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One of the most valuable things ever said to me by a spiritual director was, “By the penance of practice, you will be saved.”   It’s a long story, but simply put, Fr. Joseph Propst told me that my life as a disciple will be more filled with joy and less worry if I simply practiced the things I did with more diligence, intention, and rigor. I had to look on my practice time—whether it be study, pastoral training, or other daily duties—as a penance. I took that to mean that if I didn’t practice a regular discipline in my ministry of prayer, sacrifice and charity, sin would always get the best of me.  This went a long way in adjusting my attitude toward service in the Church. I began to accept that ministry and service in the Church always meant dying to one’s own needs for the benefit of others. Sin can’t be defeated without sacrifice.

Creating a safe environment for our children and vulnerable adults is a penitential practice that the Church has introduced to fight the evil of abuse. We must develop the habits and dispositions of self-denial that create the best possible environment for our children to grow and flourish, free from abuse and neglect.  We should be used to this idea by now. It is central to a personal and social response to hearing the Gospel. Our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and projects must disengage form sin through repentance and embrace the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

All of us know this. We just completed an entire season of the year dedicated to the awareness of sin and cultivating the good in our lives through prayer, sacrifice and charity, the tools of Christian conversion. In Lent we acknowledge that admitting our faults and failing is not enough. We need to behave differently. We need to transform our thoughts according to the mind of God. We need to act as His children.

Penitential practices are not just relegated to Lent. The true disciple knows that penance must be a daily practice. The good we hope to achieve in the face of sin and evil can only be brought about by the grace of God. God’s grace becomes visible in the acts of prayer, sacrifice and charity we engage in. Thus, if God is to be known in our efforts to provide a safe environment, we must ask these questions.  What is God speaking to us and what do we need to tell God about our children and other vulnerable members of our community?  What must we give up of value in order to restore justice and tranquility to someone who has been deprived of it?  What must we give up from our blessings so that others may find the beatitude that is missing in their lives?

The Catholic Church is committed to protecting God’s children. As members of the Body of Christ, we too are called to embrace the wounds that sin has caused. We have been signed with the Cross, and we all must be willing to carry the cross that loving sacrifice requires. No one can be exempt from the responsibility of caring for the safety and security of others. We have made great strides in promoting a culture of safety and responsibility. We continue to grow in accountability for past abuse and neglect.  In one sense though, we are just starting. Our efforts to promote awareness and safe practices have thus far focused on clergy, religious, employees and those who work specifically with children in the ministry.

Bishop McKnight began the next  phase of our efforts to provide a safe environment last November  in promulgating a revised Safe Environment Policy for the Diocese of Jefferson City. One significant development has been introduced to the existing policies. Safe Environment training is now required for all parish volunteers and leaders, not just those who work with children. 

Many of our volunteers and parish leaders have already gone through the required training, so we have a good start. We will be contacting the rest of the parish leaders that would fall into this new category of requirement and explain in detail what is being asked of them at this time.  Examples of leaders and volunteers would be the commission chairs and officers, the core teams of the commissions, the coordinators of the key responsibility areas, those who engage in liturgical ministries, and those who engage as volunteers in the different pastoral, social, and charitable activities of the parish.

This is a significant development and will affect a significant number of our parishioners. And this is precisely what we are engaging in this new practice. It will be a significant step forward in ensuring that our children and vulnerable adults are kept safe form harm and surrounded by an environment that fosters their health and well-being at all times. We are blessed with many people who live out their call of discipleship in many ordinary and extraordinary acts of service. That gift of service will be that much more grace-filled as we support these ministries and services with training and insight into how best to keep children and vulnerable adults safe.

Training has become much easier than previously as an online module is available for anyone to complete. We also will be providing in-person training for those who might not be able to do an online module but would instead benefit from a formal in-person training session. More details can be found at the Diocesan web site. In the coming weeks, we will be providing further information and instruction in regard to how you would participate in this process.