CLAIRVAUX CHRONICLE

the gallup survey
                   where we go from here                   
By Father Jerry Ringenback

There were approximately 1100 surveys returned as of this past weekend. In addition there were a number of surveys completed on line. That is a good representa¬tion of the worshipping community. Bear in mind, of course, that a large majority of our 5,000 families are not in attendance on a given Sunday and it would be difficult to elicit responses from them by other means such as the internet or a mailing. Few people respond to such solicitations. The data we have collected, however, will provide valuable information about the level of engage¬ment of active parishioners and reveal to us our strengths and areas for improvement. In turn it will assist in engaging non-active members.

Below are listed the next steps to be taken in this endeavor:

»A two-day seminar will be conducted in December by the Gallup Organization where the pastor and a small committee will receive the results of the survey and begin to develop an action plan that will enable the parish to engage more people in the life of the parish.

»The results of the survey will be presented to the parishioners after Masses on a weekend in late January.

»A 12 member "Visioning Team" will be appointed to examine the priorities that surfaced from the Listening Sessions and the Gallup Survey, consider different approaches to address these priorities, and then recommend specific strategies in the spring.

» During Lent the entire parish will be asked to reflect upon and pray about the direction the parish should take in the next 5 years. This process will include a Lenten Mission as well as small group gatherings
.
» After Easter we will formulate a 4-year pastoral plan based on the recommendations of the Visioning Team.

The life of the parish goes on, of course, during these planning months, but we do hope to gain a more accurate assessment of where we stand now as a parish in terms of engaging our members and where we need to go.

CLOSING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

Next Sunday, November 23, at the 12 Noon Mass we will mark the official end of our 60th Anniversary Year. I encourage all our parish¬ioners to attend this liturgy which coincides with the Feast of Christ the King. Following the Concelebrated Mass we will have refreshments in the parish center.