PARISH SURVEY QUESTIONS

Below are the results of the Parish Survey Questions. There were 299 replies.

The comments are verbatim –any spelling or grammar errors were not changed. A few words were not decipherable – so they are marked by xxx.

1. Are you a registered member of the parish?

Registered Households (not all gave years)

Yes 230 No 59

Years at St. Kateri / Number of Households
5 or less / 52
6 – 14 / 46
15 – 25 / 45
26 Plus / 23 (17 are Charter Member)
Years as a Member / Number of Households
<1 / 2
1 / 16
2 / 8
2.5 / 2
3 / 10
4 / 7
5 / 7
6 / 6
7 / 9
8 / 10
9 / 2
10 / 10
11 / 2
12 / 4
14 / 3
15 / 11
16 / 4
17 / 8
18 / 7
19 / 1
20 / 4
21 / 2
22 / 2
24 / 3
25 / 3
26 / 1
27 / 3
29 / 2
≥ 30 / 17 - charter members

Comments:

Yes – 31 years (some gaps when out of country)

No, in transition from St. Joan of Arc

2. What is your personal status?

186 replies

Personal Status / Number
Single / 14
Married / 232
Divorced / 15
Widowed / 23
Separated / 4

3. What is your age?

301 replies

Age Group / Number
18 – 25 / 8
26 – 45 / 50
46 – 65 / 149
66 – 75 / 54
Greater than 75 / 40

4. What is your ethnicity?

Ethnicity / Number
White / 263
African American / 3
Native American / 2
Hispanic / 10
Indian
Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian / 5
Asian / 28

Countries: 3 Vietnam, 2 Philippines, 1 South Korea, 1 Cambodia

Comment: I prefer not to and I take offense

5. Are there children under the age of 18 in your home?

Yes107No 181

If yes, please list their ages

Age / Number / Age / Number
Less than 1 / 4 / 9 / 14
1 / 4 / 10 / 10
2 / 7 / 11 / 11
3 / 9 / 12 / 11
4 / 6 / 13 / 15
5 / 4 / 14 / 10
6 / 6 / 15 / 20
7 / 12 / 16 / 19
8 / 8 / 17 / 15

7. Are you associated with the military?

Yes 124No 32

If yes, please check:

Status / Number
Active Duty / 25
Retired / 90
Spouse / 32
Dependent / 9
National Guard / 1
Veteran / 1

Comment: have been Major US AF Major former

8. What is your occupational status?

Status / Number
Student / 9
Retired / 102
Employed / 183
Un-Employed / 12
Homemaker / 1

9. Do you contribute financially to St. Kateri on a regular basis?

Yes255No 28

Comment:

  1. 1. As I can
  2. No would like to
  3. No. I play catch up to meet my contract
  4. Yes, today
  5. No can’t afford, the struggle is real
  6. No, not yet!
  7. Yes, when I attend
  8. No just arrived in area
  9. No not yet 
  10. Yes, cash only
  11. Will now
  12. Yes, when I remember

Yes, wish tithing was encouraged more – are we still a tithing parish

10. When the parish was formed, the focus was on serving the less fortunate using our time, talent and treasure. Do you see evidence of this in our parish today?

Yes253No 11Don’t know 1

Comment

  1. I would like to see more folks participating in liturgy ministries
  2. There is certainly less service since the food pantry/thrift shop are now separate.
  3. Haiti efforts, parish thrift store, food bank
  4. Don’t know to answer
  5. Thrift store and food pantry
  6. Food pantry, Kairos, Thrift Shop
  7. Thrift shop, food pantry
  8. Food pantry, CHWC, service projects, Haiti
  9. Collections, donations
  10. Yes but we could do better
  11. Parish thrift store, Haiti, etc.
  12. A lot less than in earlier years
  13. Yes but mostly with treasure
  14. Youth groups focus on this
  15. Thrift shop
  16. Food pantry, CHWC
  17. Haiti, work on PORT, thrift shop, Catholic Heart
  18. No homebound. Not less fortunate as a parish prison ministry some are able to give more money
  19. Haiti, food pantry, soup kitchen
  20. Through the ministries
  21. Very little
  22. Parish makes good effort
  23. Not sure…regret my participation is limited – but hope to change that (random remark on side) maybe a military group?
  24. We have strayed a bit since I started coming. I feel we should focus more on that
  25. Yes, but not as much
  26. Thrift shop, St. Paul’s donations, CHWC
  27. Haiti
  28. Food pantry, thrift shop whose profits help the less fortunate
  29. Pantry, collection for less fortunate, Haiti service, all very good
  30. Special involvement with Haiti is great
  31. St. Paul’s soup kitchen, Disaster Relief collections and youth ministry outreach
  32. Israeli wood carver visit; Father Bob’s comments following Charlottesville riot; collection for hurricane survivors
  33. It is evident in the ministries, sister church in Haiti, etc.
  34. Youth activities, Haiti, thrift store, food bank
  35. Yes but not at the same level as at the beginning (1991-92)
  36. Less evident than in past, seems to be in decline!
  37. Yes, but it has clearly decreased in the number of active participants
  38. Haiti committee, visiting the sick
  39. Not sure
  40. Not as much
  41. Thrift store and food pantry
  42. Does not apply – I am not yet active in parish activities
  43. Thrift shop; work camps
  44. Thrift store, food pantry, ministering to the sick
  45. Haiti ministry, thrift shop and food pantry volunteers (although not now sponsored by us) we see less evidence than formerly
  46. Catholic Heart/thrift shop/food pantry
  47. Seems to be in-line with other parishes I’ve been in
  48. Some
  49. Food bank our sister church in Haiti, cookie ministry, soup kitchen, sandwich making
  50. Thrift shop/food pantry
  51. No, I left because it became the focus of everything
  52. Not qualified to answer
  53. Yes, but not as much as could be
  54. Yes it would be nice to hear at Mass about some of the accomplishments and status
  55. Yes, unfortunately our most obvious and direct method – thrift shop – is now “detached” similar to SHARE
  56. Haiti but not local
  57. Yes just 5 days
  58. Food pantry – thrift shop
  59. Food drives
  60. Parish thrift store, food pantry
  61. Yes, but newer members do not seem to undertake a ministry. And the older members are tired and not as able as 30 years ago. At the beginning of our parish many women did not work outside the home. Now I think most women do have a job. They are tired, have children who are involved in many activities and therefore their families are also involved. Difficult to do “extra” at St. K. too many obligations. I have reached out to some neighbors and that is what I was told. And I see that.
  62. Food pantry is an excellent example
  63. Recent example with hurricane relief
  64. But not as much as we did in the past, there is no community
  65. Prison ministry
  66. Food pantry and many other ministries
  67. Yes not all the time, but in important ways
  68. Yes, but not as strongly
  69. Yes, but not as much as before. There has been no emphasis on ministry
  70. Some
  71. With food collection
  72. It often seems the emphasis is on Poquoson area versus other parish areas
  73. Do not know
  74. I’m new but I believe so
  75. One of the reasons we are moving to St. K. more mission-centered, especially in local community
  76. Parish thrift shop- youth activities
  77. Have not been attending long enough to comment
  78. Yes in the food pantry and other ministries
  79. Food pantry
  80. But less emphasis now. Need more = more parish unity! Maybe some additional emphasis on house churches participation would help!
  81. Collecting food for the food pantry and hurricane relief collections
  82. Food pantry, soup kitchen, Catholic Heart work camp, KAIROS
  83. Yes, but not as much
  84. Prison and Caribbean ministries
  85. Yes, needs more participation from church members

11. How would you describe your experience during Mass at Kateri?

Comment:

  1. Solemn, reflective, joyous
  2. Enjoy the quiet atmosphere. Last church the pastor scolded us. I like the homily addresses the teachings of the Gospel
  3. Excellent
  4. Peaceful, very rewarding
  5. I love Mass!
  6. Warm priest, good music, like being with our family, feel a part of it all, could be more reverent and more dogmatic at times, space makes reverence harder, new chairs warmed it up
  7. Uplifting, community
  8. Love the music! Homilies are nice, I miss the kneelers and quiet time before Mass.
  9. Good, would be better if we had a church building (sanctuary)
  10. The Eucharist is meaningful
  11. Very enjoyable, we like your pithy and succinct homilies, Father!
  12. Involved. The homilies bring meaning to me from week to week
  13. Love receiving Eucharist. Enjoy Fr.’s homilies
  14. Contentment
  15. Very enjoyable and spiritually rewarding
  16. Great
  17. Very nice
  18. Outstanding
  19. Very good
  20. Fulfilling my spiritual needs
  21. Fulfillment
  22. So-so. There is a lack of reverence in the parish. People talking, drinking, not respecting the body. Ritual has its place in promoting reverence and we have lost much useful ritual.
  23. Ok +/- overabundance of songs/verses. Perhaps a distraction. Distraction from Mass message
  24. Very good, focused, good sermons, good music
  25. It’s nice and accepting :)
  26. Thoughtful. Fr. Bob’s homilies are concise and informative, good bridge to modern life, music a definite plus
  27. Content
  28. Much enjoyed, a very friendly parish
  29. Good
  30. Good
  31. Spiritual
  32. Fulfilling
  33. Welcoming, educational, thought-provoking
  34. Very good, excellent sermons, thought-provoking
  35. Very good
  36. Positive. I am very involved in Mass. I enjoy Father and the community very much
  37. Ok
  38. Very positive sermons are wonderful, concise to the point not rambling
  39. Good
  40. Brings peace
  41. Fine, we are grateful for the new chairs
  42. We very much appreciate Children’s Liturgy
  43. Good
  44. Good
  45. Positive more so than in the past
  46. Fulfilling
  47. Great
  48. Satisfying
  49. Fr. Bob is doing a great job
  50. Content – happy – music could be a bit more joyful
  51. Good prayer, but could be better
  52. Spiritual fellowship, could do better with music
  53. Very good
  54. Peaceful and comfortable with the new chairs. Thanks!
  55. Ok but don’t seem to get a lot out of Mass
  56. Pleasant
  57. Great sermons, friendly parishioners
  58. Uplifting
  59. Feeds my soul
  60. Very good
  61. Uplifting
  62. Home. It is nice to see folks we know at Sat/Sun or daily mass
  63. Too much singing – I wish we had a dedicated church building miss the traditional church
  64. Renewed
  65. I am fed for my spiritual needs. I also receive blessings when I attend Mass at a xxxxx church in Williamsburg with my friend Monica I return to St. Joe’s in Buckroe former parish as a good home coming
  66. Welcoming and pleasant
  67. Overall good, but at times at times the music distracts from the Mass, i.e. can’t understand versus during psalter
  68. Is different for each member of the family I love coming to mass and experience the presents of Jesus but is hard to get the family engaged in the same way
  69. Very positive; love Fr. Bobs homilies and peaceful atmosphere he promotes
  70. Positive, friendly, timely, welcoming. On point does not drag on. I really appreciate that
  71. We would both like the focus on reverence to be exclamated
  72. Fulfilling
  73. Home. Feels the same as it always has my whole life
  74. We do not (like) where the choir is located. It’s a huge distraction
  75. Good
  76. Welcoming/reflective/homilies are instructive
  77. Very welcoming (registered in Sep) reassuring of personal challenges
  78. Nice. I would like for there to be more traditional aspects included to the Mass
  79. Great it’s all I need
  80. Good
  81. The mass is pleasant but very different than how I was raised, i.e. kneeling, Altar service, etc.
  82. Positive
  83. Good
  84. We love our church family and enjoy the Mass
  85. Mass at Kateri is spiritual and welcoming. I feel at home when I walk in the doors
  86. Pleasant and fulfilling
  87. Living or professing our faith as one which I feel has to do with Fr. Bob.
