<Parish Name> Parish Survey
1
(Please respond by <Date>)
The <Parish Name> Parish Pastoral Council is conducting a survey of parishioners to
gather ideas on how we can become an even more vibrant faith community. Your
responses will guide the development of a Parish Mission Statement and a planning and
visioning process intended to help the Parish adapt to the changing needs of
parishioners and the local community.
The survey draws on five essential qualities of parish life as described by Bishop Zubik
in his Pastoral Letter titled The Church Alive! The five qualities are: the Eucharist,
Catechesis, Formation, Evangelization, and Stewardship.
The Council asks all adult members of the parish to complete a survey. The survey is
designed to insure that responses are anonymous. To help us calculate a response rate,
we have enclosed an addressed return postcard that asks you to check whether you
intend to complete a survey form. Please check an answer to that question and return
the postcard separately from your survey (it may be mailed, placed in the collection at
Mass, or placed in the box at the back of Church for survey returns. The postcard
allows the Council to know whether particular households have responded to the survey
(allowing one follow up to non-respondents). Note that the separation of the postcards
from the surveys insures that there is no identification number on any survey form. This
insures that questionnaires and responses are anonymous.
Additional survey forms are available from the Council (please contact __________ at
__________ or via email at __________) and in a box at the back of the church. If you
need help completing the survey, please contact __________ at __________). In
addition, the questionnaire may be completed online at the following web address:
____________________ or on Survey Monkey at: ____________________.
Survey results will be shared with the parish once the information is compiled. The
results will also help guide questions to be asked at an upcoming parish assembly.
Some survey questions ask you to circle a number on a five-point scale ranging from
(1) low to (5) high, or by circling a response indicating that you don’t know (DK). Some
of the scaled-response questions also ask you to indicate how important the statement
is from your perspective. Other questions ask how well <Parish Name> Parish performs
on each issue or statement. Some questions require yes or no answers or give you a
chance to provide short written responses. Thank you for providing your views.
<Parish Name> Parish Survey
2
(Please respond by <Date>)
Don’t Know
Strongly Agree
Q1-Q10: It is IMPORTANT TO ME that …
1. … my parish facilitates a strong spiritual life.
2. … my parish makes an effort to accommodate everyone,
including people with special needs.
3. … parishioners at my parish are provided with opportunities to
serve those in need.
4. … my parish makes an effort to encourage those who have left
the Church to return.
5. … my parish makes an effort to encourage the unchurched to
join the Church.
6. … my parish provides educational programs to encourage
adult parishioners to develop a stronger faith and deeper
relationship with Christ.
7. … my parish provides educational opportunities that are
sufficient to allow children and young adults to develop a
strong faith.
8. … my parish has a strong school.
9. … the pastor and other leaders at my parish communicate
regularly and effectively with members of my parish.
10. … my parish takes steps to influence the values and decisions
of the larger community.
Importance to YOU
Strongly Disagree
Questions 1-10 seek information on how important it is
to YOU personally for the Church or Parish to do the
things mentioned in the statements below. Please
answer by circling a number on a five-point scale
ranging from (1) Strongly Disagree to (5) Strongly
Agree. If you do not know, please circle DK.
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11. In The Church Alive!, Bishop Zubik asks if we are excited about our faith. What could <Parish
Name> Parish do to make you more excited about your personal faith?
<Parish Name> Parish Survey
3
(Please respond by <Date>)
Don’t Know
12. Sunday Eucharist is celebrated with full and active participation by
parishioners.
13. Homilies are directly related to scriptures and to the real life
experiences of people.
14. Lectors are well-trained and effective.
15. Music facilitates participation in the Eucharistic celebration.
16. Quality liturgical music is used.
17. I feel welcomed and a part of each Eucharistic celebration I attend.
18. The parish makes sufficient effort to involve youth and young adults
(other than altar servers) in the Eucharistic celebration.
Strongly Agree
Please indicate your view of <Parish Name> Parish’s
performance in the areas represented by each of the statements
below by circling a number on a five-point scale ranging from (1)
Strongly Disagree to (5) Strongly Agree. If you do not know,
please circle DK.
<Parish Name>’s
Performance
Strongly Disagree
EUCHARIST: The convergence point of all the vital elements of
parish life, the source and summit of the parish’s expression of
its life in Christ as the Body of Christ.
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19. When we attend Eucharistic celebrations, we bring all of the issues and concerns of our lives – our
current worries, hopes, dreams, and problems – to the celebration. How can <Parish Name> Parish
help parishioners with what matters most to them in their lives?
<Parish Name> Parish Survey
4
(Please respond by <Date>)
CATECHESIS: The element which teaches, explains and informs
parishioners of all ages in the Scriptures and Tradition of the
Church.
Don’t Know
Strongly Agree
20. Skilled and knowledgeable people staff parish religious education
efforts (e.g., catechesis or CCD, RCIA, sacramental preparation).
21. Sufficient adult faith formation opportunities are available in the
parish.
22. Sufficient faith formation and religious education programs are
available for children and young adults in the parish.
Strongly Disagree
Please indicate your view of <Parish Name> Parish’s
performance on each of the statements below by circling a
number on a five-point scale ranging from (1) Strongly Disagree
to (5) Strongly Agree. If you do not know, please circle DK.
<Parish Name>’s
Performance
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23. If <Parish Name> Parish offered more adult education programs to help people live their
faith well in the contemporary world, what topics or issues should be addressed in the
sessions?
<Parish Name> Parish Survey
5
(Please respond by <Date>)
FORMATION: The element which promotes a lived faith which is
bold, courageous and effective.
Don’t Know
Strongly
Agree
24. The parish makes an effort to accommodate people with special
needs.
25. Sufficient opportunities are provided for parishioners to serve those
in need.
26. The parish takes steps to influence the values and decisions of the
larger community through outreach.
27. The parish makes sufficient efforts to meet the needs of people who
may feel excluded from parish life at some point (e.g., divorced
individuals, single parents, the elderly).
28. The parish fosters Global Solidarity through education on and
outreach to our brothers and sisters across the world.
29. The parish provides opportunities for parishioners of all ages to be
formed in Catholic social teaching, growing in understanding of
Church teaching on peace, justice and human development.
30. The parish builds a culture of life by promoting the dignity of every
human life from conception to natural death.
31. The parish promotes faithful citizenship, forming Catholics to
exercise their faith in the public forum as well as in their work place.
Strongly
Disagree
Please indicate your view of <Parish Name> Parish’s
performance on each of the statements below by circling a
number on a five-point scale ranging from (1) Strongly Disagree
to (5) Strongly Agree. If you do not know, please circle DK.
<Parish Name>’s
Performance
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32. When asked about her own fidelity, Mother Teresa said: “It is simply a matter of living my
faith one day at a time with one person at a time.” What can <Parish Name> Parish do to
encourage people to put their faith into action?
<Parish Name> Parish Survey
6
(Please respond by <Date>)
<Parish Name>’s
Performance
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STEWARDSHIP: The element which encompasses prayer of
thanksgiving for the many gifts of God and the sharing of those
gifts through acts of service.
Don’t Know
Strongly Agree
38. Regular efforts are made to discover parishioners’ talents and invite
their use in parish service
39. The parish provides sufficient opportunities for individuals to
develop more fully their prayer life.
40. The parish educates parishioners to know their responsibility to be
good stewards of their gifts and special talents.
41. The parish provides good stewardship of the financial and other
resources given by parishioners.
42. The parish does a good job of drawing on the talents of parishioners
to enhance the quality of education provided by <Parish Name>
School.
43. The pastor and parish leaders provide adequate communication
with parishioners about programs and the use of parish resources.
44. The parish adequately imitates Christ through social action and
community outreach.
