Diocese of Rockford Formation in Christian Chastity and Safe Environment Program
The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People requires parishes and schools to provide formation to children in the areas of safety and the integrity of their person. The Diocese of Rockford is pleased to announce its new program for the children and youth of our Diocese: The Diocesan of Rockford Formation in Christian Chastity and Safe Environment Program for grades 1 though 8. The materials are comprehensive, thorough and meaningful, and are being used by educators in other dioceses with success. The program is mandatory for all Parish Religious Education programs and Catholic primary schools in the Diocese of Rockford. A separate program exists for high school aged youth.
The “Diocese of Rockford Formation in Christian Chastity and Safe Environment Program” consists of two parts – a Formation in Christian Chastity program to be taught in every grade from Grades 1 through 8, and a Safe Environment program taught in Grades 1, 3, 5 and 8.
The programs place a strong emphasis on the Church’s recognition that parents are the primary educators of their children, particularly in the areas of human intimacy. Throughout both the Formation in Christian Chastity portion of the program and the Safe Environment portion, parents are given a wealth of ideas and tools designed to assist them in fulfilling their task as primary educators of their children in these areas. Under this program the classroom will serve as reinforcement of the concepts taught in the home, always sensitive to the primary role to be played by parents.
The program in its Chastity Formation portion more concretely answers the Bishops’ call “to provide formation to children in the area(s) of…the integrity of their person.” Put quite simply, when we faithfully instill in our children the Catholic faith, we are protecting them against abuse and teaching them how to respond should they be victimized.
Below are the dates that St. Mary Parish will be doing the programs with the students during Religious Education class time.
Parents, we ask that you do the home materials before the classroom date.
Grade 1, 3, 5, 8 will also have the Safety Program on the dates listed.
| Sunday Classes | Wednesday Classes |
| Grade 1 - Sept. 26 | Grade 1 - Sept. 29 |
| Grade 2 - Oct. 17 | Grade 2 - Oct 20 |
| Grade 3 - Nov. 7 | Grade 3 - Nov. 10 |
| Grade 4 - Nov. 14 | Grade 4 - Nov. 17 |
| Grade 5 - Jan. 9 | Grade 5 - Jan. 12 |
| Grade 6 - Feb. 6 | Grade 6 - Feb. 9 |
| Grade 7 - Feb. 13 | Grade 7 - |
| Grade 8 - Feb. 27 | Grade 8 - |
