sj-parish-survey-full

Jun 27, 2026

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Parish Registration & Planning Survey

Thank you for taking part. This survey has two parts. Part 1 keeps our parish records current, so it asks for your name and contact information. Part 2 is the anonymous planning survey and asks for your honest opinions. Please answer what you can — there are no wrong answers, and you may skip any question.

This online version sends both parts together to the parish office. If you would like your Part 2 opinions to remain completely anonymous, simply leave the Part 1 name and contact fields blank, or use the printed copy and return the two parts separately.

Part 1

Family Registration & Update

Confidential — used only to update parish records and kept by the parish office. Please print clearly.

Your information

Date

Family / Last name

Head of household

Spouse

Mailing address (street)

City

State / ZIP

Home phone

Cell phone

Primary email

Spouse phone

Spouse email

A few quick preferences

Registered parishioner?

Preferred way to be contacted

Preferred language

Household count

Total in household

Adults

Children

Household members

List everyone in the household, including yourself. Leave extra rows blank.

Name

Relationship

Date of birth

Sacraments / CCD grade

Name

Relationship

Date of birth

Sacraments / CCD grade

Name

Relationship

Date of birth

Sacraments / CCD grade

Name

Relationship

Date of birth

Sacraments / CCD grade

Name

Relationship

Date of birth

Sacraments / CCD grade

Name

Relationship

Date of birth

Sacraments / CCD grade

Wedding anniversary (date)

Offertory envelopes & giving

Would you like offertory / donation envelopes?

If yes, how would you like to receive them?

Interested in online / automatic giving?

Homeschooling

Do you homeschool your children?

Interested in a parish Catholic homeschool co-op?

Parish groups & ministries — your interest

Checking "take part" or "help lead" invites the parish to contact you, so this part is not anonymous.

Prayer group / Adoration

Women’s group (e.g., Council of Catholic Women)

Men’s group (e.g., Holy Name Society / Knights of Columbus)

Youth ministry (middle & high school)

Young adult group

Catholic Scripture / Bible study

Small faith-sharing groups

Catholic homeschool co-op

Name & best contact for follow-up about the above (optional)

Other ministry you would like to join or help start

Part 2

Parish Planning Survey (Anonymous)

This is a moment for us to reflect together on who we are as a parish and where God may be calling us. Your answers here are anonymous — please do not add your name. We ask that every household member age 15 or older complete a copy. Unless a question says “check all that apply,” please choose the one answer that comes closest. This part takes roughly 25–35 minutes.

A. Your Participation in the Parish

1. How long have you been a member of this parish?

2. How long does it usually take you to travel from home to the parish?

3. On average, how often have you attended Mass here during the past year?

4. In how many parish ministries, committees, or groups are you currently active?

5. Over the last few years, has your involvement increased, stayed the same, or decreased?

If your involvement INCREASED, what are the reasons?

Check all that apply

If your involvement DECREASED, what are the reasons?

Check all that apply

6. About how much does your household contribute to the parish per year?

7. How many people or families have you invited to visit or join the parish this past year?

8. How many of your closest friends attend this parish?

B. The Ministries & Mission of Our Parish

For each parish task, how do you feel about our emphasis today?

One answer per row

Celebrating Mass and the sacraments as a meaningful encounter with God

Offering liturgy and sacred music that engage the whole assembly

Providing faith formation / religious education for children and youth

Providing faith formation and adult education for adults

Helping parishioners deepen personal prayer and their relationship with God

Sharing the Gospel and welcoming those without a church home (evangelization)

Engaging in acts of charity and service to persons in need

Connecting the Catholic faith to social, civic, and economic life

Providing pastoral care for the sick, homebound, and bereaved

Offering counsel or support to parishioners facing personal difficulties

Providing fellowship and community-building opportunities

Forming parishioners in stewardship of time, talent, and treasure

Supporting the wider mission of the Church and the Diocese

Helping parishioners discover and use their gifts for ministry

Cooperating with other local parishes and community groups

Handing on our Catholic identity, traditions, and devotions

Overall, which ONE task does our parish do BEST?

Which ONE task would you most like to see STRENGTHENED?

C. Parish Life, Leadership & Morale

To what extent does each statement describe our parish?

Use "Don’t Know" only when truly necessary.

Parishioners are well informed about what parish ministries and groups are doing.

Parish activities are well publicized to the surrounding community.

The parish regularly studies the needs of the parish and community when planning.

New ideas and initiatives receive real support and encouragement.

Parishioners are encouraged to discover their gifts for ministry and service.

Lay leaders receive the training they need for their roles.

Important decisions are made openly, with input from leadership and parishioners.

Disagreements and conflicts are handled openly and constructively.

Parishioners help one another in times of trouble.

The current morale of our parish is high.

There is a sense of excitement about our parish’s future.

I have confidence in how the parish manages its finances and resources.

D. Our Parish Identity

Where does our parish fall between each pair of descriptions?

1 = most like the first description, 4 = an equal mix, 7 = most like the second.

