STRATEGIC PLANNING: Surveys to measure viability of parishes

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
July 24, 2008

Knowing that parish viability will play a factor in decisions made as part of the long-range planning process in the Diocese of Sioux City, one member of the Strategic Planning Task Force sought a dictionary to learn specifically what the term means.

According to Msgr. Kenneth Seifried, a member of the committee and pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Milford, viable is defined as having the ability to exist on its own.

"What makes a parish exist on its own? It's many things - finances, dedication, involvement, liturgy, energy, activity, attitude and life," he said. While some may put more focus on the finances - when determining viability - he said some parishes may have a lot of money but no life.

As the number of priests who serve in active ministry in the diocese declines, the task force was established to evaluate how to best utilize priest manpower while providing the most effective ministry at parishes.

When the task force formed last November, the four priests who make up the committee were asked by their brother priests to seek input from parishioners.

With a desire to include the laity in the process and the need to come up with a tool to help measure parish viability, the members of the task force created two surveys. One, titled Parish Vitality Indicators, will go to all parishioners. The second, titled Parish Viability, will be sent to all parishes and the pastor will identify parish leaders.

"The purpose of both of these is rather than coming from the top down, we want to have the people's involvement and ownership in the plan," said Msgr. Seifried, who acknowledged that through the years laity have contributed much to the parishes.

Msgr. Duchaine, chairman of the task force and pastor at St. Mary Church in Mapleton and St. Mary Church in Oto, stressed the fact that the Catholic Church is the people.

"That's how it is described: the People of God," he said. "And so it is not only important but absolutely essential that the people be informed of what is happening, be given an opportunity to share in the discussions and dialogue pertaining to strategic planning, and take some portion of ownership for whatever decisions are reached."

Not only that, he said, but who knows better what is or is not happening in the parishes than those who live in them?

"If we want accurate information regarding the viability and vitality of our parishes, then parishioners will be an important font of knowledge and wisdom," Msgr. Duchaine said.

Parish Vitality Indicators

Parishioners will soon receive the Parish Vitality Indicators survey in the mail.

Categories on the Parish Vitality Indicators survey include liturgy, evangelization, adult faith formation, building and grounds, parish life, stewardship, Catholic school, demographics, caring community, responding to the needs of the people, prayer and spirituality, welcoming and parish leadership.

For instance in the category of liturgy, parishioners are asked if they agree, disagree or are unsure to: "Our parishioners participate fully and consciously in the celebration of the liturgy."

In the category of evangelization, an indicator is: "Our parish plays an active and visible role in the life of the community in which it is located."

In the category of parishioner involvement, one vitality indicator is: "Events and programs at our parish are well attended."

By completing this self-evaluation of sorts, parishioners will help identify the parish's strengths and weaknesses. In some cases, Msgr. Seifried said parishioners may realize that their own parish isn't very viable.

"If we have a shortage of priests, maybe it's not the best stewardship to have their parish be the center for activities," he said. "It may be a wake-up for people to understand, appreciate and take ownership."

In some cases, he added, this may motivate some people to become more involved in their own parishes.

Parish Viability

These surveys will be sent to the pastors who in turn will identify parish leaders - possibly members of the parish council or finance councils - or other parishioners with strong parish involvement.

The Parish Viability survey asks questions in several categories including parish life, liturgy/worship, education/youth ministry, building and grounds/financial status, stewardship and demographics.

In each of the categories, the survey lists three to seven specific questions. For instance one of seven questions under parish life asks: What is the percentage of parishioners from our parish who attend Mass? One demographic question asks: Is our parish growing or declining in numbers? In the category of education/youth ministry, a question inquires: Do the parents and adults of our parish support faith formation and youth activities?

"Some of the questions will be filled out by the parish staff. The hard facts - what percentage of the people go to church, what percent contribute financially - will come from the books," noted Msgr. Seifried.

Members of the task force created the surveys and used their personal experiences as well as similar surveys to help form the questions.

Information from these surveys will be evaluated and ultimately will help the task force determine how to proceed with the long-range plan.

"If we had looked at all the issues pertaining to 'viability' years ago, we might well have been able to plan for what is now about to descend upon us," said Msgr. Duchaine. "We might not have been able to know exactly what was going to be needed, but we probably would have had a fairly good idea and could have planned accordingly."

With that in mind, he said it is vital that the diocese now make up "for this lack by examining where parishes are right now insofar as numbers, finances, ministries, liturgy, etc. and, thereby, be able to project into the future which parishes may be left as they are, merged with other parishes, or closed altogether."

Because so much is at stake, Msgr. Seifried said they have high expectations with the survey completion rate. The percentage of return, he added, could provide another sign or indicator of parish viability.