Through regular archdiocesan Safe Environment training, that goal continues to be fulfilled. The training seeks to ensure that the children in our communities of faith are safe by informing the community so we can work to prevent all types of abuse.<\/p>\n
Normally offered in English, the program has expanded to include Spanish-language classes thanks to Wendy Borjas and Iv\u00e1n Michel, parishioners of Our Lady Mother of the Church Parish in Commerce City. The first couple of Spanish-language instructors, they are committed to bringing this valuable information to the Hispanic community. Thanks to their dedication, 500 individuals have been trained over the last four years.<\/p>\n
A few years ago, while serving in the Catholic Christian Family Movement (Movimiento Familiar Cristiano Cat\u00f3lico in Spanish), they, like many, were required to take the Safe Environments training in order to become youth coordinators. They remember how difficult it was to find a Spanish-language course, which would help them serve their community better with such vital information.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe struggled a lot to find someone who could give the class in Spanish. We are the first couple to give the training, not as individuals but as a couple,\u201d Wendy shared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe go everywhere we\u2019re needed. We have given the training online and in various parishes. Wherever we are called, we\u2019re there,\u201d added Iv\u00e1n.<\/p>\n
Serving as Safe Environment instructors has helped Wendy and Iv\u00e1n tremendously, including in their own family and personal lives. With every person that attends each class, Wendy and Iv\u00e1n see a change in our society, all in the interest of protecting our children.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most important thing for me is knowing that every person that takes this class is a person that will speak up for my children, for my neighbor\u2019s children or for someone else\u2019s children,\u201d Wendy said. \u201cThat person won\u2019t stay silent because they know how to respond.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although the Safe Environments class is a requirement for volunteering in archdiocesan ministries, parishes, and schools, as well as for employees of the Archdiocese of Denver, it is a valuable resource for the faithful to learn how to protect the children, elderly, and other vulnerable adults in our society.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis class has helped us grow as parents, too,\u201d Wendy added. \u201cIt has helped us to teach our children that no one has the right to touch them, whether they are family or even us as parents.\u201d<\/p>\n
In recognition of their hard work and incredible service to the community, Wendy and Iv\u00e1n have been recognized as this month\u2019s Archbishop\u2019s Catholic Appeal Disciple of the Month. Thanks to their dedication and service, hundreds have had the opportunity to learn more and to equip themselves in this vital work.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are so committed to this ministry and have been a God-send for our Spanish classes,\u201d said Alex Kwan, Coordinator of the Office of Minor and At-Risk Adult Protection. \u201cWe have received so many incredible comments about the trainings they give. I had the opportunity of sitting in on one of their classes and was impressed by how well they had prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of Catholic are you? A Catholic who wants to chug along with the faith they were given, or one that wants to make a difference? There is a real need out there, not just with this ministry. There are so many youth groups, evangelization groups and other ministries that also really need help,\u201d concluded Iv\u00e1n as he encouraged others to volunteer and give back to their communities.<\/p>\n
Congratulations, Wendy and Iv\u00e1n, for being the Archbishop\u2019s Catholic Appeal Disciple of the Month![\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”20px”][divider line_type=”Small Line” line_alignment=”default” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”default” custom_height=”20″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”20px”][vc_column_text]If you know someone else who is courageously spreading the Gospel, please share his or her story with us at archden.org\/give\/nominate<\/a> and they may become the next \u201cDisciple of the Month.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”20″][vc_column_text]The Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal funds over 40 ministries that are sharing the Gospel every day.[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”20″][nectar_btn size=”large” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” color_override=”#f58320″ icon_family=”none” text=”NOMINATE A DISCIPLE” url=”\/give\/nominate”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”20″][nectar_btn size=”large” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” text=”GIVE TODAY” url=”https:\/\/give.archden.org\/”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”1%” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7332,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","content-type":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7318","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-everydaydisciples"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7318","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7318"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7318\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7322,"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7318\/revisions\/7322"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7332"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archden.org\/give\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}