St. Irenaeus Local Safe Environments Coordinator:
Melanie Avila
mavila@stirenaeus.org
Safe environment programs are in place to assist parents and children – and all those who work and volunteer in Archdiocesan parishes, schools, agencies, and Curia offices- in preventing harm to young people and vulnerable adults. Please read through the following steps regarding what the Archdiocese of Detroit, its parishes and schools, require prior to volunteering and employment.
These requirements apply to any volunteer at a parish or school-coordinated ministry or event, whether that happens on or off school property. Whether or not a volunteer or employee interacts directly with children or vulnerable adults, all volunteers play a role in ensuring the safety and well-being of our parish and school communities.
Protecting God’s Children Certification
- First Time Users register here (Instructions for registration)
- VIRTUS will automatically send a notice of recertification fifteen days prior to the three-year anniversary of your most recent certification or recertification. This notice will be sent to the email address on file.
Fingerprinting & Background Checks
- Fingerprinting is required for clergy (priests and deacons); archdiocesan, parish, and school employees; and any volunteers who work directly with children and/or vulnerable adults.
- Volunteers who do not work directly with children and/or vulnerable adults are required to undergo an iChat (Michigan State Police) background check every 2 years.
- Employees of third-party vendors doing contract work at Archdiocese of Detroit parishes or schools are not subject to our fingerprinting and background check policy.
- All other contract employees are subject to our background check policy.
- Please read our background check and criminal convictions policy (updated August 1, 2026)
- Additional information and resources related to fingerprinting can be found at protect.aod.org/fingerprinting
Code of Conduct
- Code of conduct for volunteers: English | Spanish
- Pastoral code of conduct for employees, educators, priests, and deacons
For further Information on requirements for employment and volunteering from the Archdiocese of Detroit:
Training | Screening | Recertification
Reporting Abuse: When, How & to Whom
The Archdiocese of Detroit places no deadlines or time limits on those who wish to come forward for help; our diocese accepts and responds to all reports.