CALIFORNIA
The Tidings
In her work as a pediatrician, Dr. Helen DuPlessis-Taylor has seen plenty of what she calls "the back end" of the child abuse cycle --- the physical and emotional damage done to child-victims (and their families). That, and the followup reporting and (when necessary) testifying she does, is admittedly the "less than pleasant" part of her job.
So when an opportunity arose to be involved in the "front end" --- the preventive end --- of child abuse, it was no problem for DuPlessis-Taylor to say yes. The opportunity was provided by her pastor, Msgr. Joseph Greeley at St. Pancratius Church in Lakewood, in the course of establishing a parish Safeguard the Children Parish Committee as mandated by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
DuPlessis-Taylor was one of several St. Pancratius parishioners who, through the archdiocesan Safeguard the Children Office, became trained to conduct VIRTUS® "Protecting God's Children" Awareness Sessions for Adults" at the parish. It is a ministry that the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center doctor finds as rewarding as any she has ever served in, if not more so.