By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
MIAMI � You do the math:� More than 30,000 Archdiocese of Miami employees and volunteers have been trained in Virtus� Protecting God�s Children program since it began in 2004;
� 216 Virtus training sessions were conducted in 2009, another 58 from January thru March 2010, and 34 more are currently scheduled;
� the archdiocese has 130 trained facilitators who conduct the training sessions in both English and Spanish.
Someone�s working overtime � and not even getting paid for it.
But Virtus facilitators say they do not see their work as a job � most of them already have the fulltime variety � but as a ministry.
Following are brief profiles of five of these hard-working Virtus volunteers, along with their reasons for being involved in the ministry.
Father Kris Bartos
Father Bartos is assistant principal for Christian Formation at Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches. He has led 55 Virtus sessions.
Why did you become a facilitator?
�I found when we started the program that there was a need (for facilitators) in the western Broward county area, so I contacted Deacon (Frank) O�Gorman, (Virtus coordinator) at the time, and offered my service to the community.�
Why is this mission important to you?
�I feel that there was a lot of �finger-pointing� going on about child abuse in the Church and I wanted to try to set the record straight about this problem � to help the Archdiocese of Miami �get the word out� about child abuse and how to stop it. I have had many parents and educators in the public schools here in south Broward say after the sessions that they need something like this in their schools. I am glad I could help in this endeavor.�
Antonio Cejas
Cejas is principal at St. Hugh School in Coconut Grove. He has been a facilitator since June 2008 and just recently became a facilitator trainer. He has led 25 sessions to date.
Why did you become a facilitator?
�The pain and suffering associated with sexual abuse is immeasurable. The biggest and best way to stop or prevent sexual abuse is to talk about it. My ministry is one of education and of bringing God�s healing word to those in need and those who are entrusted with the supervision of children. Predators thrive on silence and will not survive without silence. Do not let the predators have the silence they need to manipulate, groom, and abuse children and vulnerable adults. This is why I take being a Virtus facilitator as a calling from God to minister.�
Why is this mission important to you?
�Sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults is a grim fact of life in our society. It is more common than most people realize. Some surveys say that at least 1 out of 5 women and 1 out of 10 men recall sexual abuse in childhood. Parents, teachers and entire Church communities need not feel helpless about the problem. This personal mission to create awareness and educate others continues to push me to �protect the children of God�.�
Mara Goldin
Goldin is a teacher and parishioner at St. Jerome Parish and School in Fort Lauderdale. She has led 75 Virtus sessions.
Why did you become a facilitator?
�God calls each of us to a ministry that is very near and dear to us in the Catholic Church. I heard the call from God that asked a very simple question. �How can you protect my children?� In 2003, I was asked to attend a workshop to become a facilitator for Protecting God�s Children. While attending this workshop I realized the information I was learning had to be passed onto everyone who works or volunteers with children. My calling is to teach adults that tangible changes need to be made to protect the children in our churches, schools, communities, and in the homes. As a facilitator, it means a dedication to training everyone to recognize the signs of child sexual abuse. Our children are a precious gift from God. How can we not protect them?�
Why is this mission important to you?
�God has called me to this mission to educate and protect his children. As a facilitator/trainer/coordinator, I want every adult who interacts with children to be educated and trained on preventing child sexual abuse from happening in our parishes and schools. As caring adults we need to learn the warning signs of a potential abuser, we need be aware of what is happening in the lives of our children, we need to communicate our concerns about inappropriate behavior or suspect abuse, and we need to create a safer world for our children.�
MARY ANN NEAL
Neal works as an office manager and is a member of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Miami Shores. She was trained as a facilitator in 2008 and has led 21 sessions.
Why did you become a facilitator?
�I became a facilitator simply because there was a need. I have no special talent in this area, but just put myself out there, hoping � and praying � that God will help me. I do this every time I get up to speak when leading a session. It is not my message, but His. That is what helps me get over my initial fear. I also wanted to try to make this message be one of hope. When the program first began, I heard a lot of grumbling about having to attend this program. I want to make people feel that this is not a punishment, but rather a request for their assistance to make our community a safer/better one.�
Why is this mission so important to you?
�This mission is important to me because of all the things happening in the world today. It is of utmost importance that we, as Catholics and caring human beings, do all we can to stop abuse from happening, not only on our grounds and in our ministries, but in our world. It is the simplest way to show we are compassionate people and truly care about others. It is easy to sit back and complain about the �way things are� � much more difficult to take actions to change those things.�
Ann Stiles
Stiles is a legal secretary and parishioner at St. Helen in Fort Lauderdale. She has led 30 Virtus sessions.
Why did you become a facilitator?
�Initially because my pastor sent me to the meeting as a representative from our parish to see what Virtus was all about. But after sitting through the session I realized that I was supposed to be there. I am a facilitator because through me I can deliver this message of educating people of the importance of being aware of what is going on in our surroundings, not only in our parishes but in our communities at large.�
Why is this mission important to you?
�I have children and grandchildren. While my girls were growing up I was involved with them in their activities and subsequently have worked with children in several areas. I am very passionate about the welfare of our children and vulnerable adults. In passing on this message of awareness, if I can help one child or vulnerable adult, I have done what I have been called to do.�
