February Training to Help Priests, Deacons, Others Aid Victims of Domestic Violence
January 19, 2017

DIOCESE–Two sessions of “Protect Your Flock,” and one of “Abusers” scheduled in February, are aimed at helping people learn to handle problems of domestic violence in their parishes and communities.

Freeport, Crystal Lake

The “Protect Your Flock” sessions are aimed at priests and deacons. Two sessions are scheduled – one in Freeport and one in Crystal Lake – and are to help participants:

Training Jan. 27 for Fox Valley Courts Volunteers

ST. CHARLES—A session to train volunteers to observe domestic violence courts in the Fox Valley is scheduled Jan. 27.

The free training will begin with 8 a.m. registration and end at 4 p.m. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served. The session will be in room JC100 at the Kane County Judicial Center on Illinois Rte. 38 in St. Charles.

Volunteers in the program monitor the judicial process and generate quarterly reports based on observations in Kane and Kendall County courts.

Applications are available at the website www.foxvalleycourtwatch.org. Click on “Apply to be a Volunteer.” Include your email address and interest in becoming a court watcher.

�–� Understand the dynamics of domestic violence;

�–� Respond better to the victims who come to church to find a “safe place”;

�–� Build knowledge to better counsel abusers about breaking the cycle of violence; and

�–� Learn how to protect children who are also victims — physically and psychologically — of domestic violence.

Jim Kintz, a veteran of 42 years in law enforcement, will be joined by a domestic abuse survivor at the sessions.

Kintz is a certified instructor for domestic violence investigation, chair of a ministry for domestic violence victims and president of Court Watch.

Sessions will be from 11:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.:

Sessions will be from 11:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.:

Feb. 2 — St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, 1400 Kiwanis Dr. in Freeport

Feb. 8 — St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 1023 McHenry Ave., Crystal Lake.

Both sessions include lunch, but registration is required for planning.

Register with Kintz no later than two days before one of the sessions at 630/232-7620 or [email protected].

St. Charles

The “Abusers” session will be Feb. 4, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at St. John Neumann Parish, 2900 E. Main St. in St. Charles.  This program is aimed at men and women, abusers and victims, married and single people, as well as professionals, educators and coaches.

Anna Whitmer, abuse intervention program coordinator of the Community Crisis Center, is the scheduled speaker.

Whitmer will discuss recognizing abusive situations, preventing and avoiding them, helping victims and abusers and breaking the chain of abuse.

The St. John Neumann ministry to victims of domestic abuse is sponsoring the program, which is free.  Registration may be made at 630/377-2797, but walk-ins are welcome. Refreshments will be provided.