Saint Brigid Core Team Report

1
Saint Brigid Core Team Report

• Survey Responses
• 2012

2
Sacramental Life of the Parish

• 491 surveys collected on 1/15/12
• 484 surveys completed correctly
• Many surveys did not have all questions answered
  apparent that people chose not to answer if
  they were unfamiliar with or didnt understand
  what was being evaluated

3
Sacramental Life of the Parish

• Eucharist is the source and summit of the life
  and mission of the parish
• Four elements
• Eucharist and Sacraments celebrated with
  prayerfulness etc
• Homilies speak to live of the people
• People were prepared for language changes with
  Roman Missal
• Parents are involved in quality theological
  sacramental preparation relevant to todays
  families

4
Eucharist and Sacraments celebrated with
prayerfulness
5
Homilies speak to live of the people
6
People were prepared for language changes with
Roman Missal
7
Parents are involved in quality theological
sacramental preparation relevant to todays
families
8
Sacramental Life of the Parish

• Sacramental celebrations and devotional practices
• Six elements
• Sacrament of Penance is encouraged with adequate
  times available
• Anointing of the Sick is celebrated communally
  and when requested
• RCIA is the formation experience for those adults
  seeking Sacraments of Initiation
• Enriching sacramental preparation is available
  for all sacraments
• Various forms of prayer are fostered in the
  parish reflecting the cultural history
• Funerals are celebrated with compassion and
  understanding

9
Sacrament of Penance is encouraged with adequate
times available
10
Anointing of the Sick is celebrated communally
and when requested
11
RCIA is the formation experience for those adults
seeking Sacraments of Initiation
12
Enriching sacramental preparation is available
for all sacraments
13
Various forms of prayer are fostered in the
parish reflecting the cultural history
14
Funerals are celebrated with compassion and
understanding
15
Sacramental Life of the Parish

• Lay Sacramental Ministries
• 5 Elements
• Ministers of hospitality are trained and enriched
• Ministers of the Word are trained and enriched
• Ministers of the Eucharist are trained and
  enriched
• Sacristans are trained and enriched
• The Church Decorating Committee is trained and
  enriched

16
Ministers of hospitality are trained and enriched
17
Ministers of the Word are trained and enriched
18
Ministers of the Eucharist are trained and
enriched
19
Sacristans are trained and enriched
20
The Church Decorating Committee is trained and
enriched
21
Sacramental Life of the Parish

• Liturgical Music
• Four Elements
• Music is valued as a vital liturgical ministry as
  indicated by the quality of the music leaders
• Cantors are well trained
• Music is seasonally appropriate and corresponds
  to liturgical readings
• Parishioners are prepared for liturgical music
  and encouraged to worship in song

22
Music is valued as a vital liturgical ministry as
indicated by the quality of the music leaders
23
Cantors are well trained
24
Music is seasonally appropriate and corresponds
to liturgical readings
25
Parishioners are prepared for liturgical music
and encouraged to worship in song
26
Comments

• Most comments were praise for our parish and very
  positive!
• Areas suggested for improvement
• Quiet before Mass for prayer
• Music
• Would like more traditional Latin/
• Would like more modern
• Would like more instruments
• Strengthen choir and have at various Masses
• Would like to sing an offertory song and more
  than one song at Communion
• Youth involvement in Masses something to keep
  our kids coming to Mass and participating beyond
  Middle School
• Many dont know what enrichment activities are
  seemed like only if they were involved in that
  ministry were they confident to answer
• Use books instead of separate sheets each week

27
Evangelization, Catechesis, Catholic Schools and
Lifelong Religious Education

• 422 surveys collected on 1/22/12
• 413 surveys completed correctly
• Many surveys did not have all questions answered
  apparent that people chose not to answer if
  they were unfamiliar with or didnt understand
  what was being evaluated

28
Evangelization, Catechesis, Catholic Schools and
Lifelong Religious Education

• Evangelization as the essential aspect of the
  Churchs life and mission
• Five elements
• Parish leadership and members have a vision of
  evangelization based on Church teachings
• The parish encourages racial and ethnic harmony
  within the parish and beyond
• Newcomers are welcomed and incorporated into
  parish life
• Efforts are made to reach out to the alienated,
  inactive and un-churched
• The parish sees itself as spreading the Gospel
  message in all aspects of parish life

