Lisa Gomes, the safe environment coordinator for the diocese, has been named the associate director of the Department of Religious Education.

She replaces Father Patrick Freitas who will become pastor of St. Rita Parish, Haiku, and Holy Rosary Parish, Paia, on Maui on July 1.

Gomes will continue to run the diocese’s safe environment programs, the training of church employees and volunteers in the subject of sexual abuse, its recognition and prevention. The safe environment program falls under the venue of the religious education office, which is headed by Jane Mondoy.

The Department of Religious Education sets the curriculum and trains catechists for parish catechism programs across the state. Its only other full time employee is administrative secretary Theresa Gomez.

The department has liaisons on the neighbor islands who offer advice to the Oahu office and provide leadership, education and support to the religious education coordinators on their respective islands.

The religious education liaison for Kauai is Sister of St. Francis Florence Remata; for Maui, Molokai and Lanai, Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet Angela Laurenzo; and for the Big Island, Marjorie Fujimoto.