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Virtus Volunteer training
Safe Environment Training is required for ALL volunteers 18 years or older who minister within the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
For the safety and well-being of everyone, especially the vulnerable, all volunteers working within the Archdiocese of San Antonio are required to complete Safe Environment Training through Virtus.org. This essential program helps ensure a secure and nurturing environment for all participants.
You can find out more through the Archdiocesan website. Click the button below.
Volunteer Training
All St. Joseph Catholic Church adult volunteers and ministry leaders (18 yrs and older) who work/volunteer with youth and/or vulnerable persons, must complete the Archdiocese of San Antonio’s Virtus Online Training. The training program allows participants to register and complete training online from any computer with internet access. Virtus training will be good for a 3-year period.
How to Complete
In order to fulfill this requirement, please complete the steps as outlined in the below two areas:
New Volunteers (volunteers who have never registered and/or completed Virtus training)
Current / Former Volunteers (volunteers who completed Virtus training within the past 3 years or need to recertify)
About Virtus
The word virtus comes from Latin and speaks to character and strength. It carries the sense of integrity, courage, and moral excellence. The VIRTUS program lives out that meaning by equipping the Church to protect children and create spaces where they are safe, respected, and cared for.
In accordance with the Archdiocese of San Antonio’s Code of Conduct, all required volunteers complete two Safe Environment courses: Protecting God’s Children and Sexual Harassment Training. Once both are finished, participants receive a certification that remains valid for three years. A Criminal Background Check is also required and is coordinated alongside this training.
VIRTUS is built around prevention rather than response. Its purpose is to reduce risk before harm can occur by forming adults who are attentive, informed, and ready to act. The program emphasizes five essential practices:
Learning to recognize the signs that abuse may be occurring
Limiting and supervising access to children
Providing oversight for programs that involve youth
Understanding how children express concern or distress
Speaking up and sharing concerns when something seems wrong
If you have misplaced your VIRTUS username or password, please contact the Archdiocese of San Antonio’s Office of Victim Assistance & Safe Environment at 210-734-7786.
Safe Environment Protocols
The Archdiocese of San Antonio provides several resources and videos to parishes in an effort to help programs talk to students and parents about safety measures.
If you would like to learn more about what the Archdiocese offers or to watch videos for specific age levels, check out the following links:
Videos for Families
Grades K-5
Empowering God's Children
Grades 6-8
Empowering God's Children
High School
Empowering God's Children
Grados K-5
Para Dar Poder a Los Niños
Grados 6-8
Para Dar Poder a Los Niños
Grados 9-12
Para Dar Poder a Los Niños
A gentle, child-friendly song that teaches young children about body safety and personal boundaries in a simple, reassuring way parents can trust.
A brief guide from the Archdiocese of San Antonio that helps parents recognize abuse, talk with their children about safety, and know what to do if concerns arise.
Safety Procedures
The safety of our students, families, volunteers, and staff is a top priority for our Faith Formation Ministry. It is important to us that parents feel comfortable and confident while their children attend classes at St. Joseph's. We take several steps to ensure we are providing a safe environment for all.
Each of our volunteers and all of the staff are required to take Safe Environment Trainings. Our Good Shepherd and Elementary students must be picked up from their classroom to guarantee that they leave with a trusted adult.
To help with safety measures, we ask that parents read the below handbook provided by the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
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