Safe Environment

Safe Environment

Here at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, we are committed to providing the safest environment possible for our youth as well as for all of our parishioners and visitors who may be vulnerable in any way. The Diocese of Springfield, along with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has provided us with strong directives to ensure that we do provide a safe environment. To learn more about these efforts, please visit our Diocesan Safe Environment Page.


To learn about what we are doing here at St. Francis in this regard and to contact our Parish Child Advocate,

please continue reading below.

Roberta Lojko is the Child Advocate for St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
She can be reached by phone at 413-213-0028.

Parish Child Advocate Role and Responsibilities


Child Advocates:

  • Provide training sessions for relevant employees and volunteers;
  • Oversee the completion of all relevant CORIs;
  • Ensure that Codes of Conduct are signed and filed at parish;
  • Maintain records for annual compliance audit.


Documentation kept by Child Advocates:

  • Create master list of all parish personnel;
  • Identify those who will have contact with children, youth and vulnerable adults;
  • Note dates that relevant individuals:
  • Complete CORI form
  • Sign Code of Conduct
  • View video/DVD on reporting abuse

Catechetical Leader Role and Responsibilities



Catechetical Leaders (DREs, CREs, AREs):

Catechetical Leaders ensure that religious education programs follow the Safe Environment protocols described in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, Article 12.


Catechetical Leaders:

  • Distribute prevention curricula to catechists;
  • Ensure that catechists schedule and teach prevention material;
  • Maintain a master list of all children and youth enrolled in Religious Education;
  • Document attendance;
  • File copies of letters sent to parents about prevention material, invitations to meetings, etc.;
  • File parent requests that child not participate in prevention education;
  • Document prevention resources provided to parents of children who do not participate;
  • Document prevention resources provided to parents of new students.
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