  88. Engaged
  89. Fine
  90. Satisfactory
  91. Enjoy
  92. Okay. I like to pray before Mass and it is noisy. My wife wishes it looked more like a traditional church
  93. Welcoming, excited
  94. Please see back sheet for suggestions.
  95. Please consider missals so we can read along with lectors!
  96. Please consider printing/including all of the verses of the responsorial psalm!
  97. While it is evident that our parish is lively and welcoming parish, it is very difficult to prepare oneself for Mass upon entering the building because of all the chatting and socializing going on…even while the cantor is making announcements. It is very distracting. Why couldn’t the rule be to reverently be quiet before Mass and then chat and socialize afterwards – like most every other Catholic Parish?
  98. Positive
  99. Inspiring
  100. Fulfilling, enriching
  101. Great
  102. Excellent
  103. Good. Like incorporating youth into Mass. Like new chairs. Comfy!
  104. I feel that Mass aids me in expanding myself mentally and spiritually
  105. Look forward to coming each week
  106. I feel part of the Mass through my ministries, the service and the music. I do miss some of the ‘older’ songs
  107. Good
  108. Very positive
  109. I am a new member and really enjoy the hospitality
  110. Excellent
  111. Celebration of the Eucharist is good and inspiring. The congregation is not so spiritually engaged – participation does not seem enthusiastic or devoted
  112. Spiritual – priest sermons short and to the Gospel message
  113. Poor. No community, really no friends to be made outside of Mass, cold
  114. Great. I love that Father Bob interacts with the children. Warm community
  115. Fr. Bob seems MOST aware of encouraging us to JOIN into the worship and prayer
  116. Very good
  117. Satisfied
  118. Positive, community-based
  119. Peaceful
  120. Very positive
  121. Calm, friendly, contemporary
  122. Positive and fulfilling
  123. Spiritually fulfilling
  124. Improved since Father Bob came. More kid friendly
  125. Very favorable. Always leave feeling renewed, refreshed and with a hopeful spirit
  126. Positive
  127. Positive welcoming
  128. Peaceful, I enjoy the experience here
  129. Very welcoming, eye-opening and pleasant
  130. Good
  131. Reflective, communal, sermons could use improvement
  132. Wish audio speakers were better especially for seating at other side of altar. Also question printing so much paper each week for songs. Curious why parish doesn’t have song books.
  133. Mostly attentive, spiritually rewarding
  134. Good
  135. Enjoyable – not sure
  136. Low key
  137. People do not treat the facility with the appropriate respect.
  138. Would like to see missals available to be able to follow along with the readings.
  139. Would like to see progress toward building a traditional church instead of a multipurpose social hall.
  140. Positive, communal
  141. Very noisy
  142. We enjoy Fr. Bob’s quick sermons and the message he gives us
  143. Pretty good
  144. Enjoyable – love Children’s Church and the music
  145. Fulfilled
  146. Very different – I am having trouble getting used to a dressed down Mass
  147. Makes me feel happy; very rewarding and spiritual
  148. Praying the music would be more uplifting
  149. Mass is Mass but it’s not as spirited as we would like, including the delivery of the homily
  150. Would like to see more interaction with community
  151. Very moving
  152. Excellent I need to join St. Kateri. Currently at Mt. Carmel but moved
  153. ?
  154. Comforting
  155. Excellent, very good
  156. Every priest brings a new season. I enjoy Father Bob’s Masses
  157. Good – sound system could use some tuning. Not always able to hear Father clearly
  158. I enjoy the Mass and sermons but can’t always hear Father
  159. An active participant
  160. Slow, boring, but adequate, music needs to be pepped up
  161. Good
  162. Ok
  163. Spiritual I like Fr. Bob’s sermons
  164. Meaningful, welcomed
  165. Very good
  166. Very good
  167. I left because of previous priest
  168. Comfortable accepting community, audio system sometimes a challenge
  169. Very positive
  170. Generally enjoy the Mass. Music can use a wider selection of songs. Feel God’s presence
  171. Great
