About Us
Our story begins in 2017 with three peopleText Here
Dr. Gabriel S. Dy-Liacco, Msgr. Ramon M. Masculino and Dr. Maria Carmen Bontoc-La Viña. Dr Gabriel, inspired by his involvement as a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, initiated safeguarding workshops and formation in collaboration with the Emmaus Institute to partner dioceses within the Philippines with the help of Msgr. Ramon and Dr. Carmen. The mission was not purely to educate others on safeguarding but to ignite a conversion within hearts.
By December 2020, the Catholic Safeguarding Institute, Inc (CSI) was formally established and registered as a non-stock, non-profit corporation in the Philippines with a mission and calling.
Vision
Our vision is to help foster a world in which minors and vulnerable adults can live in a culture of relational safety and in communities of care.
Mission
The mission of CSI is to become a center of excellence in matters of safeguarding formation and development, in the periphery of the Catholic Church, as inspired by the Holy Father.
Educate
others on matters of safeguarding.
Equip
them with tools and knowledge to become safeguarding leaders in their schools, parishes, homes, and communities so that they may respond to victims.
To build and encourage
a culture of safeguarding within our society where everyone feels safe, people’s voices are heard, and victims are empowered.
Our History and Growth
Our story begins in 2017, working in partnership with the Emmaus Institute. The team of three were initially called to create and develop modules and workshops to help instruct the Church and clergy on safeguarding matters, as instructed by the Pope.
When developing modules, they identified that providing tools, resources, and knowledge alone was not enough to call people to the mission of safeguarding. That a deeper conversion was necessary to evoke the desire and motivation needed to create a conscious cultural shift within the safeguarding landscape in the Philippines and Asia Pacific.
This influenced and led to the creation and development of the BOWS programme, which was first trialled in December 2017. The programme sought to not only educate participants, but also prompt more internal spiritual reflection and lead participants to consider what God is calling each of them to do personally in the mission of safeguarding. To help achieve this, BOWS adopts an experiential learning approach using direct experience, focused reflection, familiar language, and expressive arts to help spiritually guide participants during the workshops. The 2017 trial workshop was well received and sparked further interest as CSI received their first client. In May 2018, CSI delivered their first official BOWS sessions in Mindanao and have since continued to deliver this programme across the Philippines and Asia Pacific.
As CSI continued to grow and its purpose became clearer and more refined, they parted ways with the Emmaus Institute and became an incorporation in December 2020.
Today the CSI team operates in three locations, Rome, Manila, and Iloilo and manages offices in Manila and Iloilo. Since the first BOWS in 2017, they have delivered the program to almost 2,000 participants, they have developed partnerships with 8 organisations and congregations and expanded their clientele, offering workshops to lay people and teachers as well as clergy.
From three individuals with a calling, CSI has grown into a wider team and community with an international support and network. What was once a vision is slowly becoming a reality through the dedication, faith, and prayers of CSI community. CSI continues to grow and evolve to meet the ever-changing climate and needs of safeguarding, as we all undergo a continuous, profound conversion to bring about a world and society that upholds Gospel values.
Offices:
Manila Head Office
3F CLC Center, Seminary Drive, Ateneo de
Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Philippines
Iloilo Head Office
2F Sta. Maria Archdiocesan Pastoral Center, 138
Gen Blanco Street, Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines
