Volunteer

Welcome to the Volunteer information Page:

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Church of St. Columba!

A key to our commitment to promoting safe environments in our parishes, Catholic schools and communities is for all persons in positions of trust in regard to minors and vulnerable adults to fulfill the Essential 3 requirements (E3). For more information about the Safe Environment Program, please see the Archidocesan Safe Environment information link at http://safe-environment.archspm.org/  All employees are required to complete E3. All volunteers who have either regular or unsupervised interaction with youth or vulnerable adults are required to complete the E3, which consists of:

A. Complete a Volunteer Application. Download and fill out the Volunteer Application form can be found at this link Volunteer Application Form. Turn the completed form into the parish office at least two weeks prior to volunteering for service.

If you have already attended a VIRTUS session in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, please do not create a new account. Instead, contact Mr. Augustine Mai, St. Columba’s Safe Environment Coordinator. Please do not create a new account as attendance at a VIRTUS session already generated an account for you.

Visit the website: https://www.virtusonline.org/   and complete the following E3 items prior to volunteering when interacting with children or with vulnerable adults:

  1. Read and sign the online Code of Conduct, found on the Home tab, Document button. 
  2. Submit a Background Check, found on the Home tab, Background Check button
  3. Take the Training Module (Used to be referred to as the VIRTUS class), found on the Home tab, Training button or Attend a VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children 3-hour live safe environment training if offered at your parish. This module get assigned different contents every three years.

The Code of Conduct, the Background check, and the Training modue are due for renewal every 3 years. Any chaperones must complete E3 prior to going off-site with youth.

NOTES to NEW USERS:

Total Time Commitment: Approximately 95 minutes

VIRTUS website:  https://www.virtusonline.org/

Use Google Chrome browser and allow pop-ups for this website

  • Set aside sufficient time to complete all items without logging out.
  • Incomplete accounts may result in lost data, requiring you to repeat your setup.
  • Read and follow the directions on the website in the order presented.
  • Skipping items, fast-forwarding or backing up will cause errors on your account and require you to repeat assignments
  • Complete each registration field as presented on the screen
  • Complete the Code of Conduct
  • Complete the Background Check application (SSN is required). You might need to submit your BGC (Background Check) on a computer as mobile devices often have reported issues with the BGC process.
  • Complete Safe Environment Training (1 module, approximately 75 minutes)

NOTES to RETURNING USERS or RECREDENTIALING(Required Every 3 Years)

Your Group Leader should already shared with you a list with your Login ID, and your Email address associated with your Virtusonline account. Please login with your LoginID and password. If you forgot your password, please utilize the "Need longin information?" link.

Total Time Commitment: Approximately 45 minutes for full recredentialing

VIRTUS website:  https://www.virtusonline.org/

Use Google Chrome browser and allow pop-ups for this website

  • Set aside sufficient time to complete all items without logging out
  • Read and follow the directions on the website in the order presented
  • Skipping items, fast-forwarding or backing up will cause errors your account and require you to repeat assignments
  • Complete all assignment on your Home Tab showing “due” or in red

If you have any questions, contact Mr. Augustine Mai, Safe Environment Coordinator, via phone during regular business hours on Tuesday or Friday, at (651) 645-9179.

Thank you for your participation in the mandatory Essential 3 program which will make our local Church a safer environment for all. You are playing a big role in protecting God’s children, particularly the most vulnerable among us!

Letter from Archbishop Bernard Hebda