29
Parish leadership and members have a vision of
evangelization based on Church teachings
30
The parish encourages racial and ethnic harmony
within the parish and beyond
31
Newcomers are welcomed and incorporated into
parish life
32
Efforts are made to reach out to the alienated,
inactive and un-churched
33
The parish sees itself as spreading the Gospel
message in all aspects of parish life
34
Evangelization, Catechesis, Catholic Schools and
Lifelong Religious Education

• Lifelong Faith Formation
• Five elements
• A comprehensive Faith Formation plan exists
  providing learning opportunities for all adults
• Children and youth of all ages are provided with
  high quality programs and trained leaders
• Adequate funds, resource, staff, ongoing training
  and appropriate space are allotted
• Faith Formation programs are rooted in Church
  Teaching and regularly evaluated for conformity
  to the Catechism of the Catholic Church
• Parents are aided in teaching their children the
  Catholic faith and values

35
A comprehensive Faith Formation plan exists
providing learning opportunities for all adults
36
Children and youth of all ages are provided with
high quality programs and trained leaders
37
Adequate funds, resource, staff, ongoing training
and appropriate space are allotted
38
Faith Formation programs are rooted in Church
Teaching and regularly evaluated for conformity
to the Catechism of the Catholic Church
39
Parents are aided in teaching their children the
Catholic faith and values
40
Evangelization, Catechesis, Catholic Schools and
Lifelong Religious Education

• Catholic Schools
• Five elements
• St. Brigid supports Catholic school education
• Christian volunteerism is an essential part of
  the curriculum
• Catholic values and the teachings of the Church
  are found throughout the curriculum
• Parents are involved in the school and support it
  financially
• Families are encouraged to send their children to
  Catholic school

41
St. Brigid supports Catholic school education
42
Christian volunteerism is an essential part of
the curriculum
43
Catholic values and the teachings of the Church
are found throughout the curriculum
44
Parents are involved in the school and support it
financially
45
Families are encouraged to send their children to
Catholic school
46
Evangelization, Catechesis, Catholic Schools and
Lifelong Religious Education

• Vocational Awareness
• 3 elements
• Education for vocational awareness is part of
  Faith Formation programs and Catholic School
  curriculum and helps young people discern their
  vocation
• Special emphasis is placed on inviting men to the
  priesthood and men and women to religious life or
  lay ministry
• Adults are invited and given opportunities for
  training in the diaconate and lay ministry

47
Education for vocational awareness is part of
Faith Formation programs and Catholic School
curriculum and helps young people discern their
vocation
48
Special emphasis is placed on inviting men to the
priesthood and men and women to religious life or
lay ministry
49
Adults are invited and given opportunities for
training in the diaconate and lay ministry
50
Comments regarding Evangelization, Catholic
Schools, and Lifelong Religious Education

• Most comments were praise for our parish and very
  positive!
• Vocations/Ministries
• Suggest a prayer for vocations said at Mass
  routinely
• Suggest a ministry to those in the Jail
• Hospitality
• Have new member forms at back of church rather
  than to have to call the office in mid-week
• Committee membership should be encouraged at Mass
  not just listed in the bulletin
• Parish staff should welcome new members public
  welcome at Mass glad you are here
• School
• Seem to lose kids due to issues between parents
  and school staff
• Why are we using public school curriculum in our
  Catholic Schools
• Why are we taking kids on tours of public high
  schools
• Need to have better connection with our Catholic
  High Schools to encourage the transition rather
  than to public high schools
• Teachers need to be bold on talking about
  pro-life message and use of contraception etc
  with school parents/kids
• Keep tuition low and encourage more to come (what
  happened to fair share)
• Middle School curriculum needs improvement
• Faith Formation hard to get kids to since have
  received all sacraments of initiation by 2nd
  grade
• Need to make it more valuable/interesting to
  attend

51
Stewardship and Justice

• 330 surveys collected on 1/29/12
• 325 surveys completed correctly
• Many surveys did not have all questions answered
  apparent that people chose not to answer if
  they were unfamiliar with or didnt understand
  what was being evaluated

52
Stewardship and Justice

• Stewardship Formation
• 5 elements
• All Faith Formation Programs integrate social
  justice and Stewardship
• The Parish has an active stewardship committee
• Parishioners volunteer their time to be involved
  in parish mission
• Parishioners use their talents for building up
  the Church and the world in light of the reign of
  God
• The Parish has programs where all are expected to
  share their talents

