Parish Life & Discipleship Survey

SECTION 1 – Your Connection with St. Mary’s

1.Which best describes your current religious identity?

I am Catholic

I was raised Catholic or was Catholic in the past, but I no longer consider myself Catholic

I am Christian, but not Catholic

I belong to another religious tradition

I do not identify with a religious tradition

I am not sure how I would describe myself

5.How connected do you currently feel to the St. Mary’s parish community?

Very connected

Somewhat connected

Neither

Somewhat disconnected

Very disconnected

SECTION 2 – The St. Mary’s Experience

14.The preaching helps me connect Scripture and my Catholic faith with everyday life.

19.St. Mary’s provides opportunities for people to develop meaningful relationships with one another.

20.St. Mary’s responds with care when parishioners experience illness, grief, crisis, or other difficulties.

22.When I express interest in becoming more involved, St. Mary’s follows up and helps me take a next step.

25.What is one thing St. Mary’s does particularly well?

SECTION 3 – Leadership and Direction

35.What is one thing parish leadership could do to make St. Mary’s stronger?

SECTION 4 – Your Faith

The next questions concern your own faith and beliefs. These questions are not a test. We want to understand where our parishioners actually are in their spiritual lives so that St. Mary’s can better help people grow in faith.

36.I believe in One God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

37.I believe Jesus Christ is truly God and truly human.

38.I believe Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead for our salvation.

39.I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

40.I experience Jesus as present and active in my life.

41.I believe Sacred Scripture is the inspired Word of God.

42.I believe Jesus founded the Church and calls us to live our faith as members of His Church.

43.I believe that at Mass the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

44.I believe Jesus Christ is truly present – Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity – in the Eucharist.

45.I believe Jesus gave the Church the authority to forgive sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

46.I accept the teaching authority of the Catholic Church in matters of faith and morals.

47.I believe God calls every baptized person to holiness.

48.I believe Catholics are called to share their faith and invite others to know Jesus Christ.

49.My Catholic faith influences the decisions I make in everyday life.

SECTION 5 – Growing as a Disciple

52.Which statement best describes where you believe you are in your spiritual life right now?

I am searching and have significant questions about faith

I believe in God, but am not sure I have a personal relationship with Jesus

I am beginning to know Jesus and want to grow closer to Him

I am actively trying to follow Jesus and grow as His disciple

My relationship with Jesus is at the center of my life

I am actively trying to help others come to know and follow Jesus

I am not sure how to describe where I am

53.Which statement best describes the pace of your spiritual growth right now?

I am experiencing significant spiritual growth

I am growing steadily in my faith

I am growing, but I would like to be growing more than I am

I feel that I am staying about where I am spiritually

I feel stalled in my spiritual growth

I feel that I am moving away from God or declining spiritually

I am not sure

SECTION 6 – Helping You Grow

SECTION 7 – You and Your Family

60.Is there a way St. Mary’s could better support you or members of your family?

61.Is there something in your life that you wish you could speak with a priest or another member of the parish about?

Yes

Maybe

No

SECTION 8 – Inviting Others

63.I would feel comfortable bringing a non-Catholic or someone who has been away from the Church to St. Mary’s.

67.I believe St. Mary’s genuinely cares about people who do not currently attend church.

68.I believe St. Mary’s should make reaching people who are not currently practicing their faith a major priority.

SECTION 9 – Our Mission and Future

Our parish mission is: Worship God. Grow as Disciples. Invite Others.

72.How much change do you believe St. Mary’s needs over the next several years in order to better fulfill its mission?

Very little — we should continue building on what is already working well

Some adjustments would make us stronger

Several significant changes are needed to prepare for the future

We need substantial change in order to become the parish God is calling us to be

I am not sure

73.Which ONE should receive the greatest attention from St. Mary’s during the next three years?

Strengthening Sunday Mass/worship

Helping parishioners grow as disciples

Reaching/inviting those not practicing

Strengthening community/relationships

Supporting families/children/young people

Caring for people in difficulty/crisis

Serving people in need

Other

74.If St. Mary’s could accomplish ONE thing during the next three years that would make us a stronger Catholic parish, what should it be?

75.What do you hope St. Mary’s will be like five years from now?

76.Is there anything else you would like the pastor and parish leadership to hear?

SECTION 10 – About You

79.Do you currently have children under 18 in your household?

Yes

No

80.If yes, what are the ages of children in your household?

0–4

5–10

11–13

14–17

81.Do you live in Dartmouth?

Yes

No

82.Which statement best describes your overall relationship with St. Mary’s?

St. Mary’s is my spiritual home, and I am actively involved

St. Mary’s is my spiritual home, although I am not very involved beyond Mass

I attend regularly but don’t feel particularly connected

I attend occasionally

I am exploring or returning to the Catholic faith

I am connected primarily because of my children/family

Other

83.Since the change in pastoral leadership this summer, do you believe St. Mary’s is:

Moving strongly in a positive direction

Moving somewhat in a positive direction

About the same

Moving somewhat in a negative direction

Moving strongly in a negative direction

Too soon for me to say

84.What are the greatest challenges facing our parish?

85.Please list the greatest strengths of our parish?

86.Comments?

Thank you for participating in this survey.