We are His Witnesses: Survey Results
My thanks again to all our parishioners who completed the Discipleship Maker Survey. As previously communicated, we had a participation rate of 42% based on an average weekly attendance of 500 parishioners. Our parish participation rate was well above the Archdiocese’s rate of 29% and in line with parishes of a similar size.
I, together with a small team of parishioners, have reviewed the results and have identified several opportunities to strengthen our parish. Overall, I was not surprised by the results and they in large part consistent with the results of our Synod on Synodality and our own subsequent parish surveys. Given the similarity of the results, many of the initiatives we have undertaken or are underway directly respond to the opportunities highlighted by the survey while highlighting additional areas needing attention.
Below are highlights from the DMI Survey together with our planned responses. Our next step is to create detailed action plans, assign responsibilities and target dates to implement these planned responses. We expect to have these detailed plans available by August 31 st so we can begin implementation in the Fall.
As we start to engage with other parishes as part of the “We are His Witnesses” program, we may refine our plans and add new actions that are responsive to insights gained from our cross-parish discussions.
I am committed to keeping you informed on a regular basis regarding the status of this Archdiocesan program as well as our parish specific activities. I ask for your continuing prayers and support as we strive to strengthen our Immaculate Heart of Mary parish.
Peace, Fr. Mike
Snapshot of DMI Survey Results
Demographics
Key Stats
Based on 206 respondents:
+ 89% of our parishioners have been members for 6 years or more. 66% more than 20 years.
+ 75% are married.
+ 38% male; 62% female.
+ 40% are 25 or younger.
+ 19% have school children
+ 43% contribute financially less than $2,500, 20% less than $1,000 annually and
+ 23% opted not to respond.
Insight(s) & Response
Insights
1. We need to focus on creating a multigenerational community and inviting young adults and young families to become more active in our community. We do not have ministries that are specifically designed to cater to these younger demographics.
2. Funding of our parish operating, capital and other infrastructure expenses has been borne by a relatively small % of parishioners. While not reflected in the survey, there remains a high % of parishioners who do not contribute to the parish on a regular basis. This limits our ability to offer a full menu of services designed to help all grow closer to our Lord and His Blessed Mother. Examples include a robust community outreach program, expanded faith formation programs and greater utilization of technology.
Response
1. New Ministries: We will create new ministries for Young Adults and Young Families. We will identify and invite participants from these respective groups to help design and lead these ministries whose goal is to be responsive to the communal and spiritual needs of these groups. Evaluate existing faith formation programs to ensure both groups are being effectively supported including consideration of small faith sharing groups to foster community and mutual faith sharing.
2. Funding: To enable our Church to grow, additional investment in new programs is needed. To fund these programs (e.g., community outreach) the Finance Council will be tasked with improving our available operating funds while being careful not to place additional demands on those who are particularly generous.
Regular and generous contributors have enabled us to operate in a fiscally sound manner up to now.
Strengths and Opportunities
The Survey highlighted the following strengths and opportunities. These were determined based on the % of respondents who voted “Strongly Agree”. We have also provided the % of those who voted “Agree” and Neither Agree nor Disagree” options.
Our response is intended to move the parishioners in the “Agree” and “Neither agree or disagree” categories to “Strongly Agree”.
Strengths
1. Belief: Eucharist is the body/blood of Christ: Strongly Agree-70%, Agree-15%, Neither Agree nor Disagree-8%.
2. Belief: Scripture is the word of God: Strongly Agree- 66%, Agree-22%, Neither Agree nor Disagree-6%
3. Recommend Parish: Strongly Agree-66%, Agree-25%, Neither Agree nor Disagree-7%
Insights and Response
Insights
1. It is great to see that 91% of our parishioners would recommend our parish to others. However, we need to be mindful that our registered parishioners far exceed the number of those who actively participate in parish life. This is the same case for most parishes. Our challenge is to convert our inactive parishioners to an active status.
2. Regarding Beliefs, there still appears to be room for improvement in understanding the tenets of our faith and creating an environment where those who have questions about their faith feel comfortable and are provided the forum(s) to seek answers to their questions.
Response
1. Continue our efforts to engage non-active parishioners through enhanced communication and direct personal invitations (e.g., call programs and other outreach).
2. Increase focus on faith formation, particularly the core tenets of our faith in both homilies, adult faith formation articles, retreats and other faith formation offerings.
Opportunities
Confidence in teachings: Strongly Agree-23%, Agree-42%, Neither Agree nor Disagree- 28%
Forming as a Disciple: Strongly Agree-34%, Agree-43%, Neither Agree nor Disagree-21%
Spiritual Growth via preaching: Strongly Agree-36%, Agree-47%, Neither Agree nor Disagree-13%
Insights and Response
Insights
Fostering discipleship has been a key focus of our parish over the last 18months and while positive momentum has been achieved continuing focus is still needed. Efforts have included adoption of a new mission statement emphasizing discipleship, elevating awareness about the characteristics of a disciple and continuing focus in homilies on our call to discipleship. Additionally, a programmatic approach has been underway to foster a discipleship culture in our many ministries. Specifically, a focus on continuous improvement through the conduct of self-evaluations, incremental changes to enable growth, efforts to strengthen the faith of current members as well as attracting new members. While our Strongly Agree % is above the Archdiocese’s average, we recognize we need to improve communication with our parishioners on the many efforts underway and to encourage their engagement in our ministries and parish life in general.
Supporting parishioners’ spiritual growth while robust clearly requires more attention. Despite our many faith formation offerings and our ministries focus on spiritual growth of its members, our % of Agree and Neither Agree nor Disagree of over 60%. Two areas of results stand out that warrant attention are: my parish prepares me to have conversations about my faith and the homilies help me connect my faith with my everyday life.
Response
Fostering a Discipleship Culture- we will continue our efforts that are underway to strengthen our ministries and continue to emphasize the importance of discipleship during homilies and other opportunities. We will design a communication strategy to better inform our parishioners on the many initiatives underway and encourage active participation through direct invitation. We will also develop a program to enable parishioners to have conversations about their faith with family, friends and others.
Spiritual Growth- we will undertake a comprehensive review of all faith formation programs to identify potential improvements in existing offerings as well as potential new offerings that might be needed. Consideration will also be given when developing homilies to stress and clarify the core tenets of our faith and the connectivity of our faith to our everyday life. Additionally, liturgical celebrations will be added to our Church calendar to provide greater opportunities to encounter Our Lord and His Blessed Mother.