A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
Thank you for participating in this survey.
Your responses will be totally anonymous, and will be used to help parish leaders learn from you and all who respond.
The focus of the survey is your spiritual life, your spiritual needs and what helps those needs to be met.
The survey should take no more than about 15 minutes of your time. Our hope is that it will help you to think about your life. So that in the reflection that follows, you may discover some things about yourself, while we learn about parish life in ways that will help to shape good parish practices for the future.
Many thanks,
Leisa Anslinger
Catholic Life and Faith
2.Think about your life. How would you describe your relationship with God?
( )Deep faith that shapes life
( ) Faith that needs strengthening
( ) Participate in Mass only
( ) No or little relationship with God at this time
3. How would you describe your spiritual needs?
4. What helps your spiritual needs to be met within your parish? (Choose as many as apply)
( ) Serving outside my parish
( ) Involvement in parish service/ministry
( ) Mass/The Eucharist
( ) Sacraments
( ) Faith Formation
( ) Retreat
( ) People at my parish
( ) Prayer at my parish
( ) Small group
5. What helps you find meaning or purpose in life?
( ) Sharing faith with others
( ) Friends
( ) Living Stewardship
( ) Reaching out to others
( ) Faith
( ) My work
( ) Ministry/Service
( ) My parish
( ) Family
Other, (please specify)
6. What helps you grow spiritually? (choose as many as apply)
( ) Understanding Mass and Sacraments through faith formation
( ) Belonging to my parish
( ) Annual retreat/retreat with follow-up
( ) Seasonal/holy day traditions
( ) Participation in small group
( ) Participation in Mass
( ) Learning different forms of prayer
( ) Other Faith Formation
( ) Faith practices/devotions at home
( ) Reading/studying lives of the saints
( ) Reading inspirational reflections from contemporary authors
( ) Participation in social action, outreach
( ) Good friends who share faith with me
( ) Daily Prayer
Other (please specify)
7. How do you grow in understanding of the Mass, sacraments, and the Catholic Tradition?
( ) Small group
( ) Faith Formation
( ) Reading/Studying
( ) Daily Prayer/reflection
( ) Grow through participation
( ) Bible study
Other ( please specify)
8. Do you have a favorite book, author, internet site, email/blog,
or social media connection that helps you strengthen your spiritual life? If so, please share below.
9. What would help you grow closer to God and others? What do
you wish your parish would offer?
10. Is your parish a place in which every person is welcome and valued?
( ) Yes
( ) No
Other (please specify)
11. How are people listened to and heard at your parish? (Choose as many as apply)
( ) Long Range Plan
( ) Surveys
( ) Focus Groups
( ) Parish Meetings
( ) Opportunities to offer suggestions
( ) Informal time with pastor, leaders
Other (please specify)
12. Who or what inspires you to grow in faith?
13. Does your parish give everyone an opportunity to give themselves in ministry or service?
( ) Yes
( ) No
Other (please specify)
14. Are you male or female?
( ) Male
( ) Female
15. In what city and state, territory or province do you live?
16. What is your parish name and location?
17. Are you White, Black or African American, Latino or Hispanic, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, or some other race?
( ) White
( ) Black or African American
( ) American Indian or Alaskan Native
( ) Asian
( ) Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
( ) From multiple races
Some other race (please specify)
18. What is your age?
( ) 18-25
( ) 26-35
( ) 36-50
( ) 51-65
( ) 66 and over
19. Optional brief additional reflection. If you are willing to answer an additional question, please continue. Recall and repeat your response to the first survey question here. Think about your life. How would you describe your relationship to God?
( ) Deep faith that shapes life
( ) Faith that needs strengthening
( ) Participate in Mass only
( ) No or little relationship with God at this time
If you are willing to have your thoughts be shared in publication, please add your name and city to the end of your response.
20. What has most helped you to acquire and grow in faith?
Which of the following do you believe would most help you grow stronger in your faith?
21. Rank the options based on what you would participate in if offered the opportunity.
( ) A faith mentor
( ) Periodic reflections delivered via email or web link
( ) Gatherings at your parish to explore our spiritual life
( ) Small group that focuses on connection between faith and life
( ) Short seasons and series to explore faith
( ) Learn about Bible or Catholic teaching
( ) Time set apart for guided exploration of Jesus’ life and ministry
If you are willing to have your thoughts shared in publication, please add your name and city to the end of your response.
22. What would most help you make a connection between Mass and your daily life?
Thank you for participating in this survey! Please share your experience.
23. Which of the following would most help you to take a step toward
a deeper relationship with God at this time in your life?
( ) A friend to talk to about faith and/or doubt
( ) Better understanding of Catholic teaching
( ) Learning to pray
( ) A decision to pray daily
( ) Brief time after Mass to share thoughts about readings and homily
( ) A decision to join a small group for a specific period of time
( ) A “jump-start” that would help you experience God’s presence
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