Volunteer Screening
The SAFETY ENVIRONMENT POLICY was mandated across the Archdiocese of Toronto in 2001.
All volunteers must be screened in order to participate in parish ministry.
As such, every volunteer is required to complete the Volunteer Screening Program prior to starting ministry work to be in compliance with the mandate of the Archdiocese and the eligibility requirement for insurance coverage of volunteers.
We sincerely thank you for your interest in serving and for your generous offering of your precious time and talents.
Applicants are accepted into ministry service in accordance with our screening requirements, government regulations and the need of the parish. We will carefully review all volunteer applications. Some persons may be prohibited from volunteering due to: safety, age, criminal record, induction into Catholic Faith, performance, experience, education and/or theology experience and some may be placed in a ministry not necessarily the ministry applied for.
WHAT IS SCREENING?
- It is a process to foster and maintain a safe environment.
- It determines the appropriate match between the volunteer and ministry position (Best-Fit)
WHY DO WE SCREEN?
- To safeguard those we serve especially the most vulnerable
- To preserve the safety, integrity and reputation of our volunteers and clergy
- To fulfill our moral and legal obligation as a faith community
WHO ADMINISTERS THE PROGRAM?
- Parish Priest
- Parish Screening Committee
- Parish Secretary or Administrator
WHO HAS TO COMPLETE THE VOLUNTEER SCREENING PROGRAM?
- All NEW Volunteers
- Existing Volunteers wishing to volunteer in another ministry have to inform the Volunteer Screening Committee at guardiananglsbrvs@archtoronto.org before starting ministry work
LAY ASSOCIATIONS
Lay Associations such as CWL, Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary and Rosary Apostolate are not parish ministries but separate entities that have and are responsible for their own leadership, governance, members, volunteers, mandates, insurance, and screening of their own members as part of its "duty of care". Therefore, the Archdiocese of Toronto and parishes are not responsible for and will not screen lay association members and volunteers to serve in their associations. Insurance coverage under the Archdiocese of Toronto's insurance policy does not extend to these associations and their programs, or their members and volunteers for the work they do for and under these associations.
If a pastor requests lay association members to coordinate a parish activity or project, these members must be screened (prior to volunteering) as part of a parish ministry applicable to the activity and will be serving under that parish ministry and not as a lay association member. Example: CWL or Knights of Columbus members serving a parish fundraising activity should be screened as a member of the Fundraising Committee which is a parish ministry. As for all volunteers, these members must undergo screening prior to starting any parish activity.
VOLUNTEER SCREENING PROGRAM STEPS
STEP 1: READ THE TABLE BELOW AND NOTE THE RISK CATEGORY OF THE PARISH MINISTRY YOU WISH TO VOLUNTEER WITH THEN GO TO STEP 2
RISK CATEGORY TABLE OF PARISH MINISTRIES
STEP 2: COMPLETE THE APPROPRIATE VOLUNTEER APPLICATION
Click the applicable link below, read carefully and follow the instructions/prompts within the Volunteer Application Form.
Required documents are linked within each Volunteer Application Form.
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- GENERAL RISK MINISTRY - ADULT ≥18
- GENERAL RISK MINISTRY - MINOR <18
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- POSITION OF TRUST-HIGH RISK MINISTRY - ADULT ≥18
- POSITION OF TRUST-HIGH RISK MINISTRY - MINOR <18
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STEP 3: WAIT FOR AN EMAIL FROM A MEMBER OF THE VOLUNTEER SCREENING COMMITTEE.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART OF GUARDIAN ANGELS PARISH
Altar Guild - guardianangelsaltarguild@gmail.com
Altar Server - guardianangelsaltarservers@gmail.com
Building Maintenance - guardianangelscustodial@gmail.com
Eucharist - emhcofguardianangels@gmail.com
Fundraising - gapfundraising@gmail.com
Hospitality - guardianangelsushers@gmail.com
Liturgy of the Word with Children - gapmarriageprep@gmail.com
Marriage Preparation - gapmarriageprep@gmail.com
Music - guardianangelschoirs@gmail.com
RCIA - gaprcia@gmail.com
Youth - faceofga@gmail.com
The VOLUNTEER SCREENING PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBERS at Guardian Angels Parish
Christian De Castro
Joy Del Castillo (Coordinator)
Tom Forte
Ariel Guevarra
Biju Punnooran
"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do."
- Ephesians 2:10 -
Interested in Volunteering for an Archdiocese Mission or Parish Ministry?
Volunteering for the Archdiocese/Parish is a rewarding way to serve and contribute to your community, grow and share your faith, socialize, and further connect with your church family through the sharing of the precious gifts of your time and talents.
How To Get involved:
Those interested in serving should contact their local Parish office and/or Ministry Leaders for consideration and to: discuss potential opportunities, review ministry position requirements, and discuss the mandatory Archdiocese volunteer screening process: Strengthening Our Caring Community.
Before Volunteering Can Begin:
Strengthening Our Caring Community was mandated by the Cardinal and the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario over 20 years ago as part of the larger Archdiocesan Safe Environment policy, implemented for the protection and care of our community and all who participate and engage in our parishes, programs, and ministries. All volunteers are required to comply with our screening program managed by the Archdiocese Volunteer Screening Department and administered through each Parish's Volunteer Screening Coordinator and Screening Committee.
Ministry positions are assigned a “High” or “General” risk level based on responsibility, government laws and regulations, participant vulnerability, and volunteer exposure to which the volunteer screening process directly responds to. Outlined below is an overview of the mandatory screening steps that all applicants must successfully complete and commit to, before they can be accepted into (or continue in) ministry and become an active Archdiocese/Parish volunteer.
Mandatory Screening Steps:
General Risk:
- Application Form
- Ministry Position Description Review
- Orientation & Training (includes Code of Conduct, AODA, OHRC, Parish, and Ministry training)
- Volunteer Acknowledgement and Agreement Form
- Ongoing Supervision and Evaluation
High Risk (Positions of Trust):
- Application Form
- Ministry Position Description Review
- Interview
- Reference Checks (3 required for adults & 2 for minors)
- Criminal Records & Judicial Matters Check, and Annual Declarations (adults 18+ complete police check through our service provider)
- Orientation & Training (includes Code of Conduct, AODA, OHRC, Parish, and Ministry training)
- Volunteer Acknowledgement and Agreement Form
- Ongoing Supervision and Evaluation
Volunteers usually commit for one year, during which time there is a probationary period to review mutual "best fit", along with ongoing training to support them in their role, performance evaluations, and feedback to review and ensure "best fit" continually. Please contact your local Parish Volunteer Screening Coordinator/Screening Committee for further details.
We sincerely thank all those interested in volunteering for the generous offering of their precious time and talents; however, please note that applicants are accepted into ministry service at the discretion of the Pastor and Parish Ministry in accordance with our screening requirements and government regulations. Therefore, some persons may be prohibited from volunteering due to: safety, age, criminal record, induction into Catholic Faith, performance, experience, education and/or theology experience.
“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
- Proverbs 11:25 -
