VIRTUS fully integrated into the CCD program
The new school year of ‘Eskwelan Pali’ has officially begun this weekend. Sunday Masses will be filled once again with young people, Churches parking lot will have lots of coming and going with parents dropping and picking up their kids for the CCD classes.
Last Sunday, CCD teachers were commissioned in their respective parishes and they were presented to the parish community as catechists who will help prepare the children in the parish for the reception of the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation.
Since August, parishes begun to receive CCD registration as parents and guardians were encouraged to come and register their kids as early as possible. Last day of registration will be on Monday, September 30th. This is the first time, the Office of Religious Education has marked a cut-off date for CCD registration, although this will remain a challenge since many parents are already accustomed to signing up late their kids for CCD. Nevertheless, Sr. Nina and her team of CCD parish coordinators are determined to establish and well organize system of Eskwelan Pali, beginning from the registration until the celebration of the reception of the Sacraments.
Under Sr. Nina’s leadership, am organized and uniformed curriculum was put in place so that every CCD catechist will have a well-planned lesson plan throughout the school year. Besides, the week-to-week lesson plan is implemented in all parishes so that every week, all parishes are on the same topic or theme. One of the many challenges of all CCD catechists in the past is how to make and execute their lesson plan week after week all by themselves.
Last Saturday afternoon, the parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral had a CCD orientation for parents and guardians. Besides, the usual briefing of the CCD handbook to the parents, Sr. Nina introduced the VIRTUS Program to the CCD parents.
VIRTUS is a program created by the National Catholic Risk Retention Group in the United States with a “Protecting God’s Children” component that combats sexual abuse of children in the Church. It is currently in use in over 80 dioceses in the United States.
The goal of the VIRTUS program is primarily to be proactive instead of reactive when dealing with child sexual abuse. To prevent sexual abuse, VIRTUS advocates five steps: Knowing the warning signs of abuse, controlling access to children, monitoring programs involving children, being aware of how children behave and finally communicating concerns.
VIRTUS focuses on educating teachers, parents, and other adults who interact with children about sexual abuse and providing them with information to help prevent abuse. This takes place in ‘awareness sessions’ led by trained facilitators. The awareness sessions consist of videos, worksheets, and discussions. The videos incorporate interviews with both victims and convicted perpetrators.
In introducing the Virtus program to the CCD parents, the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa wanted to create safety awareness not only to those who actively work in the parishes but also to the parents and to the family of the children. The diocese wanted to make sure that our children are not only receiving catechetical formation in their respective parishes but that they are in a safe environment while doing so.
Sr. Nina will be conducting the same awareness talk to the CCD orientation of parents in other parishes. All CCD catechists in every parish in the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa have all taken the VIRTUS training as well as those who volunteer in the parishes, in particular those who are in direct contact with the youth and children.
Meanwhile, the Office of Religious Education is encouraging all parents who have not yet register their children for CCD to do it as soon as possible.
