I would like to thank all of you who participated in the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) Survey earlier this year. In total, 39% of the average weekly mass attendees at our parish, completed the Survey. The DMI successfully captured a snapshot of our parish, offering our community a comprehensive analysis of attitudes and beliefs, participation, relationships, satisfaction, and demographics. The Survey has helped us assess our greatest strengths and opportunities, providing a valuable foundation for developing a pastoral plan that enhances the spiritual and communal life of our parish. The following is a summary of the most important results of the DMI Survey for our parish.

FOUR FACTORS OF A THRIVING PARISH
The DMI Survey collected responses on key areas of parish
life that will allow us to continue to work toward becoming a
more vibrant and thriving parish:
• Leadership Indicators: 84% of respondents strongly
agree/agree that they are provided opportunities to serve
at the parish.
• Sunday Experience: 89% of respondents strongly agree/
agree that the parish makes them feel welcome and
accepted.
• Spiritual Practices: 75% of respondents state that they
have personally encountered Jesus Christ and are
growing as a disciple.
• Missionary Impulse: 98% of parents said that they
strongly agree/agree that one of their most important
responsibilities is helping their child to grow in faith.

STRENGTHS OF THE PARISH
The DMI Survey highlighted three primary strengths of our
parish:
• Community Welcoming: 89% of respondents strongly
agree/agree that our parish is welcoming.
• Information Availability: 93% of respondents strongly
agree/agree that information via the bulletin and website,
is easy to find.
• Belief: 89% of respondents strongly agree/agree that that
the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH
The DMI Survey identified areas of opportunity for our
parish's growth:
• Discipleship – Confidence in teachings: 53% of
respondents strongly agree/agree that the parish is
helping to form them as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
• Formation: 63% of respondents strongly agree/agree that
they feel confident that they can share the teachings of
the Church with others.
• Music: 54% of respondents strongly agree/agree that the
music offered at Mass deepens their desire to participate
more fully in the Liturgy.

WHAT’S NEXT?
With the insights from the DMI survey, we are now ready to
take the next steps towards building a stronger, more vibrant
parish community. We will be forming a leadership team to
review the survey data and to create a strategic plan for our
parish. If you are interested in participating on this team to
support our parish in this capacity please let me know before
October 6th by sending an email to me at stjoes@ptd.net.
In a few years, we will retake the DMI survey to assess our
progress and see how far we’ve come. Thank you for your
continued support as we work together towards a future filled
with hope and enthusiasm for our parish.

Gratefully,
Reverend Thomas R. Buckley