Moving Forward Together: From Listening to Mission
This past Lent, our parish family at Mary, Mother of Our Savior participated in the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) survey a comprehensive tool developed by the Catholic Leadership Institute to help parishes measure spiritual engagement and mission effectiveness. We had an excellent response rate from parishioners across all age groups and Mass times, which speaks to your deep love for our parish and your desire to help us grow. The results revealed both areas of strength and opportunities for renewal signs of a vibrant faith community that is eager to keep moving forward together.
Among the many encouraging findings, parishioners expressed strong satisfaction with the preaching and celebration of the sacraments, deep love for the Eucharist, and appreciation for our parish’s welcoming spirit. At the same time, many voiced a longing for more adult faith formation, outreach to young families, and opportunities for spiritual growth. These honest insights are invaluable gifts to our leadership as we discern next steps for the mission of our parish.
Both our Pastoral Council and Finance Council have committed to using these results as the foundation for developing a formal Strategic Plan for our parish.
Over the next year, our councils will engage in a series of prayerful discussions guided by the data, exploring key questions such as:
- How can we better reach young adults and families?
- What steps can we take to strengthen adult faith formation?
- How can our parish cultivate a true culture of vocations and service?
In the coming weeks, our parish bulletin will include a series of inserts summarizing sections of the survey, along with “Implications for Planning” and discussion prompts that mirror the work of the councils. These inserts are meant to keep the whole parish informed and involved in this journey of discernment.
Our ultimate goal is clear: to make Mary, Mother of Our Savior Parish an even greater evangelizing force in our region raising up missionary disciples among the lay faithful who live and share the Gospel with joy. As we move forward, please keep our leadership and this planning process in your prayers. Together, let’s continue building a parish that not only welcomes Christ but boldly brings Him to others.
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” (Mt 28:19)
Your Servant in Christ,
Father Jason C. Hage, Pastor
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!
Mary, Mother of Our Savior, pray for us!