Protecting the innocent: Circle of Grace

Teddy Chavez, 5, simulates his personal “Circle of Grace” during a learning exercise in Ana Liza Stelker’s kindergarten classroom at St. Patrick School.

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Every diocese in the United States is committed to providing a safe environment for children in churches and parochial schools across the country. The Church has extended that protection so children feel empowered to listen and trust their instinct at all times through a program called “Circle of Grace.” The program is taught in every religious education and school in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

Stephanie Bonilla is director of the Office for Safe Environment and Child and Family Resources at the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

Stephanie Bonilla, director of the Office for Safe Environment and Child and Family Resources at the Diocese of Corpus Christi, said education begins as early as pre-kindergarten, with three-year-olds and goes all the way to high school.

“The curriculum is broken down by age level and runs side-by-side Catechism teachings. It is designed to be shared in the classroom setting. It’s not sex abuse prevention training, but focuses on teaching children to be aware of the immediate space around them and learn to understand when someone makes them feel uncomfortable,” she said. “Parents need to be aware of the program, so they can help reinforce these values at home.”

Children are encouraged to “know who your trusted adults are” and learn to expect respect for the immediate space around them, as well as the space of their classmates.

“It can be expanded to take on more prevalent issues like self-confidence and bullying topics,” Bonilla said. “We have Parent Guides available that shows parents what we are teaching children and opens up the line of communication about honoring the dignity of others, along with themselves. The Church is doing everything it can to foster an environment where little ones feel comfortable and safe.”

Bonilla added there is a form in registration packets for religious education and parochial schools if parents would like their children to “opt out” of Circle of Grace training.
However, she encourages parents and adult role models to learn about the “Circle of Grace” program and ask interactive questions of their children.

“Ignite the conversation with small children and ask them: ‘what is the Circle of Grace? Do you know the song?’” Bonilla said.

For middle school children, parents can discuss bullying and what needs to be done to make it stop.

“Bullying is an attack on their spirit. Nobody deserves to feel like they are being attacked or made to feel bad,” she said.

Ana Liza Stelker, kindergarten teacher at St. Patrick School, shows students a demonstration of their “Circle of Grace” during a recent classroom exercise. Rebecca Esparza for South Texas Catholic

For high school teenagers, the “Circle of Grace” delves into dating and chastity.
“It’s about honoring the dignity of the person, the body that God created for you. For older children, the program is utilized to expand to more sensitive topics. We need to be descriptive and real with them,” Bonilla said.

As a parent, it is imperative children learn about important life lessons like drug abuse or underage drinking from reliable sources.

“We need to teach them how to handle it. If not, they will try to figure it out on their own. If we shelter them they can never know how to react to the tough issues, like being a good person, what does that mean? And what does grace mean to the female body? These concepts can be molded into conversations parents have with their child, at any age,” she said.

Ana Liza Stelker, a kindergarten teacher at St. Patrick School, said the program is extremely beneficial for all school-aged children, even the little ones.

“For the smaller children, we talk about how we are all children of God, from the top of our body and all around our body, too. We talk about who is allowed in our personal space,” Stelker said. “We also have vocabulary words for different grade levels. From Kindergarten, children are taught their Circle of Grace is the “love and goodness of God which always surrounds me and all others.”

Children are taught that by putting their arms above their head, then circling down in front of their body including side-to-side they can imagine the Circle of Grace. This creates a circle, front to back and holds who you are in your body and through your senses.

“This program helps the children differentiate between people with good intentions and those with bad intentions. It lays the foundation for situations that might come up as they grow older and exposed to new and different ideas, concepts,” Stelker said.