Child Abuse Prevention Team

St. Mary’s maintains a safe environment program which is connected to the Archdiocese of Boston’s Office for Child Advocacy Program. CAP teams provide training to support mandated and non-mandated reports in their parishes, provide guidance concerning reporting procedures, and act as liaisons from each parish to the Office for Child Advocacy.

Trained CAP Team members are Leo Racine, Karen Ackles and Barbara Brunelli.

Examples of activities or ministry’s work:

• Provides VIRTUS (Protecting God’s Children) training in fall and as needed
• Process and manage record keeping for CORI Authorization Forms and Code of Ministerial Behavior Forms

Child Abuse Prevention Resources

CORI Form

If you are a volunteer of any kind at St. Mary, you must submit a CORI authorization form ANNUALLY. Please download this year’s CORI form here and print it out. Alternatively, we can supply you with one at the rectory. You cannot mail this form in, nor scan it and email it to us, as your identity must be verified in person by a parish employee; we must send in forms with original signatures to the Archdiocese, as well. For more information, please contact pastoral associate, Leo Racine, at 508-528-0020 or pastoralassociate@stmarysfranklin.org.

Code of Ministerial Behavior

All volunteers must be provided with an Archdiocesan Code of Ministerial Behavior; signatures are not required. Copies of the Code will be emailed or given directly to all volunteers. You may also download the current Code here and review it before beginning your service as a volunteer. For more information, please contact pastoral associate, Leo Racine, at 508-528-0020 or pastoralassociate@stmarysfranklin.org.

Protecting God’s Children (VIRTUS)

All non-exempt volunteers must attend a two-hour workshop that teaches them how to help create a safe environment in our parish for children and vulnerable adults. (Exempt volunteers will be informed of this status.) A record of attendance is kept at the Archdiocese of Boston and the workshop does NOT need to be repeated. To sign up for a workshop at St. Mary’s or at another place in the Archdiocese, click the VIRTUS link above and then the box entitled “FIRST-TIME REGISTRANT.” To find a workshop that meets your schedule, follow the prompts and sign up. Your organization is “Boston, MA (Archdiocese).” You may also contact pastoral associate, Leo Racine, at 508-528-0020 or pastoralassociate@stmarysfranklin.org for more information.