CRUSADER PRIDE & CRUSADER PARENTS
From the Office of Catholic Education
April 12, 2010
RE: April is Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month
April is National Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness month. To our sorrow, we know how these two issues are often inter-related. The sexual abuse of children is a difficult topic to address. No one wants to believe that it is true, or that it could take place in their neighborhood or community.
Awareness and education are the key to the prevention of child sexual abuse. During the month of April, we hope that you will share this prevention information with the parents in your school community.
As the primary educators of their children, parents provide lessons about personal safety throughout their child’s life. They instruct their children about numerous safety issues (i.e. water, fire, street, bike, etc). Parents also must have ongoing conversations with their children about their personal boundaries, what to do if anyone violates these or does anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia offers the following resources for parents:
www.virtus.org
Virtus offers online resources for parents, educators and youth ministry volunteers.
Read the Virtus handboook for parents: Parent Handbook
Office of Child and Youth Protection Articles
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Father Judge Mothers' Association
Father Judge Fathers' Association
Band Parents
Crew Parents
A SALESIAN PARENT
Jane Frances de Chantal - wife, mother, widow, foundress and saint - was the close friend and collaborator of St. Francis de Sales. After being widowed at a young age and responsible for the care of her young children and in-laws, Jane found great strength in her faith. As her children grew she grew in her own faith and began to talk with Bishop de Sales about her future. He helped her to discover that God was calling her to continue her vocation as not only a mother but also as a sister, that is a nun. Along with Bishop de Sales, Jane founded the Order of the Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary. Hospitality, heart and finding God at home - the qualities of a parent - became the charism of the Visitation Sisters. Their spirit of collaboration and kindness became known as Salesian spirituality and continues in the Salesian tradition found at Fr. Judge High School. It is evident in the way the faculty and staff are dedicated to working with the mothers and fathers of Fr. Judge.
St. Jane is the patron of forgotten people, in-law problems, loss of parents, parents separated from children, and widows.
Prayer:
Lord, you chose Saint Jane Frances to serve you both in marriage and in religious life. By her prayers help us to be faithful in our vocation and always to be the light of the world. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
CRUSADER PARENTS
Parents of Fr. Judge students take the spirit and example of Francis and Jane and apply it to their own circumstances as parents of high school boys in today's world. The Crusader Parent should feel that he or she is able to communicate with the school in a variety of arenas. The Fr. Judge community works to build on our relationships: parents/guardians, administration, faculty, students and the whole community.
This page will be updated on a regular basis with information to help achieve the above goals.