As many of you may have heard, St.  Bernadette Church is implementing a Galveston-Houston Diocesan Program for Protecting Children (VIRTUS).  Because our troop is chartered by St. Bernadette Church, ours is a youth ministry that falls under the guidelines of this important program.

As volunteers, adult leaders and parents of the boys that participate in the scouting program, we are ALL considered to have regular contact with the boys in our troop.  This ranges from an adult attending every meeting, campout or activity, to providing transportation, to just coming to pick your son up at the end of our weekly meetings.  As a members of a troop chartered by a Catholic church, we are all required to participate in a Virtus workshop, even if we attend another church for worship.

The Virtus workshop is a 3- hour, facilitated presentation using videos and follow up discussions to address child sexual abuse.  There are several forms that will need to be filled out at that time as well.  Many of you, as BSA trained adult leaders, have completed the BSA Youth Protection Training (YPT).  Information presented in the Virtus workshop supplements the YPT.  As a parent, the information presented is useful in knowing what to look for and how to deal with child sexual abuse issues.

What our Charter Organization and our Troop are asking of all parents is to attend a scheduled Virtus workshop.  You can register on-line and view a schedule of upcoming workshops at:

www.virtusonline.org/

Click on the "Registration" link and at the next screen enter the registration password "trust."

Next, select "Diocese of Galveston-Houston, TX."  Then select the "I would like to attend a protecting God's Children session."  Then fill out the form.

Registration must be done on-line.  If you cannot register on-line, please contact Mrs. Carroll Mellina at 281 486-0337.  Carroll is the St. Bernadette Parish Virtus Coordinator.  She can also answer any questions you may have regarding the Virtus program.

We have been asked by the Galveston-Houston Diocese to have all parents/adults attend a Virtus presentation before the end of this year.  After that time any adult who has not attended the workshop will not be permitted to participate in troop activities until they have attended a Virtus workshop.  So please make plans to attend soon.  If there is enough interest, it may be possible to schedule a special session for the parents of our troop.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me at 281 316-1844 or at pjdwyer@earthlink.net.  I don't check that address regularly, so if it's urgent, it's best to call.  You can also contact Carroll for any questions regarding the Virtus program.  Her phone number again is, 281 486-0337 and her e-mail address is mellinac@stbchurch.org.

Our goal is building strong character, leadership and values in our young men.  The Virtus program is another tool that will help us to achieve this goal.  Please sign up soon!