Safe Environment Program
We believe that each person is uniquely created and gifted by God. Our Catholic Social Teaching speaks to the Life and Dignity of the Human Person and reminds us “...that human life is sacred and…that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.” Social Teaching Resources:
Minnesota Catholic Conference | United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
On this journey as His faithful, we are called to see others as our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. We must make a commitment to respect all people and to keep them safe.
The diocesan Safe Environment Program includes important elements that enable us to keep our communities both safe and sacred. We are committed to promote safe, healthy communities of faith, intervene when there is misconduct and respond fairly and compassionately when people are hurting.
Services provided through the diocesan Safe Environment Program include:
Mechanism for Background Checks
Online Learning Community
Pastoral Care Assistance
Programs for children and young people
Child Abuse Month
Mechanism for Background Checks
All those who work with minors in the parish or school community must complete a background check. We offer online services for background checks through ChoicePoint. Background checks can be completed for paid staff through the company’s ScreenNow service and through VolunteerSelect for volunteers. For more information regarding system requirements, fees and processing click here to access the Employee/Volunteer Background Screening Guide. This guide enables an individual parish or school to set up their account through the Diocese of Winona administrative system, offering special pricing. All institutions are billed for account set up and usage separately by ChoicePoint.
An Authorization/Consent Form is required to complete a background check. Click on the link to download a copy for your use.
Online Learning Community
An Online Learning Community has been established which will enable the faithful of the diocese to access up-to-date course work focused on current Safe Environment topics.
Membership is free to all clergy, religious, staff and volunteers working or worshiping at a parish in the Diocese of Winona. Members can easily access information regarding new lesson material, planned events, and resources for Catholic parishes and institutions. Participants can receive Continuing Education Credit for course work. Certificates will indicate hours earned.
 
Pastoral Care Assistance
Pastoral Care Assistance is available to those in need of care and support when affected by misconduct. Our primary purpose is to promote healing through outreach and resources.
Available Resources
- Information about Spiritual direction through trained Spiritual Counselors.
- Information about Licensed Professionals such as counselors, Marriage and Family therapists, Individual Clinical Social Workers and Chemical Dependency Specialists.
- Processes for parish interventions to promote healing and provide crisis management.
- Financial resources for insurance co-pays, spiritual direction, or other services when appropriate.
- Publications and videos, addressing various misconduct topics available for checkout.
- Online resource links for area law enforcement, child protection services and crisis programs.
Prayer for Healing
 O Lord, my God,
All that is good comes from You.
In my distress,
I call to You.
Hear and answer me.
In my brokenness,
I cry for wholeness.
Heal and ease my pain.
In my emptiness,
I seek to be filled.
Help me to feel Your grace.
In my deepest hurt
I ask to be comforted.
You take away my shame.
O Lord, my God,
All that is good comes from You.
Amen
To Seek Assistance
We understand how difficult it is for someone who has been harmed to share that hurt and ask for help. We believe that every person deserves respect and should be afforded processes in our parishes and institutions which offer a safe and sacred place to express the hurt and be listened to in an open and honest way.
If you, or someone you know, have been a victim of misconduct, we encourage you to follow the guidelines for taking the first step. We take any allegation of misconduct seriously. We will not accept concerns regarding misconduct anonymously or those sent via e-mail.
- If the misconduct involves a member of the clergy (priest or deacon), call the Chancellor at the Pastoral Care Assistance Office in the Pastoral Center. Whether you have questions, would like someone to hear your experience or if you wish to file a formal complaint, assistance is available.
- If the misconduct involves a member of a religious community (sister or brother), contact the Religious Community Leadership or Supervisor. A directory is posted on this website.
- If the misconduct involves a lay person, contact the parish, school or institution Supervisor. Listings are in the Official Minnesota Catholic Directory, available in each local office.
Healing Services
In collaboration with the Office of Liturgy, the Office of Pastoral Care Assistance offers resources to parishes in the diocese for Healing Masses. This is yet another form of outreach to those who have been abused or know victims of abuse. Go to the Gathering Space at www.safeandsacred.org for a calendar of Healing Masses in the diocese.
Programs for children and young people
There are several Safe Environment programs used in the Catholic Schools and Parish Religious Education programs across the Diocese of Winona. These programs address a variety of topics including, but not limited to:
- Chastity Education
- Stranger Danger
- Total Safety Awareness
- Bus Safety
- Crisis Management in the classroom
- Good Touch and Bad Touch
- The Right to Say No
- How to tell
We are currently exploring a Personal Protection Empowerment Program which addresses Safety Awareness and Family Education. This curriculum was piloted in four schools during the 2006-2007 school year and will again be piloted at four additional sites beginning in the fall of the 2007-2008 school year.
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