The Diocese of Pittsburgh has adopted the Empowering God’s Children® program. They say it is an age-appropriate comprehensive program through which educators (teachers, catechists and youth ministers) and parents can give children and youth the tools they need to protect themselves and what to do if someone tries to violate their boundaries.
Each year, the program provides a theme that introduces and builds on the basic concepts of the Teaching Boundaries and Safety Guide. The material is developmentally appropriate for each age group and includes content and activities that reinforce the message. Within each lesson plan is the ability to tailor the activities and messaging to meet the needs of the children and youth at all levels.
Click here for Program Overview.
The Diocese of Pittsburgh is requiring all parishes to teach your children (before fall of 2022)
Lesson 1 Physical Boundaries: Safe and Unsafe Touching Rules: Students learn simple rules about what to do and how to react when someone’s touch is confusing, scary, or makes the child or young person feel uncomfortable. Young people start to deal with the real risks they face when they are out in the world and on their own, and they begin to learn where to draw boundary lines in relationships.
**This program, Empowering God’s Children®, replaces the "Personal Safety Curriculum" of Catholic Vision of Love (CVOL) provided by the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Parents ONLY Meeting ~ Wed, Feb. 23, at 6:30pm in St. Marcellus Social Hall, 1340 Jefferson Rd, Jefferson PA 15344.
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PARENTS: pick one of the following options:
You will teach Empowering God’s Children® to your child at home. Click here for teaching Empowering God’s Children® to your child at home.
OR your child will attend the onsite session of Empowering God’s Children® at St. Matthias Parish on:
Sunday, Apr. 24 (for grades 6-8) after 9:30am Mass (approx. 10:30am to 11:00am) in St. Hugh Social Hall,
Monday, May 2 (for grades 3,4,5) from 4:30pm to 4:55pm in St. Hugh Social Hall, and/or
Monday, May 2 (for grades 1-2) from 5:00pm to 5:30pm in St. Hugh Social Hall.
Click here for Lesson 1 for Grades 1 & 2.
Click here for Lesson 1 for Grades 3,4,5.
Click here for Lesson 1 for Grades 6,7,8.
~ In Lesson 1, there are "Instructions for Lesson Leaders" for adults/parents only and the "Instructions for Students" sections/worksheets are for children. Click here for Teaching Boundaries and Safety Guide™ for Educators & Parents.
For Religious Education/Empowering God’s Children® questions, please feel free to contact
Rev. James Farnan at [email protected] or by phone at 724-966-7270, ext. 202.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Above program, guide & lessons links (and videos below) are available on http://virtusonline.org/virtus/.
Visit our Safe Environment webpage if you are interested in being a volunteer at St. Matthias Parish.
The introductory video for children and youth in this age range is designed to open a simple discussion about personal boundary safety. The video is brief and is not intended to be a substitute for the lesson itself. It's merely an introduction designed to "break the ice" and assist the transition of completing the interactive Lesson Activity options.