St. Laurence Catholic Church is committed to providing a safe environment for all our parishioners, especially our children. Therefore, all parish programs abide by the Safe Environment: Protecting God’s Children policies put forth by the U.S. Bishops. All volunteers who have regular, ongoing interaction with children are obligated to complete VIRTUS training through the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Visit the archdiocesan website for more information.

Training Adults To Protect Children

The VIRTUS program educates and trains adults (clergy, religious, teachers, staff, volunteers, and parents) about the dangers of abuse, the warning signs of abuse, the ways to prevent abuse, the methods of properly reporting suspicions of abuse, and responding to allegations of abuse. Any one regularly working with or in regular contact with children under the age of 18 within our Church must attend this mandatory Archdiocesan 3 hour program.

Five years after attending Protecting God's chldren, all volunters will need to attend a refresher training program, entitled "Keeping the Promise Alive."  This refresher course is 1 1/2 hours long to renew your Virtus complianace. 

Training sessions for both programs are available at sites throughout the Archdiocese on a continuous schedule and specifically here at St. Laurence several times per year.
Click here for more information on the VIRTUS and “Keeping the Promise Alive” programs or to register for training sessions.

Training High School Teens to Protect Children

Any high school age student wishing to volunteer and work with children at St. Laurence must attend a Jeremiah 1:7 training.  Click here for more information on the Jeremiah 1:7 training including upcoming training dates.

Training Children to Protect Themselves

Annually a program is offered for all students in Kindergarten through 12 ^th grade with age specific lessons that provide knowledge for the students to protect themselves.  Click here for more information on the Sacred and Safe program including the dates for the coming school year.