Church Chats

In 2018, St. Laurence held "Church Chats" following 14 Sunday Masses over a period of two months (Jan/Feb) in an effort to hear directly from parishioners. To get the conversations going, we asked three questions: what brought you to St. Laurence, what keeps you here and what, if anything, is missing?

In the Gallup Member Engagement (ME25) Survey that the parish conducted two years earlier, 74% of parishioners said they understand what is expected of them as members of St. Laurence. The Church Chats were conducted as a follow-up to that survey to hear more.

Following is a summary of what we heard:
 
What does the Parish expect of me?
 
Live as Jesus taught
Love and help each other
Receive Sacraments frequently
Attend and participate in Sunday Mass
Have a daily prayer life (adoration/devotions)
 
Faith formation throughout our lives
Openness to new ideas/speakers/direction
Be informed
Take initiative to find what we need here
 
Be leaders / be Christ’s Light to others
Make friends with fellow parishioners
Engage with the community around us
Be willing to join ministries
Be kind and accepting of others/differences
Reflect God’s love within our own families
Evangelize / bring other people to church
 
Help those in need
Give our financial support/tithe
Take care of our facilities as if they were our own
Share blessings/gifts/talents/faith
Make a positive impact on our community
Participate in ministries
Engage/speak up/share our point of view

 
What do I expect of the Parish?
 
Parish that is Christ centered and Holy Spirit led
Variety of beautiful Masses – full of energy, joy, Life
Outstanding Music Ministry
Sacraments to lead us closer to heaven
 
Programs for people of all ages to grow closer to God
Homilies that teach and challenge
Great educational opportunities for our children
Variety of bible studies/speakers/events
 
A parish that feels like home
Friendly clergy who make a real connection
Support/celebrate our rich cultural diversity
Smiling, friendly, welcoming people
Unique and vibrant parish
Real and lasting friendships
Small Christian Communities to make friends/grow in faith
Warm welcome for new parishioners
Effective communication of parish events/priorities
 
Large, effective Social Concerns & Social Justice Ministry
Lots of ways to serve and use our talents
Opportunities to learn about ministries
Ways to discover my gifts and learn who I am

 
What is missing or what should we do better?

Better welcoming for visitors and new parishioners
Greater participation and leadership from men
More young adults active and leading
More activities (social, service projects) for young adults
Expand babysitting for events and activities
Programming for aging seniors with mobility issues
Meet special needs at Mass – elderly, less mobile, young families
Better Greeter Ministry - expand greeters to outside/parking lot
Increase knowledge/appreciation/celebration of diversity
Broader Catholic offerings for small groups/speaker events
Encourage Spiritual Direction & leadership training
More opportunities for human connection through Social Concerns
More homilies on Catholic Church teachings
More homilies on Pope Francis' views on pastoral care
Homilies that teach we are not here to GET, but here to GIVE
Clarify why some pews are reserved at Mass
Less cliques/cliques make it difficult for newcomers to fit in
Say hi to a stranger before you leave Mass
More teaching on prophecy
Bring back Heart of Worship - Monday Arise Night is not enough
We are not challenged enough nor held accountable
Greater outreach/services to the homebound
Free transportation (parish van or bus) for elderly and events
Programs (the Arts) to bring generations together
Better timing for events to fit busy parishioners' schedules
Game Night for multi-generation participation
Pastoral care for people in narthex during Mass
Front pew reserved seating for young families (like for teens at Life Teen)
Spotlight on ministries to know them better
Re-educate us on parts and symbols of the Mass
More opportunities for Reconciliation
More parking / increase parking spaces for handicapped/elderly & less mobile
Make Sunday and Mass the center of family life
Make Right to Life events a greater priority
Better marketing and communication
Communicate needs of parish through social media
More social events / free social events
Sliding entrance doors to improve safety
Call people on the Sick List regularly
Put sign up to tell what white crosses are fo
Get Host and Chalice to choir quicker
Lector training
Announce page to find Sunday readings
Make announcements at the start of Mass
How can we follow the Eucharistic Prayer at Mass
Identify visitors at Mass so we can welcome
Logo/badge/shirt that identifies us as St. Laurence parishioners
Early morning bible study for working women
More teaching/less questions at Children's Liturgy of the Word
Social Concerns "Chat" to discover current needs in community
Teach people to stay in Mass until it's over
More Christmas carols before Christmas
Sunday School for adults
More support for Young Adult Ministry
Follow up with people who miss Mass (I can miss Mass and no one knows)
Offer Sunday Mass and Sacraments in Spanish
Formation in Spanish for Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers and Acolytes
Registration forms in Spanish
Connect new Hispanic members with the parish
Struggle with Teen Confirmation prep – regulations and 1 year of formation
Don’t like having to attend Life Teen Mass for a whole year for Confirmation
The meditative, intimate, prayerful aspect of Mass
Have one week of Life Teen without music (for different focus on Mass)
Offer ARISE Night at some time other than Monday
Announce that readings may be found in the Gather book
Add Cycle A/B/C and page to find readings in the Gather book
Pastoral teachings of Mass reading cycles
More ushers to help reduce number of standing people
Increase effectiveness of growing more priests and religious.  Prayers alone haven’t been enough.  For example, encourage/help families in this.
Discourage people from reserving seats, to detriment of those who arrive on time
Create simple system for parishioners to help (long term or one-time) 
Encourage more attendance at the Saturday morning novenas
More parking
Announce upcoming St. Anthony of Padua Tuesday masses and novenas
More parking (Annex) for the annual Feast of St. Anthony of Padua evening
The Church needs more priests
Offer ARISE Night on different evenings
List all parish events on one website calendar
Organize/participate in interfaith activities to pray about key, current issues such as violence in our schools
Organize interfaith events such as offering a Passover Seder meal for parishioners and local faiths communities
Encourage greater cross-cultural participation in our many cultural celebrations, activities and liturgies
Offer even more activities to attract young adults and families
Create a peer-to-peer support group for disabled people (and for their caregivers)
Provide a few hours of in-home care so caregivers can have some time for themselves
Offer periodic Masses just for special needs people and their caregivers