<Parish Name>’s
Performance
Strongly
Disagree
Please indicate your view of <Parish Name> Parish’s
performance on each of the statements below by circling a
number on a five-point scale ranging from (1) Strongly Disagree
to (5) Strongly Agree. If you do not know, please circle DK.
Don’t Know
33. Newcomers are warmly welcomed into the parish
34. Sufficient efforts are made to reach out to non-practicing Catholics
and those with little or no religious experience.
35. On average, parishioners understand the role <Parish Name> School
plays in enriching the faith life of the parish.
36. Sufficient efforts are made to sustain the faith of practicing
members of the parish.
37. Enough retreats and evenings of prayer are held to allow individuals
to enrich their faith and the parish faith life.
Strongly
Disagree
Please indicate your view of <Parish Name> Parish’s
performance on each of the statements below by circling a
number on a five-point scale ranging from (1) Strongly Disagree
to (5) Strongly Agree. If you do not know, please circle DK.
Strongly Agree
EVANGELIZATION: The element which encompasses any way in
which the parish continues to spread the good news of Jesus and
to bring others to God.
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<Parish Name> Parish Survey
7
(Please respond by <Date>)
45. How would you rate your commitment to <Parish Name> Parish?
46. What is the likelihood that you would attend a regularly scheduled
Bible study class, adult education program, or prayer group?
47. What is the likelihood that you would encourage a Catholic who is
new to the neighborhood to join <Parish Name> Parish?
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48. Religious affiliation varies across family members in some cases. Please check all the boxes
that apply in your case:
a. I am Catholic _____
b. I am not a Catholic ____
c. Each member of my immediate family is Catholic ____
d. One or more members of my immediate family is not Catholic ____
49. Mass attendance varies across family members in some cases. Please check all the boxes
that apply in your case:
a. Each member of my immediate family regularly attends Mass ____
b. One or more members of my family does not regularly attend Mass ____
50. Are you and/or your household registered with the parish? Yes or No or DK (please circle)
51. What is your age in years? _____
52. How long have you been a member of <Parish Name> Parish? _____ years
53. Are you Male _____ or Female _____?
54. How many people are there in your household in the following age ranges, including
yourself (please write the appropriate number in the relevant boxes):
Age Ranges
0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
No. in Household
Age Ranges
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65+
Don’t Know
Very High
Very Low
Please answer questions 45-47 by circling a number on a fivepoint scale ranging from (1) Very Low to (5) Very High. If you do
not know, please circle DK.
No. in Household
55. If you could change one thing about <Parish Name> Parish, what would it be?
<Parish Name> Parish Survey
8
(Please respond by <Date>)
QUESTIONS 56-61 ARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT REGULARLY ATTEND
MASS. IF YOU REGULARLY ATTEND MASS, PLEASE SKIP TO QUESTION 62.
Don’t Know
Strongly Agree
56. I would attend <Parish Name> more regularly if Mass times were
different?
57. I would attend <Parish Name> more regularly if the parish had more
adult educational programs?
58. I would attend <Parish Name> more regularly if the parish had more
small group prayer or spiritual programs?
59. I would attend <Parish Name> more regularly if the parish had more
outreach to the surrounding community?
60. I would attend <Parish Name> more regularly if the parish had more
social activities?
Strongly Disagree
QUESTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT REGULARLY
ATTEND MASS: Please answer questions 56-60 by circling a
number on a five-point scale ranging from (1) Strongly Disagree
to (5) Strongly Agree. If you do not know, please circle DK.
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61. What could <Parish Name> Parish do to encourage non-practicing Catholics to attend Mass
more regularly?
<Parish Name> Parish Survey
9
(Please respond by <Date>)
62. In his June 29, 2008 pastoral letter, Bishop Zubik challenged us “to be excited about our
faith, to grow the Church of Pittsburgh, and most especially to be ‘the Church Alive!’” If you
wish, please use the next page to continue your answers to earlier questions or share other
thoughts and ideas on how <Parish Name> Parish can become an even more vibrant faith
community: