GOAL
I:
To bring about in all Catholics such an enthusiasm for their faith that,
in living their faith
in Jesus, they freely share it with others.
1.
What does Goal I mean to our parishioners?
Responses to this question are categorized into four
headings and presented in order of descending
appearance. Results show that:
Responses
included both individual and group activities/suggestions.
The themes and specific
comments are captured below:
I.
Theme: Faith via Spiritual awareness - 8 responses
Receive the Sacraments (2 responses)
Pray for family and friends
Go to Mass
Increased confidence and increased conviction drives enthusiasm
Find Christ in everything
Salvation/sacraments are for everyone
Listen and be there for others – Treasure every person
II.
Theme: Faith Sharing – 6 responses
Faith is so important you NEED to share it
Need to reach out in a deep, personal way
Need to expand faith beyond the walls of the Church
Living and sharing our Faith in a way that does not cause animosity
Meeting to share faith
Parishioners need to be comfortable sharing faith
III.
Theme: Demonstrate faith by example – 4 responses
Live a life that sets the standard
Faith from the heart
Community Service
Greeting all parishioners with enthusiasm and friendliness
IV.
Theme: Strengthen faith through growth/ongoing education - 1 response
Continue faith growth after confirmation
2.
What do you think are the most effective ways that our parish
is achieving this goal right now?
Responses to this question are grouped into four headings and presented in order
of
descending appearance. Responses indicate that the parish is most effective
(currently)
in accomplishing Goal 1 via Community Service and Ministries, with over 70% of
responses indicating that this method is the way that the parish is achieving
this goal right now.
The themes and specific comments are grouped and captured below:
I.
Theme: Community/Ministries – 21 responses
Knights of Columbus
McAuley House
Project Grace (3 responses)
Float for 350 anniversary
Soup Kitchen
Greeters are door before Mass (3 responses)
Visiting Nursing Homes
Prison Ministry
Transportation assistance to Mass (2 responses)
Choirs/ music ministry (2 responses)
Christmas pageant and other programs
Coffee and Donuts following Mass x2
Funeral / bereavement committee (need to expand to widow(er) support after
services
II.
Theme: Sacraments/Prayer – 4 responses
Attend Mass
Pray Rosary
Praying for the return of members who have left the church
Prayer Chain
III.
Theme: Faith Sharing Opportunities – 3 responses
DIM (2 responses)
Bulletin
IV. Theme: Educational Opportunities – 2 responses
CCD
Bible studies
3.
On a scale of 1-7, to what degree do you think our parish is
achieving Goal I?
NOT AT ALL
PARTIALLY
COMPLETELY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Of those response sheets that provided an answer to
this question, the average
score was 4.083, which indicates that, as a parish, St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish
is partially meeting Goal 1.
Consider this when evaluating responses to Question 2
(e.g., while 70% indicated that St. Max achieve Goal 1 most effectively through
Community and Ministry Opportunities; overall, respondents felt that we only
partially met Goal 1.
4.
Which two objectives would your group like to see us work
on as a parish so that we could become even more renewed in
Christ?
Objectives are grouped and reported, in descending order, as follows:
26%
of responses indicated that small group experiences involving prayer and study
were a primary objective. Statistically
insignificant differences in next three categories
may require more discussion to determine a clear 2nd objective.
5.
Suggest one or two specific ways to accomplish each objective
that your group selected.
Note: Specific methods were not directly tied to corresponding objectives noted
in
question 4; therefore, it is impossible to suggest that a particular “specific
way”
(noted below) is applicable to a particular objective.
It is more accurate to
interpret the responses to this question in a general manner and consider that
the
primary objective is to “become even more renewed in Christ” rather than
“create
small group experiences…”.
Five themes were noted in the
suggestions that participants made to “become even more
renewed in Christ”. Consider that
this roll-up shows that St. Max is partially
meeting
Goal 1 based on Community/Ministry and Faith Sharing (see Question 2).
Discussion
regarding best next steps should focus on Encouraging participation/ belonging/
appreciation,
given that nearly 47% of suggestions fell into this category, according to the
suggestions
provided in response to this question.
Themes/suggestions are grouped below.
I.
Theme: Encourage participation/belonging/appreciation
– 15 responses
Greeters / Greet others (2 responses)
Find ways to acknowledge kindness/good things parishioners do
Identify needs of those not currently attending Mass and working people (2
responses)
Welcome wagon / social connections/ dinners/babysitting/coffee & donuts (4
responses)
Youth Mass / teaching mass (2 responses)
Establish Parish Council
Share personal stories/testimonials after communion
Rotate leadership opportunities- involve young
More effective sharing of information to connect parishioners to community
II.
Theme: Spiritual/Prayer – 7 responses
Eucharistic adoration
Testify to answered prayer
Communal rosary recital
Look for Jesus in everything
Set an example in the way you live your life
More time for prayer after receiving the Eucharist
Invite congregation to offer prayers of petition
III.
Theme: Home as Domestic
Church –4 responses
Encourage home-based bible study
Family discussions
Promote prayer in home
Grace before meals
IV.
Theme: Small Groups – 4 responses
Extend DIM all year
Continue DIM
Open your heart – let others know it is open
Continue small group meetings
V.
Ministries/Service/Education – 2 responses
Sing more familiar hymns
Teaching – guest speakers on prayer, missionary priests, etc.