Safety at our Parish
The safety of parishioners and visitors is important to us. We want you to feel comfortable and reassured while at the church, at church events, or in case of an emergency. Our Safe Environment Team and Risk Management Team work hard to ensure that both staff and volunteers are properly trained and up to date on diocesan guidelines and on recognized "best practices".
Local Emergency Phone Numbers
|
Angola Ambulance
Angola Fire Department Police (non emergency) Poison Control Electric Utility Company Natural Gas Utility Company Water Utility Company |
911
260-665-5555 260-665-2121 800-222-1222 800-464-7726 800-464-7726 260-665-9363 |
Click to read the Charter
|
Safe Environment
The Catholic Church is committed to creating and maintaining a safe environment for children, youth and vulnerable adults. The Catholic Church throughout the United States has commited itself to a public charter saying how we will do that. We know that we, as a faith community, have sometimes failed in this, and we are determined not to let it happen again.
The Charter requires every parish to appoint a Safe Environment Coordinator. Our coordinator: Mr. Doug Osos YYAM. Doug has been certified by the U.S. Bishops' Conference for this position. Anyone working with children and teenagers (under 18) - directly or indirectly - must complete a safety program before they begin. The program includes an educational component, a legal procedures component, and a criminal background check. You can get more details on this program from Mr. Doug Osos or from Fr. Bob Showers (pastor). |
ABOUT WINTER FLU
The 2020-2021 flu season is one of the lightest in recent memory, but we continue to monitor the situation just in case. Fr. Bob and the parish staff monitor the Indiana State Department of Health Weekly Influenza Report, published each Friday. IF THAT REPORT OR WARNINGS FROM LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS JUSTIFY IT, we will take the standard precautions: we will suspend communion on the tongue, the shared chalice, hand shakes during the sign of peace, and we ask you not to hold hands durnig the Our Father. The small holy water fonts will be removed. This will be announced at the start of Mass. (NOTICE: since all of these protocols are already being done because of Covid-19, there won't be much visible change!) Restricting access to the Eucharist is a serious decision and is not taken lightly. At the same time, as a public community of the faithful, we have a responsibility to protect the public health. Our goal is neither to overreact nor underreact. In the meantime, even if we do not take official precautions as a parish, you should use your own judgement. IF YOU ARE SICK WITH THE FLU OR OTHER COMMUNICABLE DISEASE, you are dispensed from coming to Mass! If you are particularly vulnerable because of age or other factors, consider bowing at the sign of peace and refraining from taking Communion. No one will think less of you! -Fr. Bob, February 25, 2020 (revised January 1, 2021) |
ABOUT DISPENSATIONS FROM THE OBLIGATION TO ATTEND MASS
Please use caution and common sense at all times. It is not always a sin to stay home from Church during a blizzard or an epidemic, but it is a sin to tempt fate. God does not want you to die in a vain attempt to make it to the church on time. Use your own judgement, and remember that the weather might be different where you live than elsewhere in the county.
The Canon Law of the Catholic Church states, Can. 1245 For a just reason, the pastor in individual situations can dispense from the obliga-tion to observe a holy day ... or he can commute the observance to other pious works.
If the weather is life threatening, the pastor will issue this dispensation. That is a just reason. The same goes for an epidemic. Fr. Bob January 31, 2020 |
Severe Weather EmergencyTornado
Tornado Watch: Conditions are favorable for a tornado or severe weather. Tornado Warning: Tornado has been sighted; take shelter immediately. Shelter: Our Parish Hall has been designated as a storm shelter by the American Red Cross. In the event of a tornado, anyone in the church or parish center must evacuate to the Parish Hall. Stay away from windows. Winter Weather (Snowstorms!)The parish staff monitors warnings from the National Weather Service. Most decisions to cancel or not cancel are based on these public warnings. The NWS alerts use three levels:
Advisory / Watch / Warning In the event of a WINTER STORM WATCH:
In the event of a WINTER WEATHER WARNING (WINTER STORM ALERT):
Medical EmergencyContact 911 emergency services, if needed. Staff, Ushers and Greeters are the designated individuals who are trained and certified to administer CPR.
For any incidents/injures on the property, please contact Katie Waltke in the Parish Office. An Investigation Report will need to be completed immediately. |
IN THE EVENT OF BAD WEATHER, PLEASE TUNE TO:
In the event of any cancellations, we will notify
Information will be posted first on our parish media:
|
Liability Procedures
Ladders and Machinery: Any adult volunteer climbing a ladder or using machinery for any event at the church – and this includes Christmas decorating! – is asked to fill out a waiver. The waiver is open ended, that is, you only have to fill this out once, and then we have it on file. No one under the age of 18 should be on a ladder on church property. If you climb a ladder, have an adult spotter at all times!
Candles: You can use candles at meetings and events. However, ALL candles, matches, lighters, etc. must be removed after the event or locked away, and never left in the room. This is so that children cannot get their hands on dangerous materials! First Aid: There is a FIRST AID KIT mounted in the Priest’s Sacristy in the Church and the Kitchen in the Parish Hall. Smaller kits are also scattered around the campus, for example the DRE’s office for Religious Education classrooms and in the Secretary's office. Emergency phone numbers and emergency instructions are posted above each fire alarm. For more information please contact Katie Waltke in the Parish Office. |
