• The safety and well-being of our children is important to the effectiveness of the program. Therefore, each volunteer who has significant or sustained contact with children must participate in Protecting God’s Children, a program enabling volunteers to become partners with parents in securing safe environments for our children. This program consists of online enrichment classes, a criminal background check, and the fingerprinting of each volunteer. This is a Diocesan requirement for all staff and volunteers who work with children.
  
  If you or your child has been abused by a priest or staff member, you are strongly encouraged to contact the Police, the Parish Office & the following Diocesan representatives:
  “If any person may have been abused by any priest, they should immediately contact their local County Prosecutor’s Office and the Diocese’s Victims Assistance Coordinator:  Peggy Zanello at 973-879-1489. You may also be in touch with either of the Diocesan Response Officers:  Rev. Msgr. James T. Mahoney, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, 973-777-8818 Ext. 205 or Sister Mary Edward Spohrer, S.C.C., Chancellor/Delegate for Religious, 973-777-8818 Ext. 248.
  
  For the full Diocesan Policy on Child Protection, please go to http://patersondiocese.org/child-protection