Across the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, some parishioners are doing more than finding a pew and settling in for Mass. A growing number now serve in a volunteer security corps, trained to watch over services, provide medical aid and, in certain cases, carry firearms to help protect worshippers until police arrive. Church leaders say the goal is to keep Masses open and welcoming while cutting the crucial minutes between an attack and a professional response. The program has quietly become a routine part of weekend life in many parishes across the diocese.
As reported by the Fort Worth Report, the diocesan Guardian Ministry now includes more than 580 volunteers and aims to “protect parishioners during the time it takes for law enforcement to arrive.” Leaders quoted in that coverage say the effort grew out of vulnerability assessments and requests from pastors who wanted a visible, trained presence at Masses and parish events.
How the Guardian Ministry works
The diocese describes the Guardian Ministry as a community-led safety and security program with a mix of roles on any given weekend. According to the Diocese of Fort Worth, volunteers are screened, trained and organized so parishes can build a layered response that includes observers, medical guardians and, where parish leadership approves it, armed guardians.
Some team members keep watch at entrances, some move through the congregation, and others focus on medical response. The idea is that if something goes wrong, a trained volunteer is already on site while first responders are still en route.
Training, vetting and visible roles
Parishes that participate set detailed standards, particularly for anyone who is armed. Individual parish guidelines say armed volunteers typically must hold a Texas License to Carry, maintain LTC insurance and complete background checks, Safe Environment training and diocesan qualification courses. A St. Francis of Assisi parish page in Grapevine lays out those requirements and lists separate armed, unarmed and medical guardian positions, while diocesan reporting highlights ongoing, year-round scenario training…