CMSM 2024 Safeguarding Ministry Conference| Bethany Center in Lutz, FL
Conference: October 14-17
Retreat: October 17-18

Embracing Commitment: Protecting God’s Vulnerable

Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, the in-person conference is canceled. We have moved the conference to a virtual format. If you have any questions, please email Greta David (gdavid@cmsm.org).

Join us for the 20th annual Safeguarding Ministry Conference as we continue to embrace our commitment to protecting God’s vulnerable.

Over the years, this event has evolved from the Supervision Workshop to the Safeguarding Workshop to its current format: a conference focused on helping male religious in all aspects of their safeguarding ministry. Embracing this evolution, the Safeguarding Workshop has been renamed this year as the “Safeguarding Ministry Conference.”

Like past years, we will maintain our skills-building breakouts on the core competencies in caring for young and vulnerable persons but will also continue to address newer issues, such as adult misconduct and the role of leadership in safeguarding ministry. The Conference will feature plenaries, breakouts, a panel, and the opportunity to network and discuss with other leaders of religious communities and safeguarding ministers.

Join us to pray, learn, build new skills, and support each other in this ministry that continues to be challenging. We look forward to welcoming you and learning from your experience in safeguarding ministry!

Lodging & Travel

Lodging 

  • The Bethany Center in Lutz, FL, has limited lodging. All rooms are single occupancy, with a queen bed, linens, and private bath. If you are interested in staying at the retreat center, register early to ensure you get a room.
  • There also are several nearby hotels once the Center is full. If you are not staying at Bethany Center, choose “Commuter” when registering.

Airport 

Online Workshop

For those who cannot travel to Lutz, we are offering a limited virtual conference:

  • The same plenary sessions as the in-person conference
  • A reduced number of breakout sessions
  • No panel discussion or retreat

Cancellation policy

Refunds will be given for cancellations made by September 13, 2024, less a $100 non-refundable cancellation fee. No refunds will be available after that time.

We look forward to seeing you. If you have questions, please contact Greta David, Director of Communications, at gdavid@cmsm.org or (240) 394-1851.

Schedule

Arrivals 12pm to 5pm

12:00 pm: Optional Lunch for Early Arrivals

5:00 pm: Introduction & Welcome

5:15 pm: Evening Prayer

5:30 pm: Reception

6:00 pm: Dinner

8:00 am: Breakfast

9:00 am: Morning Prayer

9:15 am: Welcome & Announcements

9:30 am: CMSM Introduction – Fr. Frank Donio, SAC

10:00 am: Safeguarding Ministry Updates – Dcn. Steven DeMartino

10:30am: Praesidium I – Standards Review – Christy Schiller, Kiran Rupani, Adriana Dominguez

11:00 am: Break

11:15 am: Mass

12:00 pm: Lunch

1:00 pm: Praesidium II – Accreditation and Reaccreditation Update – Christy Schiller, Kiran Rupani, and Adriana Dominguez

2:00 pm: Updates from USCCB CYP/Charter – Dcn. Bernie Nojadera

2:30 pm: Break

3:00 pm: Survivor Accompaniment: Ministering to Vulnerable Persons – Br. Ignatius Perkins, OP

3:45 pm: Small Group Discussion

4:30 pm: Wrap-up

4:45 pm: Evening Prayer

5:00 pm: Reception

6:00 pm: Dinner

The second day of the Workshop will feature diverse skills-building breakout sessions. Topics include:

  • Victim/Survivor Assistance Coordinators (core and new frontiers) – Kristin Austin
  • Allegation Notification and Investigation for Abuse of Minors and Adult Misconduct – Mike Riley
  • Pastoral Considerations in Canon Law: What Leaders Should Know – Amy Jill Strickland
  • Leadership and Safeguarding – Fr. Frank Donio, SAC
  • Review Boards – Tom Artz
  • Boundaries – James Coupe
  • Developing Policy and Procedure for Responding to Adult Misconduct – Dcn. Steven DeMartino
  • Monitoring and Supervision: Engaging Members on Safety Plans – Paul Ashton

Schedule: 

8:00 am – Breakfast
8:45 am: Morning Prayer
9:00 am – Announcements/Schedule Review
9:15 am – Breakout Session 1

  • Victim/Survivor Assistance Coordinators (new S/VACs)
  • Pastoral Considerations in Canon Law: What Leaders Should Know
  • New Frontiers in Review Boards
  • Boundaries

10:30 am – Break
10:45 am – Breakout Session 2

  • Victim/Survivor Assistance Coordinators (New Frontiers)
  • Pastoral Considerations in Canon Law: What Leaders Should Know
  • Boundaries
  • Allegation Notification and Investigation for Abuse of Minors and Adult Misconduct

12:00 pm – Lunch
1:00 pm – Breakout Session 3

  • Allegation Notification and Investigation for Abuse of Minors and Adult Misconduct
  • Monitoring and Supervision: Engaging Members on Safety Plans
  • Leadership and Safeguarding
  • Developing Policy and Procedure for Responding to Adult Misconduct (Hybrid)

2:15 pm – Break
2:30 pm – Breakout Session 4

  • New Frontiers in Review Boards
  • Policy and Procedure
  • Monitoring and Supervision: Engaging Members on Safety Plans (Hybrid)

3:45 pm – Wrap-up
4:15 pm – Break
4:45 pm – Evening Prayer & Mass

7:00 am – Mass
8:00 am – Breakfast
8:45 am – Morning Prayer & Announcements
9:00am – Announcements
9:15 am – Adult Misconduct Panel – Fr. Tom Hoar, SSE, David Shellenberger, Jeff Henrich, and Fr. Quinn Conners, O. Carm., facilitated by Dr. James Coupe
    9:30 am – Introduction of case
    9:45 am – Small group discussions
10:15 am – Break
10:30 am – Large group discussion
11:45 am – Evaluation and wrap-up
12:00pm – Lunch
2:00 pm – Retreat begins
    More details on the Retreat are coming soon!

7:00 am – Mass
8:00 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Morning Prayer & Announcements
9:15 am  – Retreat continues
10:15 am – Break
12 pm – Retreat concludes
12:30 pm – Lunch
1:30 pm – Departure

Speakers

Tom Artz, PhD
Society of the Divine Word

Paul Ashton, PsyD, DMin

Kristin Austin, LCSW-C, CCTP
Society of Jesus

Fr. Quinn Conners, O. Carm.
Saint Luke Institute

James Coupe, PsyD
Saint John Vianney Center

Deacon Steven DeMartino
Conference of Major Superiors of Men

Adriana Dominguez
Praesidium

Fr. Frank Donio, SAC, DMin
Conference of Major Superiors of Men

Jeff Henrich
Guest House

Fr. Thomas Hoar, SSE
St. Edmund’s Retreat

Deacon Bernie Nojadera, LCSW
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Br. Ignatius Perkins OP, PhD, RN
The Dominican Friars

Michael Riley, MSW, MBA, LPC
MHR Advising

David Shellenberger, RN, BSN
Saint John Vianney Center

Kiran Rupani, MPH
Praesidium

Christy Schiller, MA
Praesidium

Amy Jill Strickland, JCL

Sponsors

We welcome inquiries from organizations that offer services and programs that meet members’ needs. If you are interested, please send your information, including a link to your website and brief information about the services you provide, to Chris Pierno.

Sponsorship details will be added as they are confirmed!