Requirements for Volunteers

Like all parishes in the Diocese of Jefferson City, St. Brendan is committed to providing a safe environment for children and vulnerable adults. As part of our effort to achieve this, all parish volunteers are required to comply with certain criteria. Full information is found on the diocesan website.

The definition of "volunteer"

This is how the diocesan policy for volunteers describes what a volunteer is:

For the purpose of these policies, the definition of a volunteer is anyone who serves the mission of the Church with no expectation of being paid. For these policies, there are three categories of volunteers: (a) those whose volunteer duties involve contact with minors; (b) those whose volunteer duties will not involve contact with minors; and (c) those whose duties will not involve contact with minors and who volunteer no more than one time per calendar year. There are different requirements for these three groups of volunteers, as you will see in sections 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4. Volunteers who do not work with minors may be members of a council or committee (e.g., parish and finance councils, or
stewardship committee), the officers of a Church organization (e.g., Altar Society or Men’s group), or certain volunteers for an event (e.g., at a parish picnic or fish fry when there is no involvement with minors during their service in the kitchen). Please keep in mind that involvement in church-related activities is not defined as volunteering (e.g., participating in a quilting group, altar society meetings, or attending Mass or devotions). These forms of participation may be contributing to the mission of the church, but they are not strictly forms of volunteering.

Three categories of volunteers

The diocesan policy divides volunteers into three categories with different requirements, as follows:

1.2 Safe Environment Requirements for Volunteers Whose Duties Involve Contact With Minors

All volunteers whose duties involve contact with minors must accomplish the following prior to volunteering:
• complete a Protecting God’s Children (Virtus) workshop in person or online;
• complete a check through the National Sex Offender Registry;
• complete the Child Abuse or Neglect Registry background check form;
• read and consent to the Code of Pastoral Conduct.

If the person wishing to volunteer does not have a Social Security Number, a copy of the individual’s passport or visa must accompany the Child Abuse or Neglect Registry background check form. If the individual does not have a passport or visa, then the Director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection must be informed of the individual’s non-citizenship status. This information will accompany the form when submitted to the State of Missouri.

Effective July 1, 2021, all Catholic School parents will be required to complete the requirements in 1.2. In some instances, parents may be exempt from some requirements. These instances must be approved through the Catholic Schools Office and the Office of Child and Youth Protection.

1.3 Safe Environment Requirements for Volunteers Whose Duties Do Not Involve contact with Minors

All volunteers whose duties do not involve contact with minors must accomplish the following prior to volunteering in any Church Related activities:
• complete a Protecting God’s Children (Virtus) workshop in person or online;
• complete a check through the National Sex Offender Registry;
• read and consent to the Code of Pastoral Conduct.

1.3.1 This category of volunteer must be accompanied at all times by someone who has completed all requirements for volunteers who work with minors (group 1.2).

1.4 Safe Environment Requirements for Volunteers Whose Duties Do Not Involve Contact with Minors and Who Volunteer No More Than One Time Per Calendar Year

All volunteers whose duties do not involve contact with minors and who volunteer no more than one time per calendar year must accomplish the following prior to volunteering in any Church Related activities:
• complete a check through the National Sex Offender Registry;
• read and consent to the single use color coded Code of Pastoral Conduct to indicate single occasion volunteer

1.4.1 This category of volunteer must be accompanied at all times by someone who has completed all requirements for volunteers who work with minors (group 1.2)