Policy Statement:
The Diocesan Policy, Protecting God's Children, requires every volunteer working with children under the age of 16 to:

1. Office of Religious Education
   SAINT THERESE PARISH
   151 Main Street
   Succasunna , NJ 07876
   Tel.: 973-584-9444 
   Website: www.StThereseroxbury.org ~ Email: [email protected]
   
   
   TO:       New Religious Education Volunteers
   
   FROM: Cathy McGuire, Director of Religious Education
   
   I am happy that you have chosen to be a part of the Religious Education family of volunteers here at St. Therese!  I sincerely believe that you will find it very rewarding no matter what area you are called to help with or how small the task you will enjoy working with the children of our parish.
   
   Of course, there is some paperwork necessary as you embark on this wonderful new journey. Below is a listing of the paper work and workshop requirements needed by the Diocese.  I have checked off and attached the forms we need from you for your particular position.  Each of these documents may also be found on the Parish Website under Protecting God’s Children link.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call me. Thank you!
   
   As of September 2021 there are new and/or updated requirements that I must share with all volunteers.  Below are the details for each requirement
    
    
   
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   Protecting God’s Children Requirements
   Since the "covid" shutdown the Rectory had a chance to do a good clean up of all volunteers PGC records. We were informed early September, that moving forward, EVERY VOLUNTEER will be required to login to VIRTUS.ORG, to update your clearance status.  You will either login (because you have an active or current account) or need to create an account as a St. Therese Parish VOLUNTEER.
   
   The process to complete these requirements have been streamlined into one registration interface. Simply go to www.virtus.org to begin the registration process and click “FIRST TIME REGISTRANT”. Select St. Therese Parish Volunteer OR St. Therese School Volunteer. It takes less than 10 minutes to complete and we ask that you complete all steps during the process. Please be sure to use your legal name when registering, no nicknames, please. 
   
   Step by step registration instructions can be viewed at Virtus Online Volunteer Instructions if you would like to view prior to beginning the registration process.
   
   
   Our Safe Environment Policy can be viewed on our Diocese Web Page.  Any questions or concerns please contact your Local Youth Protection Coordinator at St. Therese, Trisha Irving 973-584-8271 ex 700 or Eric Wilsusen, Director of Child & Youth Protection at the Diocese of Paterson at or 973-777-8818 x257.
   
   
   As a new volunteer you will also need to attend a PGC workshop. When you go to the VIRTUS website you will register for the class.  FYI - our Parish is St Therese, Succasunna in the Diocese of Paterson.  If the above listed date does not work for your schedule, when registering pick the next available date and location that works for you. We will update workshop dates at St Therese when available.
   
   In order to ensure our children are in a safe environment our Diocese requires the above safe environment compliance procedures be followed before our volunteer are allowed to work with children.
   
   Once again, thank you for your gift and for understanding that the importance of this process is to create a safe environment and Protect God’s Children.

Dear Volunteer:
On behalf of our parish/school, we would like to thank you for your gift of volunteering your time to the ministry and blessing of working with our children.
In order to ensure our children are in a safe environment our Diocese requires the following safe environment compliance procedures be followed before our volunteer are allowed to work with children:

• Complete an online background check through Selection.com known as Fastrax
• Read, understand and acknowledge a Pastoral Code of Conduct
• Attend a 3 hour Virtus live training  program entitled “Protecting God’s Children”  within the next 30 days

The process to complete these requirements have been streamlined into one registration interface. Simply go to www.virtusonline.org to begin the registration process and click “FIRST TIME REGISTRANT”. Select St. Therese Parish Volunterr OR St. Therese School Volunteer. It takes less than 10 minutes to complete and we ask that you complete all steps during the process. Please be sure to use your legal name when registering, no nicknames, please. 
Step by step registration instructions can be viewed at Virtus Online Volunteer Instructions if you would like to view prior to beginning the registration process.
Our Safe Environment Policy can be viewed on our Diocese Web Page.
Any questions or concerns please contact your Local Youth Protection Coordinator at St. Therese, Trisha Irving 973-584-8271 ex 700 or Eric Wilsusen, Director of Child & Youth Protection at the Diocese of Paterson at or 973-777-8818 x257.
Once again, thank you for your gift and for understanding that the importance of this process is to create a safe environment and Protect God’s Children.

Fr. Rick