I hope you all had a wonderful summer and had the opportunity to enjoy a day at the beach, a fun family picnic, or your favorite destination.
Now that autumn is approaching, many of your children and grandchildren have resumed full time in-person learning. The teachers and staff in our Diocesan Catholic Schools continue educating our children while keeping them safe and protected.
Saint Pope John Paul II said, “Saint Joseph was a just man, a tireless worker, the upright guardian of those entrusted to his care. May he always guard, protect and enlighten families.”
Protect is defined as ‘to keep safe from harm or injury’. Let us keep our students and their families in our prayers and pray that they remain safe and always feel protected as they start a new school year.
Your prayers for our students are always appreciated, and so is your continued commitment to our ministries, which has been evident through your kind and generous gifts to the 2021 Annual Catholic Appeal.
One of our extremely important ACA supported ministries in our diocese is The Office for Safe Environments. Safe Environments refers to environments that are created and maintained in an effort to provide all people with the safest possible place in which to minister, study, and work. The responsibilities of this office include overseeing the creation and implementation of safe environments programs and policies.
The Diocese of Norwich is committed to the safety of children, young people, and adults. One way to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults is to restrict access to them to only those persons we know to be trustworthy and reliable. To do this, the Diocese, through the Office for Safe Environments, is committed to the comprehensive screening of all Church-related employees and volunteers who have regular contact with children and/or vulnerable adults.
“We are all called to be vigilant, and consistent in our screening and safety education so that all our young people and vulnerable adults have safe and nurturing places to learn and grow in their faith,” Kathy D’Amelio, director of The Office for Safe Environments, said.
Our ACA supported ministries are certainly blessed to receive your generous assistance. Your financial support of the 2021 Annual Catholic Appeal along with your prayers continue to be extremely important to help all our ministries carry out their missions. To make a monetary contribution to our 2021 ACA “One Faith, One Family,” please go online to www.norwichdiocesedevelopment.org or contact Heather Harris, Campaign Manager, at 860-886-1928 ext. 111. Thank you so much for your generosity. Stay safe and be well.
By Gina Foster