Share the Good News: National Directory for Catechesis in Ireland
This National Directory for Catechesis in Ireland speaks from the heart of the Church with love. It is particularly timely in seeking to address the specific catechetical issues that arise in the Irish context now, at the beginning of the twenty-first century. It acknowledges the many questions about Christ and his message that are alive in Irish society and in the Church in Ireland today. We hope that it will encourage all who are searching for the deepest meaning of life and love to turn toward Christ who educates us to live truly, compassionately and with integrity in the presence of our ever-loving Father.
Safeguarding Children
Safeguarding Children: Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland
By NBSCCC pdf version
Our Children of Church (OCOC) was launched I December 2005 following its endorsement by the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference, CORI and the Irish Missionary Union. A core recommendation of OCOC was the establishment of a National Board for Safeguarding Children.
A key responsibility of this Board is to assist those implementing safeguarding policy and procedures throughout the Church in Ireland to achieve a consistent and up-to-date standard of best practice.
The Board has found that over the years most diocese and religious orders have produced and implemented their own policies and procedures, largely in isolation from each other. The result is a multiplicity of guidance that contains different interpretations of what represents best practice for the Church.
This publication seeks to address this situation by reiterating and developing further the core principles outlined in OCOC. These principles are drawn from Gospel values, mirrored in civil legislation and policy, and apply across both jurisdictions on the island of Ireland.
From these core principles are drawn seven Standards that represent best practice in the area of safeguarding and protecting children.
The intention of this publication is to provide a practical mechanism by which everyone in the Church in Ireland can reach a uniform standard of best practice in safeguarding based on the core principles established in OCOC.
It is important to note that this document involved some amendments to the structures and processes outlined in OCOC.
The Board therefore suggests that this publication , Safeguarding Children , now becomes the first and only necessary point of reference for all those with responsibility for implementing the Churchs safeguarding policy and procedures across both jurisdictions in Ireland.
Where aspects of OCOC have not yet been developed in this document, these will be considered in due course and presented in the form of supplementary material.
Called Together Making the Difference
Called Together Making the Difference suggests ways in which the Catholic Church in Ireland can accompany and guide young people through the complexities of life, encourage young people to become more aware of the spiritual and more trusting of their faith, help them make good decisions and take the most rewarding paths, help them understand what it means to have faith and show them how to get involved in Church life and how to live by and learn from the teachings of Jesus. It can be downloaded free here.