Last month, Christin Kinman of Allegion wrote about a successful conference on building safer schools, led by Allegion.  Today she shares information about another upcoming event:

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Allegion is proud to be partnering with the Conference for Catholic Facility Management (CCFM) to sponsor the Sacred Spaces, Secured Futures Houses of Worship Security Event September 25, 2025 at the Live! Casino, Philadelphia.  This training will leverage experts in securing Houses of Worship and non-public schools and is open to anyone thinking about how to protect sacred spaces.

This event promises to bring concrete, actionable strategies that participants will be able to execute on in their faith-based community.  And, a ticket to the Phillies game is included as part of registration.  I’m told they are the hottest team in baseball right now…

To register:  https://www.smartchurchsolutions.com/upcoming-events/house-of-worship-philly-security-summit/

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From conference host, Mary Tichy:

When I started working for the Conference for Catholic Facility Management, I was tasked with some Quickbooks work and a little website development. I was invited to sit in on the Communications and Member Relations committee meetings as well as attend the conference in Savannah, Georgia that year. Security was not a topic. Our educational sessions at the conference were focused on things like HVAC, liturgical design and sustainability, but no security. That was over ten years ago. A lot has changed.

As the current executive director of CCFM I hear many stories from our members. They struggle to secure their facilities with obstacles ranging from finances to management support to buy-in by the staff/parishioners/families. Faith-based security is a hot topic and is not going away anytime soon.

It is difficult for good people to believe or understand why anyone would want to harm them. We imagine that the perpetrator will look like Mad Max, but in fact, it is often a rather ordinary person who is in need of mental health care. It’s a spouse, former employee, familiar parishioner or non-custodial parent. Implementing and following solid security measures is now a fact of life, but all the more tricky for houses of worship that strive to maintain a welcome feeling of “home.”

CCFM is proud to sponsor the HOW Security Event this year in Philadelphia on September 25. It is right and good to pray about the violence in the world, but we must also work to keep people safe. As St. Augustine tells us, “Pray as if everything depends on God, work as if everything depends on you.”

Let’s get to work!

Mary Tichy, Executive Director
CCFM National Office
Cardinal Rigali Center
20 Archbishop May Drive
St. Louis, MO 63119
www.ccfm.net

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