Religious education programs have begun across the diocese, and with these programs comes the diocesan commitment to fostering a safe environment for the children and youth in them.

The Diocese of Helena first offered the VIRTUS program titled “Protecting God’s Children: Touching Safety” for use in diocesan schools, parish religious education and youth ministry programs in 2005. The program assists the diocese in remaining compliant with mandates of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, first adopted in 2002.

John Fencik, Catholic Formation Services director and VIRTUS children’s program manager for parishes, said the children’s educational piece is an important element in the USCCB’s overall plan for creating a safe environment for children and youth in parishes, schools, homes and the broader community. Bishop George Leo Thomas has expressed gratitude to all who annually provide this program, and the values it espouses, to our adults, children and youth, Fencik said.

He reiterated the guidelines for the program. “This year, all parishes and schools are asked to provide Lessons 1 and 2 for all grade levels. Both of these lessons are to be provided during class time.

“Only those who attend these sessions may be counted as having received training in this program. Parents of absent students may be provided the age-appropriate materials, but these students may not be counted as trained when final statistics are reported to the diocese,” he said.

Parents may opt out of this program, using the form posted on the VIRTUS website. The completed form must be kept in the parish or school files for reference, Fencik said. Parents who remove their children may obtain age-appropriate materials, but the student will not be counted as trained.

Fencik said it’s important that parishes and schools maintain accurate attendance records onsite for all of these sessions. The statistical report with all required information should be completed online by May 1, he said.

More information is available on the VIRTUS website at www.virtus.org or from Judy Ober, the diocesan Safe Environment manager, at 406-442-5820; Fencik, at 406-442-5820; or Patrick Haggerty, diocesan school superintendent, at 406-594-1461.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 26, No. 10, October 15, 2010.