California Deacon, Child Protection Administrator Named Head of Bishops’ Secretariat for Child, Youth Protection

WASHINGTON (June 1, 2011)—Deacon Bernard V. Nojadera, of the Diocese of San Jose, California, and director of the diocese’s Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults, has been named head of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for Child and Youth Protection.
           
He begins his position August 15 and succeeds Teresa Kettelkamp, who has headed the office since 2005.
           
Deacon Nojadera has headed the San Jose diocesan child protection office since 2002. Prior to that he was pastoral associate, in St. Mary’s Parish, Gilroy, California, 1987-2002. He is married and has a 20-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son.
           
He served as commissioned officer with the U.S. Navy Reserves and has served with the U.S. Marine Corps and the Army National Guard.
           
Deacon Nojadera was awarded a bachelor of arts degree from St. Joseph College, Mountain View, California in 1984; a master of social work degree specializing in health and mental health services from San Jose State University in 1991; and a master of arts in theology from St. Patrick’s Seminary and University, Menlo Park, California in 2002. He was ordained a deacon in 2008.
           
He has been a member of the Diocese of San Jose Safe Environment Task Force, the San Jose Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the YWCA Rape Crisis Center and their Child Assault Prevention Program, and the County of Santa Clara Interfaith Clergy Project for Elder Abuse Prevention.
           
Msgr. David Malloy, general secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, made the appointment.
           
“Deacon Nojadera brings to this position valuable experience from many areas,” Msgr. Malloy said. “He is a family man and trained social worker, who is familiar with the church both at the parish and diocesan level and with law enforcement. He understands the need for child protection services in all areas.”
           
Diane Knight, chair of the National Review Board, which oversees the work of the U.S. Bishops’ Secretariat for Child and Youth Protection, welcomed the appointment.
           
“The National Review Board looks forward to his work in support of its efforts to assist the bishops in ensuring the safety of children and young people in parishes and schools,” she said.  “Bernard Nojadera has the experience to understand the issues we face in the 21st Century.”
-----
Keywords: safe environment, U.S. bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Msgr. David Malloy, Deacon Bernard Nojadera, Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, Diane Knight

# # # # #