Two years after the birth of my second child, I decided to go back to work. After hearing of a job opening in the diocese, I applied and, about two months later, I reported for my first day of work as an administrative assistant to Sister Pat Hudson, C.S.J., director of the diocese’s Safe Environment Office. Similar offices have been opened in the dioceses of the United States as a result of the recent abuse scandals in the Church.

Before actually starting to work, Sister Pat informed me that I would need to attend a “Virtus” workshop. Attendance at these workshops is required for employees and volunteers of the Church who have access to children so they might understand and recognize possible improper situations concerning children with whom they come into contact. It was necessary for me to know the content of the workshop because I would be fielding questions from callers in the diocese concerning various situations. I took the workshop and didn’t really think much more about it but I did pay enough attention to be able to answer general questions about the program.

My first week at the diocese was uneventful for the most part. As the weeks passed, I was able to learn the basic operations of Safe Environment and realized there was a great volume of work involved. In the beginning, on more than one occasion, I asked myself, “What did I get myself into?” The amount of work seemed to be overwhelming and at times it was a strain to keep up.

As time passed, however, the questions I was being asked by callers became easier to answer. I didn’t have to ask Sister Pat how to answer every question because I was starting to understand the Virtus system. I became friendly with the support person at the Virtus Helpdesk who took the time to answer my many questions, no matter how foolish they seemed to be.

My prior office experience consisted of 15 years in the financial industry and I had the tendency to answer the phone in a very businesslike manner. At one point, Sister Pat suggested that I be less businesslike and more personable on the phone. I didn’t quite understand why she was saying that because, after all, to me, this was just a job; and it was the same job I made sure I left behind every day when I went home to my real job, taking care of my husband and children.

I can’t say exactly when my view of the job changed, but little by little, without realizing it, it wasn’t just a job anymore. In my mind it seemed somehow, this job was becoming a sort of ministry. Bishop DiMarzio and the diocese in general and Sister Pat and the Safe Environment Office were trying to keep our children safe and protected, and I was a part of that. There was one thing that bothered me. I couldn’t quite understand why some people who were employed by or volunteered in the diocese complained about having to attend a Virtus workshop. Wouldn’t they, whether parents or not, do anything possible to make sure that children were safe and protected? Slowly, I began to realize the importance of the Virtus program and the wisdom in having it in our diocese.

The Safe Environment Office offers Virtus to all adults who wish to volunteer in any capacity with children in our diocese and for employees of parishes, schools, religious ed programs, including all clergy and Religious. Along with attendance at one of the workshops, each individual is required to sign a Code of Conduct as well as an Authorization Form giving the Safe Environment Office permission to perform a criminal background search. These three components should be completed before the person is allowed to function as an employee or volunteer. Besides Virtus workshops at Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston, and at the diocesan offices in Park Slope, any parish or parish school is welcome and encouraged to host a workshop. The Safe Environment Office will provide the facilitator. In addition, the office offers programs for children in both Catholic schools and religious ed programs.

“Child Lures” is a program that teaches children how to protect themselves from strangers. It shows the tricks or “lures” that strangers often use to get to children alone with them; tricks as simple as asking for help to find a lost puppy or calling someone over to a car to ask for directions; or telling a child that his or her parent has been injured. These are all traps that a child or teen can easily fall for.

The office also offers the “Praesidium” program for older children in the sixth through eighth grades. Praesidium teaches children about setting up boundaries with adults and not being afraid to let someone they trust know when someone has crossed one of those boundaries. My hope is that one day there won’t be a need for a Safe Environment Office. Unfortunately that day is not yet here but until then we are here to serve the people of the Brooklyn Diocese, especially its most precious gift, our children.