Hopes and Wishes
Hopes and Wishes
A. Bible Study and Adult FormationMore than 500 times people noted the need for Bible Study and Adult Formation. Many examples were given including working with all age groups and providing babysitting, prayer and evangelization.
B. St.Columban School
Many hopes were expressed for the school including having a warm loving environment especially for small children, need for materials for accelerated learners, concern about the number of children in a classroom, the hope that the quality continues, the desire not to put too much stress on children to excel and the need to benchmark teacher salaries. Fund raising and tuition issues also surfaced. Hope for preschool and kindergarten surfaced in many places in the small group data.
C. Religious EducationHopes were expressed in terms of enhancing High School classes, more integration with school families, early childhood, Sunday School and the desire to have Religious Education valued as much as the school. The need for a dynamic approach was noted.
D. Youth Ministry
The biggest hope in this area (33% responses) is for more involvement of youth in things other than sports. There is also the suggestion to begin youth ministry events for young children (junior high.). The hope is for a very active inclusive youth ministry program, including “food, faith and fun.”
E. Prayer and Worship1. While there were many hopes concerning liturgy one that stands out (42% of responses) referred to children’s liturgy where they are involved in planning, etc.
2. There were suggestions about dealing with the distraction of young children at Mass, about the time for announcements, socializing after Mass, etc.
3. There are many who hope for a teen Mass (75% of responses)—perhaps on Sunday evening--with more contemporary music and activities after Mass for the young people.
4. Hopes round the time of Mass involved a wish for a Sunday evening Mass (13% of responses), a weekday prayer service or later Mass and various other suggestions about the time of Mass.
5. There were contradictory hopes around Baptisms at Mass or separate from Mass. There were a few hopes around First Communion liturgy.
6. Hopes for other forms of worship included Stations of the Cross, “worshipful adoration,” ecumenical and charismatic prayer.
7. There were a few hopes about the homilies being more relevant and the need to preach the “Catholic view,” as well as a few comments about training lectors.
F. Music
While the choir was recognized as wonderful, there was a strong push (44% responses) for more variety in the music used in liturgy. Different types of choirs and choir exchanges were also among the hopes of some parishioners.
G. RetreatsAbout 15% of the responses had hopes for retreats of various kinds.
H. Ministry of Service
Many hopes regarding service emerged. A summary of them follows:
1. Evangelization or outreach to inactive Catholics (12% of responses)
2. More emphasis on Right to Live, capital punishment, divorce, etc. (11% of responses)
3. Outreach projects (Katrina, Rice Bowl, etc.) 25% of responses
4. Religious views on current events (15%)
5. Get our house in order, focus on our families (8%)
6. Collaboration with our parishes/interfaith also (2%)
7. Need more diversity (11%)
8. Outreach programs for St. Columban graduates (8%)
9. Many miscellaneous ideas (See Appendix)
I. Community
Hopes included the following:
1. Small group communities to engage adults (7%)
2. Increase fellowship, hospitality, sense of community, have a welcoming committee, more socials etc. (13%)
J. Ministry of AdministrationThe hopes for administration included the following:
1. Hire a person for scheduling and organizing
2. Get more volunteers
3. Encourage people to let parish know when there are illnesses in family or deaths of loved ones
4. Show parishioners where money is going using graphics
K. CommunicationApproximately 200 responses dealt with communication. The hopes included:
1. Update the web site to include links, books, etc.
2. Update parish directory
3. Have parish newsletter
4. More frequent communication about needs of parish, reports from outreach, promote volunteer opportunities, etc.
5. More intercommunication within all parishes with information regarding programs, etc.
L. FacilitiesFacilities came up throughout the feedback from the small groups. In the “hopes” section the following surfaced:
1. Build an all purpose center, gym, office (11% of the responses)
2. Build a playground, finish the undercroft, have comfortable meeting places for parish youth groups, have holy pictures in church, stained glass windows, etc.
3. Deal with acoustics for those who are hard of hearing
M. Finances and Resource DevelopmentThere were 115 responses in this category.
1. 5% supported a capital campaign
2. There were hopes that involved a better approach to sharing talents
3. Reinstating children’s envelops was mentioned by 10 people
4. “Passing the basket” was a hope of 8 people.