Shaped by history & tradition ↔ Shaped by contemporary ideas

Oriented to serving our members ↔ Oriented to serving the world

Feels like one large family ↔ Feels like a loose association

Very involved with the local community ↔ Not at all involved

Seeks partnerships with other parishes ↔ Prefers to work on its own

From your own perspective, how much do you agree?

Our parish’s identity is one I feel comfortable with.

It is easy for me to tell others what is unique about our parish.

I have a clear understanding of what our parish stands for.

An effective effort was made to help me understand our parish’s mission.

I have a strong sense of belonging to this parish.

Being part of this parish has made a difference in my spiritual life.

E. Worship & Liturgy

1. How satisfied are you with these aspects of worship?

The music during Mass (choir, cantors, instrumentals)

The celebration of Mass apart from the music

The homilies / preaching

The way your spiritual needs are met in worship

2. For you personally, how much emphasis should each receive at Mass?

Time for the assembly to greet one another

Reverence and a strong sense of the sacred

Music that helps the whole assembly participate

Homilies that connect faith to everyday life

Opportunities for silence and personal prayer

Devotions (Adoration, Rosary, novenas, etc.)

Worship or Mass times beyond Sunday morning

3. What Sunday morning start time would you most prefer for Mass?

F. Faith Formation & Religious Education

1. How satisfied are you with each aspect of our faith formation programs?

Children’s program (0 – 5th grade)

Youth program (6th – 12th grade)

Adult faith formation

OCIA (those entering the Church)

The number of people taking part in formation

The days and times programs are offered

The training and support given to catechists / teachers

2. What priority would you give each of these for ADULT faith formation?

Scripture study

Study of contemporary issues in light of Catholic teaching

Prayer, devotion, and spirituality groups

Small faith-sharing groups

Fellowship or social groups

Evangelization and outreach

Service and social-concern groups

Marriage, family, and parenting groups

4. Overall, how would you rate our CCD / religious education program?

5. What improvements would you most like to see in our CCD / faith formation program?

G. Our Facilities

1. Please assess each facility in terms of SIZE (is it large enough for our needs?).

Worship space (church / sanctuary)

Faith formation / classroom space

Gathering / fellowship space (parish hall)

Office space

Parking

2. Please assess each facility in terms of CONDITION and aesthetic appeal.

Worship space (church / sanctuary)

Faith formation / classroom space

Gathering / fellowship space (parish hall)

Office space

Parking

Restrooms and accessibility

Exterior and grounds

H. Future Direction & Capital Priorities

1. If the parish could raise significantly more money, what priority would you give each use?

Renovate, repair, or expand the church / worship space

Renovate or expand faith formation / classroom space

Renovate or expand the parish hall / fellowship space

Improve parking, accessibility, and grounds

Increase support for the poor and community service

Increase support for the Diocese and world missions

Increase current staff or add staff positions

Expand parish programs and ministries

Establish or grow a parish endowment

Establish a parish columbarium (cremation niches)

Other priority you would suggest

2. Overall, how important is a capital improvement project for our parish right now?

3. How interested would you or your family be in the parish offering each group?

Prayer group / Adoration

Women’s group (e.g., Council of Catholic Women)

Men’s group (e.g., Holy Name Society / Knights of Columbus)

Youth ministry (middle & high school)

Young adult group

Catholic Scripture / Bible study

Catholic homeschool co-op

4. If the parish started new groups like these, how would you like to see them organized (meeting times, focus, who leads, etc.)?

I. Parish Columbarium (Exploratory)

The parish is exploring whether to build a columbarium — a sacred structure of niches for the dignified placement of cremated remains on parish grounds. No decision has been made, and diocesan guidelines require parishioner input before such a project can move forward.

1. Would you support the parish establishing a columbarium on parish grounds?

2. Would you or your household be interested in reserving one or more niches?

3. If yes or possibly, about how many niches might your household reserve?

4. Any comments or concerns about a parish columbarium?

J. Your Faith Practices & Communication

1. How often do you engage in each of the following?

Spend time in personal prayer or devotional / spiritual reading

Take part in worship beyond Sunday (weekday Mass, Adoration, etc.)

Volunteer your time in service to others

Use email

Visit the parish website or parish social media

2. How would you prefer to receive parish news and the bulletin?

K. About You

Collected only in aggregate to help us understand the makeup of our parish. Your responses remain anonymous.

1. Your age?

2. Gender?

3. Racial / ethnic background?

4. Marital status?

5. If you have children living at home, how many are in each age group?

Age 0 – 5

Age 6 – 12

Age 13 – 18

Age 19 and over

6. Which best describes your current household?

7. Highest level of formal education?

8. Are you currently…?

9. Household income range?

10. How many years have you lived in this general area?

11. How likely is it that you might move out of this area within the next few years?

12. Were you raised Catholic?

If no, in what faith tradition were you raised?

L. Your Vision for Our Future

What are your dreams, desires, and wishes for our parish over the next five years?

Your answers go only to the parish office. In Part 2, please do not include anyone else’s full name or personal details in the open-ended answers. Thank you for the time and prayer you have given to this survey.

Comments

One response to “sj-parish-survey-full”

george.arkoosh

June 27, 2026

great

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