Circle of Grace is a program created by the Archdiocese of Omaha that the Archdiocese of Indianapolis has adopted as its safe environment program. This is not a sexuality class. This is a program with lessons designed to teach children grades K-12 about healthy relationships and the goodness that exists within each of us.
"It is the love and goodness of God that surrounds us and all others. It is the recognition that God is with us always and is there to hep us in difficult situations. Through the Circle of Grace Program, adults assist children and youth to recognize God's love by understanding that each of us lives and moves within a Circle of Grace. Your Circle of Grace holds who you are in your body and through your senses. It holds your very essence in mind, heart, soul, and sexuality
"This holistic concept allows children and youth to identify uncomfortable situations long before any inappropriate touch may occur...The Circle of Grace program helps children and youth to identify early on when they are uncomfortable with a situation and incudes ways to seek the help of a trusted adult."
Circle of Grace Manuel, Introduction
"All children and youth are sacred creations of a loving GOd. However, today's children and youth live in a world in which they are often confronted by persons who pose a threat to them. Recognizing this, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2011 mandated that Catholic educators in schools, parish religious education, and youth ministry programs be proactive in teaching youth about their value and how to protect themselves in any way."
Sr. Cathy Campbell, Circle of Grace Update 2014
Directors of religious education programs, school and youth ministries are required by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis to attend training by the Circle of Grace Director, Sr. Cathy Campbell. During this training we are introduced to the program and given updated resources and guides to implementing it in our parishes and schools.
It is the responsibility of the DRE (or other coordinator of Circle of Grace) to prepare the catechists to teach the lessons in the classroom. Each lesson is pre-written, so nothing that is taught is the beliefs of the catechists, DRE or parish.