Survey Update

September 2019

We would like to thank all those who took the time to participate in the survey.

Gallup research has shown that engagement drives spiritual commitment, which has an impact on specific spiritual health outcomes. When addressed, engagement translates into positive outcomes, both inside and outside the faith community.

Engaged members are:

1. Ten times more likely to invite someone to their parish
2. Three times more likely to say they are extremely satisfied with their lives
3. Likely to spend more than two hours per week serving and helping others in their communities
4. Like to give three times more to their faith communities annually

Why are we measuring ourselves?

To learn more about the spiritual health of our parish, which in turn will drive our efforts to continuously improve our programs, services, and facility.

• It is important to understand that the survey is a baseline study
• In order to see our growth in the future, we will be measuring the spiritual health of our parish today against other Catholic churches and faiths
• We are “measuring ourselves against ourselves”
• The survey is also a good representation of the topics and themes that are on the minds of adults who attend Mass regularly
• The views of our youth will be captured through separate, customized initiatives

Preliminary Survey Findings

Engagement

This section was divided into four areas, each building on the other in a hierarchy of engagement: 1. What do i get? 2. What do I give? 3. Do I belong? 4. How can we grow?

• 585 responses, St. Michael’s overall grand mean score of 3.6 (on a 5-point scale) compares exactly with the average of all Catholic church surveys in the Gallup database
• Significantly, 33% of our parishioners are “highly engaged, which is 10% higher than the Catholic church average”
• St. Michael’s scored above the Catholic average in “providing opportunities for parishioners to learn, grow, and do their best,” and in “recognizing parishioner contributions”
• One area that we will specifically focus on will be to provide more personal contact to parishioners in their spiritual growth and development

Spiritual Commitment

This is the “bottom line” of a parish. Are we producing spiritually-committed individuals?

• St. Michael’s scored similarly to the overall Catholic average, with a grand mean of 4.16
• Notably, greater than 60% of St. Michael’s respondents strongly agreed that their faith provided meaning, purpose, and inner peace

Demographics

In many ways, the demographics of St. Michael’s respondents compare very closely to the Gallup Catholic average.

• Notable high satisfaction in personal life, high involvement in healthy parish life (especially in areas of volunteering and donating)
• Willingness to invite others to the parish
• St. Michael’s adult age distribution is also very similar to the Catholic parish average, but is significantly older than the distribution for our parish catchment area neighbourhoods (click here to see graphic)
• This reinforces the importance of the youth and young adult focus that we established during the strategic planning process

Summary

On the whole, there was no singular response that was either outstanding or poor. We recognize and are focused on the need to increase member engagement to a level closer to spiritual engagement.

With a task force in place, we will work on the implementation of an impact planning process, closely coordinated with our priests — steps that we will all take to address concerns as well as to continue to develop our strengths.

Thanks to all parishioners who participated in our ME-25 Member Engagement Survey

Read the Update (PDF)

Questions? Contact Marvin Matthews at mmatthews@saintmichael.ca or call 403-249-0423 ext. 158.