53
All Faith Formation Programs integrate social
justice and Stewardship
54
The Parish has an active stewardship committee
55
Parishioners volunteer their time to be involved
in parish mission
56
Parishioners use their talents for building up
the Church and the world in light of the reign of
God
57
The Parish has programs where all are expected to
share their talents
58
Stewardship and Justice

• Social Justice, Advocacy, and Outreach
• 3 elements
• An organized program of instruction in social
  teaching has been implemented to discuss issues
  in light of Catholic Social Teaching
• The parish has outreach programs to assist people
  who are poor and marginalized
• Parishioners are trained to take part in advocacy
  at the State and local level especially in regard
  to all justice and respect life issues

59
An organized program of instruction in social
teaching has been implemented to discuss issues
in light of Catholic Social Teaching
60
The parish has outreach programs to assist people
who are poor and marginalized
61
Parishioners are trained to take part in advocacy
at the State and local level especially in regard
to all justice and respect life issues
62
Stewardship and Justice

• Integration of Stewardship
• 4 elements
• Parish provides on-going opportunities for all to
  understand the power of stewardship
• Parishioners are given opportunities to learn
  more about respecting and caring for all creation
  with a special emphasis on respecting human life
  in all stages from conception to natural death
• Our Church encourages parishioners to see their
  daily work as preparing for the reign of God on
  earth
• Parishioners understand that they have gifts from
  God to use in building up the Church through
  sharing their talents

63
Parish provides on-going opportunities for all to
understand the power of stewardship
64
Parishioners are given opportunities to learn
more about respecting and caring for all creation
with a special emphasis on respecting human life
in all stages from conception to natural death
65
Our Church encourages parishioners to see their
daily work as preparing for the reign of God on
earth
66
Parishioners understand that they have gifts from
God to use in building up the Church through
sharing their talents
67
Comments regarding Social Justice and Stewardship

• Most comments were praise for our parish and very
  positive!
• Areas suggested for improvement
• Social Justice is hot button phrase with many
  parishioners equating it to a liberal political
  agenda and therefore dont want their parish
  involved in social justice
• A lot of the same people always volunteer
• Need more outreach to the poor
• Need a Respect Life commission and more
  involvement which reflects our true Catholic
  beliefs
• Need younger people involved more in the parish

68
Effective Administration

• 369 surveys collected on 2/5/12
• 362 surveys completed correctly
• Many surveys did not have all questions answered
  apparent that people chose not to answer if
  they were unfamiliar with or didnt understand
  what was being evaluated

69
Effective Administration

• Leadership of the Pastor, Staff and Councils
• 4 elements
• Pastoral leadership encourages the fullest
  possible collaborations
• The Parish Council and Commissions reflect the
  particular population of the parish
• The Pastoral staff is trained and qualified and
  receives on-going education and formation
• The Parish Council evaluates and responds to the
  needs of the Parish

70
Pastoral leadership encourages the fullest
possible collaborations
71
The Parish Council and Commissions reflect the
particular population of the parish
72
The Pastoral staff is trained and qualified and
receives on-going education and formation
73
The Parish Council evaluates and responds to the
needs of the Parish
74
Effective Administration

• Financial Stability and Resource Stewardship
• 7 elements
• The Parish has a well operating administration
  and finance commission with a financial plan
• The Parish is able to pay its debts within a
  reasonable time
• The Parish has met its diocesan financial
  obligations
• The Parish is not overly dependent on special
  fundraising activities
• The Parish priorities are reflected in financial
  decisions
• The Parish ensures proper fiscal administration,
  business management and maintenance
• The focus of administration and finance
  commission is stewardship of resources in
  managing costs and revenue

75
The Parish has a well operating administration
and finance commission with a financial plan
76
The Parish is able to pay its debts within a
reasonable time
77
The Parish has met its diocesan financial
obligations
78
The Parish is not overly dependent on special
fundraising activities
79
The Parish priorities are reflected in financial
decisions
80
The Parish ensures proper fiscal administration,
business management and maintenance
81
The focus of administration and finance
commission is stewardship of resources in
managing costs and revenue
82
Effective Administration

