parish Safe Environment Program*
Parish Religious Education Program (PREP)*
Adult Confirmation
Vacation Bible School
Wee Worship
JPII Homeschooling (Sacramentals)
FORMED.org
Various other new programs that may arise
Parish Website
*Does not include SJ Catholic School

6. Safe Environment Program
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church

7. Safe Environment Program
The Charter for the Protection of Children & Young People, adopted by the USCCB in 2002, requires that dioceses take some very specific and very significant steps to implement the USCCB’s safe environment program, and to thereby breathe life into its promise of an atmosphere of trust, respect, and charity which must exist within the Church.
USCCB: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

8. Three Part Program
There are three components to the Charter’s safe environment program,
Part I – Education of Adults: about maintaining a safe environment for children and youth
Part II – Education of Children: so that they can be alert to their surroundings and better cooperate in our efforts to keep them safe
Part III – Keeping the Environment Safe: education, background checking, record keeping, and ethical standards
and therefore three components to the safe environment program of the Diocese of St. Augustine

9. PART 1 - Education of Adults
In the Diocese of St. Augustine, the education of adults is primarily accomplished by way of the Protecting God’s Children Program (PGC) of the VIRTUS organization.
PGC is a three hour informational class which discusses:
early warning signs of inappropriate relationships with children,
appropriate communications with, and access to children,
appropriate monitoring of children and children’s programs,
the importance of parents’ being aware and communicating with their children, and
how and where parents and others can raise concerns or make reports in specific cases.

11. Where & When?
Protecting God’s Children classes are held on a frequent basis throughout the diocese.
Dates, times and locations of upcoming classes are announced each week on the diocesan web site, and on the VIRTUS web site, as well.

12. How To Sign Up for a PGC Class
Those who need to attend a Protecting God’s Children class can register on-line for a class at
On-line registration is the preferred way to sign up for a class.
You can also sign up for a class by contacting the diocesan Safe Environment Coordinator at (904) , ext. 104.

13. PART 2 - Education of Children and Youth
In the Diocese of St. Augustine, the education of children and youth is accomplished by way of one of the two following programs:
Touching Safety Program (VIRTUS organization)*
Children & Youth Personal Safety Program
*Currently used in our parish within the PREP program.

14. Part 3 – Keeping the Environment Safe
The previously presented chart explains just who in the diocese must undergo fingerprinting and background checks, and who must attend a Protecting God’s Children class.

15. The Church has always believed that the parent is the first and best teacher of their child, not only in the ways of the faith, but in the affairs of the world as well.

16. Q & A