  172. Great community
  173. I always enjoy the Mass and especially like Father Bob’s technique at tying the homily to the readings
  174. Informative and enjoyable
  175. Joy in community sharing praise and love
  176. Would appreciate more periods of silence (no music, no singing) esp. after communion
  177. We are pleased with the service. Starts and ends on time. Always with a practical lesson
  178. Into myself peaceful
  179. Music is in need of better singers – I know of people who left parish because of this and priest reading sermons also only come people spoken to and others are not – not welcoming except for greeters and bulletin people
  180. Enlightening, joyful, prayerful, and time to reflect
  181. (Cold), enjoy the music
  182. Friendly as family
  183. Good
  184. Very nice I wish though that I could bring the gifts to the altar, never been selected to do this
  185. Good
  186. I find Mass to be respectful, inspiring and pleasant
  187. Fulfilling, appreciate thoughtful liturgies
  188. Good, relevant to times, homilies are tied to the scripture and its relatedness to our current world
  189. I like how Father explains the Gospel and ties in real world examples
  190. Peaceful
  191. Joyful and merciful, informative and welcoming
  192. Peace, kindness, love, joy
  193. Fine
  194. Very good
  195. Serves my needs
  196. Warm and enjoyable
  197. Meaningful, warm, accepting
  198. Friendly
  199. Informative, religious experience and relaxing
  200. Music is good and I find the sermons make me more reflective
  201. N/A
  202. Not a regular
  203. Happy
  204. Good
  205. Much better after Fr. Charlie’s tenure
  206. I enjoy Fr. Bob’s homilies – very friendly group
  207. Adequate
  208. Noisy
  209. Beneficial
  210. Very comfortable
  211. We feel connected and involved and uplifted. We feel we are part of the community
  212. Better since Fr. Bob has come
  213. Good
  214. Welcoming, comfortable, enlightening, friendly
  215. A friendly community drawn together to worship
  216. Good – choir member
  217. Participatory, enriching, active
  218. Interested, participating, praying
  219. Don’t’ know how to answer this
  220. I read the bible
  221. Good
  222. Very pleasant. I do which there were more reverent quiet before mass
  223. I feel a sense of community at St. Kateri, however, it feels more casual (not a church setting)
  224. Enjoyable
  225. Peaceful, enlightening
  226. Ok
  227. Very good
  228. Good
  229. Uplifting, joyful, positive. I love the modern music! So uplifting
  230. Very good. Especially now with Fr. Bob!!
  231. Prayerful, peaceful
  232. Wonderful
  233. Pleasant, feeling part of community. I am not in favor of television in children’s room. Needs a window to feel a part. Cannot hear/speaker system
  234. Great
  235. We love it – we have had several friends join the parish and they love it as well – no judgement – all are welcome
  236. Brings me back to my true purpose
  237. I have only come 3 times but have been ministered to each time
  238. Pleasurable
  239. Peaceful
  240. Comforting, communal, excepting (accepting sp)
  241. Good
  242. Prayerful – reflective – like Fr. Bob’s simplicity/time with liturgy
  243. Positive interaction with priest and community. Uplifting and comfortable
  244. Great
  245. Uplifting and fuel for the week
  246. OK
  247. I enjoy participating in the Mass. Altar servers was a nice addition I rarely fall asleep! Honestly, he is more personable than Fr. Charlie (RIP) was.
  248. Really good music. And Father Bob is really swell!
  249. Meaningful, friendly
  250. Very good
  251. I enjoy the sense of community
  252. Peaceful
  253. We enjoy the traditional Mass
  254. Sharing with others the bread and wine
  255. Welcoming
  256. Community
  257. Very positive
  258. Great
  259. Nice, but would like Father Bob to speak a little louder
  260. Uplifting
  261. Pleasant/good homilies
  262. Mass gives me a personal spiritual centering and experience – I find a lot of people moving around – to rest room i.e. – distracting
  263. I’m not a hand holder – it spreads germs and can’t always hear even with hearing aids
  264. Learning and community

12. Does St. Kateri currently meet your personal/family religious and spiritual expectations?