A Year in Safeguarding in the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch
It’s been another busy year for safeguarding in the Christchurch diocese. 57 Safeguarding Workshops were facilitated across all diocesan locations, with over 800 volunteers in attendance. Parishes and Catholic communities in the diocese continue to work hard to collectively make significant progress in embedding safeguarding best practices to protect children, vulnerable adults, volunteers, and all members of the Church community.
These huge efforts reflect a mutually improving Church safeguarding culture, which is creating safer, accountable, and transparent Church environments.
A sense of safety, both emotional and social, creates the conditions where personal faith can deepen, grow, and flourish. With a focus on implementing national safeguarding standards, safe practices, training, formation, culture building, monitoring and compliance, support for survivors and communities, and integration of recommendations, we are well placed to create and maintain safe environments.
What changes are safeguarding practices making at a local level? This is what we have heard back:
Testimonial: Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish
“The instigation of the Volunteer Agreement and Code of Conduct set an expectation and standard for volunteers to adhere to. The safety and wellbeing of children and adults-at-risk is our highest priority. Safeguarding requires everyone within the Church to do their part. The more we have a mindset of a culture of safety within the Church, the more people will feel safe, protected and heard.”
Testimonial: Nazareth Care
“Nazareth Care is a safer place for everyone. By placing the best interests of vulnerable individuals at the heart of our operations, we’ve created an environment where everyone feels safe to work, learn, and thrive. Clear reporting mechanisms and leadership commitment are key to this transformation. This approach has significantly improved transparency and collaboration. These improvements have been achieved alongside our ongoing and robust safeguarding training programmes.” - Sr Paula Asiasiau: Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth (CSN)
Pope Leo XIV’s words at the 2025 Safeguarding Conference in the Philippines highlights the Church’s commitment to safeguarding. He described the Church as “our spiritual home,” where every parish and pastoral activity should be a place “to glorify God and care for others, especially children and the vulnerable. In this regard,” Pope Leo said, “I renew my appeal that there can be no tolerance for any form of abuse in the Church.”
May I thank all those of you who have committed yourselves to a culture of safeguarding in the Christchurch Diocese. Your ongoing commitment means that trust can be regained and that we can be free to glorify God, have a deepened love and respect for each other, and be more confident that those searching for God will find Him in our midst.
