Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger | Diocese of Tucson website

By Sheri Dahl, Superintendent of Catholic Schools 

On Tuesday, April 18, Catholic school leaders, parish religious education leaders, and compliance officers gathered at the Bishop Kicanas Pastoral Center to learn about the integration of two safe environment programs: Protect Young Eyes and Circle of Grace.    

The Diocese of Tucson has been utilizing the Circle of Grace curriculum in its parishes and schools since 2018 in response to the USCCB’s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Circle of Grace was created by the Archdiocese of Omaha “to educate and empower children and young people to actively participate in a safe environment for themselves and others,” the website states. 

"To enhance the lessons with much-needed digital awareness and discipleship content, the Department of Catholic Schools partnered with Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes, to create companion lessons and resources to complement Circle of Grace," said Chris McKenna. 

During the educators’ training, McKenna expressed, “There was genuine excitement among leaders for this new material and I'm so thankful for their commitment! I'm confident that our efforts will increase the confidence of young people in the Diocese of Tucson to conduct themselves safely in both physical and digital spaces.”

Sheri Dahl emphasized the importance of parental involvement, stating, "We rely on our parents to be the first and primary teachers of their children in all things, including how to prevent children from being victimized by those who would do them harm."

Bishop Edward Weisenburger acknowledged the efforts put forth in implementing these programs, stating, “I am most grateful for the hard work done in the parishes and schools to ensure that all mandates of the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People are effectively fulfilled."

The collaboration between educators, parents, and experts like Chris McKenna highlights a concerted effort to prioritize the safety and well-being of children in the Diocese of Tucson through comprehensive programs like Protect Young Eyes and Circle of Grace.