Mysuru: In a renewed push to ensure the safety and dignity of vulnerable individuals, the Diocese of Mysore organized a comprehensive Orientation Programme on Safeguarding Policy for its Social Apostolate at the Catholic Centre, Mysuru, on January 30. The initiative marked a significant step in strengthening responsible and accountable service across the diocese’s social outreach programmes.
The orientation brought together a wide cross-section of stakeholders, including staff members of the Office of Development Programmes (ODP), priests, religious, and lay collaborators actively engaged in social ministries. Their participation reflected the diocese’s growing emphasis on ethical conduct, transparency, and shared responsibility in mission-driven work.
The programme was jointly organized by the ODP, Caritas India, and the Karnataka Regional Organization for Social Service (KROSS), Bengaluru. It was designed to enhance understanding of safeguarding responsibilities, particularly in ministries involving children, vulnerable adults, and marginalized sections of society. Church leaders noted that the orientation forms part of a broader diocesan strategy to embed safeguarding principles into every layer of social action.
Addressing the gathering, Bishop Francis Serrao, SJ, Bishop of Mysore, stressed that safeguarding goes beyond formal guidelines and compliance. He described it as a fundamental moral and pastoral duty of the Church, urging all those involved in ministry to remain alert, compassionate, and firmly committed to protecting human dignity, safety, and rights in every context of service.
The core session was led by Fr Francis Assisi Almeida, Regional Secretary of the Education Commission, who served as the resource person. His presentation outlined the significance of safeguarding, explained the essential components of the diocesan safeguarding policy, and clarified the specific roles and responsibilities of personnel involved in social and educational ministries. He also detailed preventive strategies, along with clear procedures for reporting concerns and responding to incidents, balancing ethical principles with practical implementation.
Structured as an interactive learning forum, the orientation encouraged active participation through group discussions and case-study analysis. Participants shared on-the-ground experiences from their respective fields, allowing the sessions to directly address real challenges faced in pastoral, social, and educational settings.
The programme concluded with a renewed affirmation of the Mysore Diocese’s commitment to creating safe, transparent, and accountable environments in all its initiatives. By placing protection, responsibility, and respect for human dignity at the centre of its mission, the diocese reiterated its resolve to ensure that social apostolate remains both compassionate and ethically sound.