LA PLATA, Argentina — More than 570 pastoral and educational leaders from across the Archdiocese of La Plata gathered for a series of intensive safeguarding training sessions, held from May 14 to 16, aimed at strengthening the Church’s commitment to the prevention of sexual abuse and the promotion of safe environments for children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults. 

The sessions, organised by Tutela Minorum, were carried out in close collaboration with La Plata Diocesan Commission for Prevention and the Pastoral Council for the Prevention of Abuse of the Argentine Episcopal Conference. The initiative received strong backing from Archbishop Gustavo Carrara and Auxiliary Bishop Federico Wechsung, both of whom were present and actively engaged throughout the programme. 

The training, held under the scriptural motto “The charity of Christ urges us” (2 Cor 5:14) was led by Commission member and Moderator of the Regional Group for the Americas, Dr. Patricia Espinosa. Fr. Daniel Portillo, Regional Expert for the Americas, also participated, offering a session specifically tailored to consecrated men and women. 

The programme was divided into five targeted sessions, each addressing the unique responsibilities and realities of distinct groups within the Church: 

1. Consecrated persons, including men and women religious, attended the first session. 

2. The second session was dedicated to legal representatives and directors from the Catholic University of La Plata (UCALP) and other Catholic educational institutions under the jurisdiction of the Catholic Regional Board of La Plata (JUREC). 

3. Parish pastoral and economic council members participated in the third session. 

4. The fourth session brought together clergy, permanent deacons, seminarians, novices, and religious. 

5. The final session included leaders from the University Pastoral, Youth Ministry, Children and Adolescents Ministry, the Catechetical Board, and Biblical Pastoral teams. 

The comprehensive format reflects a multi-sectoral approach to safeguarding, emphasising the need for a culture of protection embedded at all levels of Church life. 

With 578 participants in total, the training days in La Plata mark a significant moment in the broader effort to implement safeguarding standards across Latin America. The presence of Tutela Minorum representatives highlights the Commission’s role as a central reference point in the Church’s ongoing efforts to foster accountability and transparency in safeguarding practices. 

This latest initiative underlines the Commission’s enduring commitment to working directly with local Churches to support a unified and proactive response to the global challenge of abuse in ecclesial contexts.