Safe Parish Environment

Our maintenance staff strives to ensure our facilities are safe at all times. Should you become aware of trip hazzards, loose railings, or any safety concerns, please contact the parish office at 313-278-5555.

Revised safe environment policies for all parish and school volunteers as of June 2023 are as follows:
 
1. All volunteers must have a criminal history background check each year.  For most volunteers, this should be done annually in August.  No one may volunteer at a parish or school in the Archdiocese of Detroit until the annual check has been completed.  You will find the authorization form here.
2. Continuing volunteers who completed Protecting God’s Children since January 1, 2020, need not participate again in Protecting God’s Children at this time.
3. Continuing volunteers who completed Protecting God’s Children prior to January 1, 2020 will receive an email from Virtus and must recertify by participating in an online, self-paced Protecting God’s Children training module.  If you have not received an email from Virtus at this time, update your Virtus account and then send an email to protectchildren@aod.org and request that the recertification online, self-paced module be assigned to your account.  Once it has been assigned, you may complete the module for recertification.
4. New volunteers must participate in Protecting God’s Children via a LIVE ZOOM session.  To register, visit www.virtus.org and click on FIRST-TIME REGISTRANT, then VIEW A LIST OF SESSIONS, then select DETROIT, MI (Archdiocese), then choose a class for NEW REGISTRANTS ONLY.

By all means, contact the parish office for clarification or assistance. 

To inform the Archdiocese of Detroit (AOD) regarding the sexual abuse of minors by priests, deacons, and other church personnel and/or to speak to the Victim Assistance Coordinator, contact 866-343-8055. A caller will be requested to provide his or her name and telephone number. All calls regarding complaints of sexual abuse will be returned in a timely manner. This toll–free telephone number has been established as part of an effort by the Detroit archdiocese to protect children, young people, and other vulnerable people in our schools, parishes, and ministries. 

The general policy of Sacred Heart Parish and School is given here.  Various factors, which cannot be foreseen, may require a change in the policy.
 
Because of weather conditions, building issues or for another significant reason, Sacred Heart Catholic School may be closed.  Families should monitor local TV networks for information regarding the closing of school.  Whenever possible, families will also be notified of the closing by text and/or email.  When SHCS closes for any reason, all activities which take place in the school building are automatically cancelled.
 
When Sacred Heart Catholic School is closed due to inclement weather, parish activities are also cancelled.  If, in the course of the day, weather conditions improve significantly, leaders of groups, organizations and activities may contact the parish office by 2:00 p.m. for permission to hold their scheduled events.  If weather, building and site conditions allow, permission will be given for activities to go on as scheduled.  The leaders will then notify their participants that the event or activity will take place.
 
While it is impossible to anticipate all the factors and circumstances which may lead to the cancellation of school and parish activities, safety and security should always be taken into account first; individuals and families should use their best judgment in deciding whether to participate.  When the school has closed due to inclement weather, Sacred Heart Parish does not encourage any other activities to be held. 
 
Masses are still celebrated and the parish office is ordinarily open according to its published hours, regardless of inclement weather.  (October 2014; Revised August 2017)

Automated External Defibrillators, or AEDs, are located in church at the northwest entrance (the courtyard entrance) and the main lobby of the school. Staff are trained in their use and workshops for parishioners are offered periodically.