• Diminished Number of Priests in Planning
• 2 elements
• The Parish supports the pastor and doesnt make
  unreasonable demands on him
• The Parish is studying parish models for the
  future

83
The Parish supports the pastor and doesnt make
unreasonable demands on him
84
The Parish is studying parish models for the
future
85
Effective Administration

• Geographic Proximity in Planning
• 3 elements
• The Parish has shared pastoral programs with
  near-by parishes
• The Parish jointly schedules weekend Masses and
  shares liturgies with a neighboring parish
• Parishioners share programs and festivals which
  bring them together socially

86
The Parish has shared pastoral programs with
near-by parishes
87
The Parish jointly schedules weekend Masses and
shares liturgies with a neighboring parish
88
Parishioners share programs and festivals which
bring them together socially
89
Effective Administration

• Pastoral Staff and Facilities
• 5 elements
• The Parish has hired well qualified professional
  staff to carry out its mission
• Non-paid people are well trained to successfully
  provide services to the parish
• The Parish has adequate space for all liturgical,
  faith formation, educational and social functions
• Buildings have been evaluated by experts for
  structural soundness and are handicapped
  accessible
• The Parish grounds and buildings are well
  maintained, with a plan for on-going maintenance

90
The Parish has hired well qualified professional
staff to carry out its mission
91
Non-paid people are well trained to successfully
provide services to the parish
92
The Parish has adequate space for all liturgical,
faith formation, educational and social functions
93
Buildings have been evaluated by experts for
structural soundness and are handicapped
accessible
94
The Parish grounds and buildings are well
maintained, with a plan for on-going maintenance

95
Comments regarding Effective Administration

• Most comments were praise for our parish and very
  positive!
• Areas suggested for improvement
• Between 3 parishes in Midland we should be able
  to have more times for confession
• Free up Fr. Pats time to be able to be more
  sacramental with less use of lay ministers
• We should have a joint day of prayer with the 3
  parishes in Midland as well as joint food pantry
  and Music Ministry
• A later Mass (around 7pm) would be good
• Need young adult programs 25-35 year old
• Larger gathering space with coat racks would be
  nice
• Principal, teachers and faith formation staff
  need more training in our core Catholic
  priniciples especially where the Church stands on
  contraception
• We need to help all who come to our door even
  if they dont belong to the parish
• Holy Day vigils would be nice at least at one
  Midland parish each Holy Day
• Worship aids are a waste of money and paper
• Daily Mass schedule doesnt work for those that
  are working people a daily 5pm would be nice
• Handicap accessibility for the Church is somewhat
  limited
• Servers need to be better trained
• We need better youth programs

96
Conclusions

• Overall most parishioners believe we are going
  strong or adequate in most areas surveyed
• Parishioners are still in need of help with the
  new wording from the Roman Missal
• Involvement of Youth in Ministry was stressed and
  making Mass more meaningful for them and teaching
  them their faith this came up on all 4 surveys
  regardless of the questions asked
• Many comments about music and how it could be
  even better a combined music ministry between
  all 3-4 parishes in Midland was mentioned by a
  few
• Many comments about providing a quiet environment
  for prayer prior to Mass

97
Conclusions

• Support for the school is strong many comments
  on linking with Catholic HS in Saginaw/Bay
  City/Mt Pleasant so more transition to Catholic
  HS
• Hospitality needs strengthening especially with
  new members making them feel welcome some parish
  staff do not come across as friendly
• More prayer and emphasis on vocations suggested
• Add a ministry to those in jail
• Strengthen Faith Formation we are losing our
  kids after second grade need to make it
  valuable and meaningful so kids want to go
• Better coordination between parishes of Mass
  times, Holy Days, Reconciliation with a variety
  of daily Mass times (later in the day for working
  people)

98
Conclusions

• Social Justice is a hot button phrase and needs
  further explanation as it relates to the Catholic
  Church
• Right to Life issues are strongly supported by
  parishioners and need to be more strongly
  supported by the Parish as a whole and in our
  curriculum
• More training for teachers and faith formation on
  our core Catholic teachings especially as it
  relates to Right to Life, contraception etc.
  Dont be afraid to talk about this with parents
  and children
• Need to broaden the base of volunteers in the
  parish with more youth involved
• Facility issues as they relate to a gathering
  space, coat racks and handicap accessibility