Editorial

Some of us may balk at answering surveys by phone or mail. It seems like every organization and business badgers us for our opinions these days.

But while we might not want to volunteer for the Arbitron radio ratings or fill out a customer satisfaction form for our local car dealer, there is one survey that every adult Catholic should take seriously.

Related articles: Nov. 3, 2005 edition: • Letter to the editor: Fill the pews - be heard Oct. 6, 2005 edition: • Strategic planning: In-pew survey to be taken in all parishes Aug. 25, 2005 edition: • Planning for the future: Diocese undertakes new process • Sidebar: Did you know? June 9, 2005 edition: • Kate Wiskus: Named director of diocesan Office of Planning April 21, 2005 edition: • Strategic plan: Demographic report, survey will provide foundation

During the month of November, every parish in the Diocese of Madison will be conducting in-pew parishioner surveys at weekend Masses. Individuals aged 18 years and older will be asked to complete the surveys right in church.

Strategic planning. These surveys are part of a strategic planning process going on in the Diocese of Madison. The survey provides an opportunity for every adult in every Catholic parish to weigh in on the issues and concerns that we face as a local church, emphasizes Kate Wiskus, director of the diocesan Office of Planning.

The surveys contain questions concerning:

• The importance of various aspects of faith to individuals.

• The level of support for various ministries of the diocesan church.

• The level of support for ways of providing for ministry and worship in a time of fewer priests.

• The level of satisfaction with various aspects of parish life and programs.

• Personal demographic information.

The survey data will provide information on the vitality of the parishes as well as the needs and concerns of the parishioners. The rankings of diocesan ministries will help to identify the diocesan resources necessary to support the ministry of the bishop and provide for the health and vitality of parish communities.

This information will show the diocese where we are today and where we should go as the church of tomorrow. But the results will not just be used at the diocesan level.

Help parishes. Surveys will be coded for each parish. All parishes will receive the data collected from the surveys completed in their pews.

This information will help parish leaders to begin strategizing for their own faith community's future. The data will be an indication as to which programs are working well and which need improvement. The demographic information will also help parishes to better understand the needs of their membership based on age, ethnicity, education, and income.

Kate Wiskus has emphasized the importance of this planning process at this time: "We are facing very real challenges as the number of faithful increase, the centers of population shift, and the number of priests in active ministry decline."

Planning process. Surveys will be returned to the diocesan offices by December 1 and then sent to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) in Washington, D.C. It is anticipated that CARA will report back on the surveys in March of 2006. Regional meetings to follow up on the survey will be held beginning in May, moving toward development of a strategic plan by fall of 2006.

Catholics in our diocese have an opportunity to give their assessment of how the church is doing now and where it should go in the future. I encourage everyone to attend Mass at their parish and complete this survey. It's your chance to be heard.

Mary C. Uhler

Mailbag

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Fill the pews - be heard

To the editor:

As parishioners fill out the surveys in the pews [see editorial, above] the weekend of November 5-6, be careful! Read and announce the directions.

Everyone I asked how they would rate "Participating in Mass" on a scale of "1"-"4" said "1." Little did they know "1" would tally in the survey as "Not at all interested" whereas "4" would tally as "Very or very much interested," demonstrating that clear instructions must be understood or the results of the survey will be very skewed and seriously affect the "strategic" planning. Please do everything possible to ensure that everyone understands the rating scales.

And, clarify misleading questions like #94 which asks about the frequency of attending Mass at this time. "At this time" is not intended to mean the time of day, such as 7 a.m., it refers to "during this period of your life."

Currently, people think "strategic planning" means making plans to reach a valued goal. But what is the goal here? The plans are actually plans to deal with the projected decline in the number of priests.

Empty pews means Catholics are committing mortal sin by not honoring the Lord's day and priests are not going after the lost sheep. The valuable goal should be "fill the pews" and "fill the vocations," many of which are filled by devout Catholics from small rural parishes.

And since when is a priestly vocation not a lifelong, 24-7 occupation? Granted priests need to sleep, but working for the Lord and all his "sheep" and "going the extra mile" should be part of this interim plan. Rather than closing parishes, consolidating and antagonizing and creating more empty pews, we need to work harder as we go through the "eye of the needle" and carry the cross with Christ.

Don't let lack of interest and lack of participation take us down a downward spiral. Rise to the occasion. Evangelize! Contact those who have not been attending Mass.

Fill the pews. Participate! Be heard. Fill out the survey carefully.

Margaret A. White, Argyle