FIRST LISTENING SESSION RESULTS
The following are all the responses received from parishioners who either attended one of our listening sessions or submitted a written response.
Survey Questions
As a member of St. Mary's, I am expected to...
Response:
Go along with programs
Respect dignity and support needs of parish
Attend Mass regularly
Give time, talent and treasure
Tithe, be tolerant, be inclusive
Come to Mass on Sunday's and Holy days,
Contribute money
Contribute and take part in activities
Grow spiritually and give of myself
Give 10% in time and talent, help when possible, follow God
Live the Gospel
Attend Mass and give money
Participate in ministry
Pray for the church community and be a part of what's going on
Live the mission statement
Increase faith by learning more
Connect and discuss faith with others
Love God and neighbors, follow commandments and Beatitudes and Mission
Statement
Be "present" at Mass (don't only mean physically present), be welcoming and
learn my gifts and share those gifts with everyone to become a good steward
and more engaged.
Share my gifts with all and encourage others to do the same
Love my neighbor as myself
Try to follow the Gospel as preached
Support parish financially
Join catholic relief to others and encourage others to try
Volunteer
Attend Mass
Tithe
Help-out
Be aware of what*s happening in the parish
Become involved in parish by giving time, talent and treasure
Speak lovingly about church and Mass for God
Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days
Participate in on-going Formation
Participate in parish main events
Contribute money
Attend Mass
Give financial support
Be engaged
Be a good woman
Pray
Be welcoming and live mission statement
Attend Mass
Support financially
Participate in ministries
Attend weekly Mass
Offer volunteer time
Help parish achieve faith goals
Meet offering (financial) goals/ Contribute to sacrificial giving
Use my gifts
Take care of myself spiritually
Participate in spiritual direction
To live a beatitude life
Share faith
Be part of community on life*s journey and be supportive of that community
Good person
Pray
Go to Sacraments
Participate at Mass
Participate in ministries that our talents are good for
Support parish financially
Learn more about my faith through Formation
Be as active as possible in parish social activities
Express my faith by sharing my spiritual and material gifts
Set an example as a Catholic
Give my time to help to the best of my ability
What do you expect from St. Mary's ?
Response:
Be here another 100 years
Increased spirituality
Respect and support as an individual
Celebrate the sacraments
To receive a better understanding of Mass and our Faith
To assist us in learning what our gifts are
To grow in education
To be included in parish discussions
Better sermons
Fiscal responsibility to parishioners
To provide opportunities to actually use our gifts
Formation/growth
A say in who our priests/pastor will be
To be as open and inclusive as possible
Fellowship and Friendship
Acknowledgement that everyone doesn't see eye-to-eye
To be listened to
To include laity involvement
Meaningful liturgies/homilies
Teach more what*s going on in the Mass
More child involvement in the Mass
School children should be more involved in daily Mass, i.e. lecturing
More interfaith activities
To feed people spiritually
More laity reflections at Mass
Teach meaning of Mass
Fiscally responsible * and to ensure the right people are in place
To be fed at mass through homilies
To be engaged at mass
Incorporate social justice issues into the homilies, i.e., Bethlehem speaker
Continue to support existing ministries
Be open to create new ministries
Help people recognize the presence in their everyday lives and celebrate with
gratitude when coming to Mass.
Continuance of sound financial responsibility and accountability
Ongoing adult formation
To provide a home for our spiritual needs
Support in times of need
Caring for our troubled and joy for our successes
Opportunities to learn more about my faith
Counseling, if need exists
Prayer groups available for working people (time issue)
Mass should be alive and inspiring
Well presented, inspiring, relevant sermons
Need powerful homilies at every Mass that should be brief but should be
message-filled based on the readings of the Mass.
See if parishioners are inspired by the Mass
Respect for all personnel involved in the church, even if they are not happy with
their job
Support from leaders
Open minded members
A welcoming atmosphere
Spiritual guidance
Spiritual support
Who are the Spiritual Leaders of St. Mary's?
Response:
Priests and Nuns
Parish Team
Certain members of Leadership circles and Parish Council
Some Eucharistic Ministers
Fellow parishioners
Anyone in Ministry
Parish School Children
Evangelists
Bishop
Those who live the Gospel message
Priests
Nuns
Some laity people
People in ministry and spiritual directors
Pastoral team
Pastoral Council
Ministry members/leaders
People who are engaged
Laity
Spiritual Directors
Parish school faculty members
Survey Question # 2 - How DO the Spiritual Leaders of the parish demonstrate they care?
Response:
By knowing my name
By sacrificing their time, by listening and by greeting the sign of peace at Mass
The priests through prayers and sacraments and work for spiritual good, and all
others through prayer and sharing with others
By making you feel welcome
Priests greeting and asking questions and caring about spiritual life
They call on phone, write me and drop notes and use the Website to
communicate
Being welcoming and asking our opinion
Accepting gifts and talents * they are receptive to new ideas and ministries and
provide opportunity for spiritual gatherings
By maintaining a devout air during Mass and offering opportunities for spiritual
growth
Ministries try to entertain and priests on occasion give decent homily
They get to know families and are compassionate
Provide blessings and prayers in time of great need
By being a friend
They visit the sick
Give personal greetings
They try to always be available
Bring communion to the homebound
Process with grieving people at funeral
Help in groups that special needs
Priests at entrance doors to make you feel welcome
Fr. Steve greets by name and uses name at communion - personal touch
Addresses people by name and friendliness
Happy greeting and smile and ask for help
Welcome diversity in the many ministries
Available to see you - they are genuine
Caring - willing to be present
By level of spiritual care they provide when called.
Show concerns to issues and pointing one in the right spiritual direction.
They know me and family members by name.
Invitation to various activities/functions in the parish, i.e., thank you party as a
symbol of gratitude.
Offer on-going spiritual formation
Welcoming
Compassionate
Collaborative
Creative
Faith-filled
Enthusiastic
They take time to listen and be with you.
Loving presence
Offers counseling one-on-one
Homilies sometimes good
Asks for our input
They offer a welcoming smile
Listen to what we have to say
They are factual in their responses
They show compassion
They avail themselves to the needs of the parish through their service and time.
I benefit from their availability
Fr. Steve is quick to return calls
Priests try to make themselves available
FFE staff is responsive, kind and helpful
Parish leaders are very friendly and welcoming
I was invited and have become part of a spiritual community. They are always
with me in prayer and support.
They are friendly, open and approachable.
They work hard to meet the needs of the parish
By volunteering and working as hard as they do.