St. Joseph Odenton Catholic Church

Thank you for your interest in serving as a volunteer at St. Joseph Catholic Church.  The Archdiocese of Baltimore and St. Joseph Catholic Church are committed to providing a safe environment for children and youth. We will exclude from ministry, employment and volunteer service anyone against whom there is a credible allegation of child abuse.

All parents and volunteers who will have substantial contact with children in any of the ministries at St. Joseph must be fully compliant with the Archdiocese child protection policies before they can serve as volunteer.

 

As of November 1, 2017, VIRTUS is the new child protection compliance management system used by all Archdiocese of Baltimore schools and parishes (www.virtusonline.org).

CURRENT volunteers, who registered on Shield the Vulnerable between September 1, 2014 and October 31, 2017, will NOT be required to create a new volunteer account on VIRTUS.  All records will transfer from Shield the Vulnerable to VIRTUS.

 

NEW volunteers AND volunteers who had not yet registered in Shield the Vulnerable , will be required to register using VIRTUS.

 

POLICIES: 

VIRTUS will direct volunteers to review the Code of Conduct for Church Personnel and A Statement of Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth.

 

VIRTUS will direct volunteers to complete the new online training Protecting God’s Children.

 

BACKGROUND CHECKS: 

The Archdiocese of Baltimore will continue to work with Employment Screening Resources (ESR) to conduct online criminal history screening; as part of the registration process, VIRTUS will direct volunteers to the ESR website where they will be asked to submit to an online criminal history screening.

 

 

 

VIRTUS currently does not ask for references as part of the online process.  However, Archdiocesan policy still requires volunteers to provide THREE references: (1) Personal (if previously worked or volunteered in the Archdiocese, reference must be the applicant’s most recent supervisor), (2) Family Member/Other Personal, and (3) Professional/Civic (if providing a business address or phone, provide company name as well).

 

 

Presently there is no requirement for Teen Volunteers to register with VIRTUS (although expected in the future).

 

All applicants for volunteer service who are at least 14 years of age must:

 

Be sure to include complete and current mailing addresses and telephone numbers for your three references on page 2.  The references must be adults.

A teacher, principal, pastor, etc. may be the “Professional Reference.”

The application must also be signed by the volunteer’s parent or guardian.  The signature must be placed beneath the applicant’s signature.

 

These reference forms are completed by the three individuals noted on page 2 of your Application. All forms should be returned to Ms. John Lashley at St. Joseph Catholic Church, by mail (1283 Odenton Rd., Odenton, MD 21113) or email (jlashley@stjosephodenton.org). A cross-check may be performed by the parish either by mail or telephone to confirm your references.

 

 

 

 

Children under 14 are considered to be doing Christian service and need not acquired volunteer certification requirements. A parish information form and parent permission may be required by the ministry leader in order for the child to volunteer with a ministry.