Protecting God's Children

Dear Parents and Friends of the Parish Community of Saint Helen,

Thank you for volunteering to spend your time and talents with our children.

Based on the guidelines established in the Dallas Charter for Protecting God’s Children, our Archdiocese has implemented the following three requirements for all parish staff and all volunteers.

  1. Attendance at a Protecting God’s Children Workshop, a sexual abuse awareness program that is being held throughout the Archdiocese. Please register yourself online at the seminar of your choice and return the certificate of attendance to a St. Helen’s Staff member after completing the program. Find the schedule of seminars & registration link here

The online registration process for the workshop above will guide you through steps #2 and 3.

* Recertification is required every 5 years.  Please see below for details on recertification.

  1. Read Policy Document and sign electronic and hard copies: As part of the online process for the workshop above, you will be prompted to read the Policies on Professional and Ministerial Conduct and electronically sign the Acknowledgement of Compliance and Archdiocesan Code of Ethics (called appendix B found on page 23). Your signature acknowledges your understanding and acceptance of the Policy. Hard copy of your acknowledgement is also required for your our records. Please sign and return with your completed volunteer application (see #3 below).

  2. Complete Volunteer Application including permission for a criminal background check:  Lastly, all volunteers are required to complete a volunteer application which includes your authorization for a criminal history review based on your name, social security number, and date of birth.  Please submit the volunteer application to the Ministry Lead you are volunteering with. If you continue to be active at Saint Helen, a criminal background check will be performed every five years based on this authorization.

*NEED TO ATTEND THE WORKSHOP AGAIN? Volunteers must retrain every five years.  If you have taken Protecting God’s Children more than 5 years ago you can attend Keeping the Promise Alive Recertification Program. This is a 90-minute session.  You must sign up for this using your original Virtus login.  You will then choose the option for Live training to choose the session you wish to attend. 

How to Report Abuse: The Archdiocese of Newark takes very seriously any and all allegations of sexual misconduct by members of the clergy, Religious and lay staff of the Archdiocese. For more on how to report abuse go to THIS LINK.

  • 908-232-1214
  • Monday - Friday: 9:30am - 5:00pm
Mass Schedule:
Daily: Monday-Saturday 9am
Weekend: Sat 5pm | Sun 8am | 10am | 12pm | 6pm
  • 1600 Rahway Avenue, Westfield, NJ 07090
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