A session on the Virtus Programme, directed by the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission (AFLC), was organised by the Catholic Children on Fire for Christ (CCFC) for teachers of religion at Government primary and secondary schools in the Northern Vicariate.
It was held on Monday, June 29 in the Meeting Room of Church of the Nativity, Crystal Stream, Petit Valley from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Twenty–seven participants representing nine Government schools attended. In addition, there were eight catechists from St Finbar’s Parish, resulting in an overall registration of 35 persons.
The Virtus Programme challenges us to answer the call to protect God’s children from abuse of different forms and shares with us a plan as to how this could be effected.
The programme took the form of an interactive workshop which included live talks, video presentations, questions to be answered orally or in written form, moments of silent self-questioning as well as very lively discussions.
The presentation by Amber Grant of the Children’s Authority was
mind-blowing. Participants were in awe at the statistics presented on child abuse here in Trinidad and Tobago.
The need for prayer and discernment was emphasised as was the necessity for everyone to believe he or she could personally make a difference in the children’s lives, by carefully observing them and allowing them to speak openly about matters without fear of being criticised, victimised or dismissed as troublemakers.
At the end participants were encouraged to reflect on what they could or should do to make their environment a safer place for the children with whom they interact.
Our special thanks to the AFLC and Grant for the guidance we all received to enable us to satisfactorily deal with protecting God’s children.
There are upcoming sessions for the Virtus Protecting God’s Children programme in the Northern and Southern Vicariates, please contact the AFLC for more information and registration at Phone/WhatsApp 299-1047, 672-4280, email: familylife@abpos.org, Facebook and Instagram: @familylifecommission. Website: aflcrc.org