| Hopes and Wishes | ||
| Total Responses | 462 | |
| Ministry of the Word | ||
| Bible study | ||
| Intellectualize the bible by a deep dive through bible studies, groups. Make this more comfortable or welcoming, web based guidance, education for 55+ and 20s, for dummies, beginners, prayer with babysitting, beginners, family bible, children, evening | 116 | 25% |
| Adult formation | ||
| Become more welcoming to young adults, provide formation | 142 | 31% |
| More adult faith formation, including catechesis for current Catholics lacking in faith knowledge, library for faith formation, theology on tap, use outside resources, discussion, make a CD for groth in faith | 128 | 28% |
| Need events for married couples without children | 6 | 1% |
| Prayer groups | 6 | 1% |
| Evangilization | 29 | 6% |
| Ministry Fair | 16 | 3% |
| Improve programs for young married couples | 18 | 4% |
| Senior program for less active seniors - spiritual care | 13 | 3% |
| Concern that RCIA has sacraments all at once | 5 | 1% |
| Limited schedule for RCIA classes, improve and provide more in this form | 41 | 9% |
| School | ||
| How can I get involved without having to volunteer for everything. | 6 | 1% |
| Kindergarten, pre-school | 58 | 13% |
| Children of parish be more than just St. Columban kids | 10 | 2% |
| Important to get a community feel for our pre-teen children | 6 | 1% |
| Take school children to Reconciliation once a month | 5 | 1% |
| Everybody who wants to get in school, does get in | 25 | 5% |
| Education Commission | 9 | 2% |
| Quality of school continues | 14 | 3% |
| Information collected will be biased, primarily to those with children who attend St. Columban | 12 | 3% |
| Wish the school did not have a perception of being challenging to the point of applying too much stress on the children | 9 | 2% |
| 1st grade teachers need to be more nurturing vs. tough love attitude | 12 | 3% |
| Trends in children leaving grade 1 specifically | 12 | 3% |
| Raise school tuition/less fundraising, reconsider out of parish tuition | 21 | 5% |
| What are children getting for increased tuition | 12 | 3% |
| Too many children per teacher/classroom - 30 is too many | 21 | 5% |
| Need to put more money into "Delta" type programs. Need to have something for the accelerated child | 12 | 3% |
| Need a language arts program comparable to public schools to get children ready for high school | 12 | 3% |
| Let people know real situation on # of available spots to get into St. Columban school so people can plan on alternatives. | 6 | 1% |
| Music, art & gym programs need to improve | 12 | 3% |
| Need a more stringent evaluation of teachers and curriculum | 12 | 3% |
| In school, dress up one day as a Saint | 9 | 2% |
| School to kids | 6 | 1% |
| More teaching of religion held at St. Columban instead of driving across town | 17 | 4% |
| Examine demographics for future Catholic education | 10 | 2% |
| Education at St. Columban more in sync with Loveland schools - list LHS honors in our school newsletter too. | 8 | 2% |
| Why teachers not given same benchmark salaries as Loveland teachers. How increase salaries | 12 | 3% |
| ERE | 0% | |
| More ERE help and classes at high school level (SMILE is not enough) | 17 | 4% |
| Where is SMILE - seems to be dying out | 9 | 2% |
| More integration between ERE and school families | 5 | 1% |
| Early childhood | 6 | 1% |
| Sunday School | 8 | 2% |
| High School ERE | 17 | 4% |
| Wish that ERE is valued as strongly as school, remain strong, be more structured | 21 | 5% |
| No connection between ERE children/children who attend St. Columban | 12 | 3% |
| Need to make things more dynamic for ERE children | 21 | 5% |
| Youth Ministry | ||
| Target teenage children | 6 | 1% |
| More involvement with teenagers, other than sports | 151 | 33% |
| Begin younger with youth groups or CYO activities to get them comfortable and interested. | 30 | 6% |
| Youth Minister more active | 28 | 6% |
| Stronger youth group - start for 6th grade ERE | 30 | 6% |
| ERE kids don't get info until too late & are left out | 5 | 1% |
| Plan of action for Jr High & High to keep them involved & allow them to continue to do faith formation as a group, volunteeer service | 19 | 4% |
| Prayer and Worship (Sacramental life) | ||
| Children: Stop all the in & out during Mass-very distracting, breaks up the family during Mass, noisy | 51 | 11% |
| Bless children not receiving communion that come up to the altar | 5 | 1% |
| Have activities be at other Masses, not just 9:45. The nursery, Sunday school, RCIA, children's liturgy are all at 9:45 - too much, too crowded | 15 | 3% |
| Add a child missal to pews | 5 | 1% |
| Children's Mass and involvement, music, planning, choir, readings, interactive | 194 | 42% |
| Weekly Mass offered at school | 9 | 2% |
| Mass | ||
| Consider putting announcements at beginning of Mass, dress code, rubrics, holding hands, genuflection | 51 | 11% |
| Announce page number of readings, have a theme for Mass | 17 | 4% |
| Improved Mass missal that has a clear ordr of the Mass. There are many mixed marriages in the parish and non-Catholic spouses often have trouble following along in the red books. | 5 | 1% |
| Renew program of families volunteering to take up gifts | 9 | 2% |
| Select a service of the month (charity) year round similar to the Giving Tree | 8 | 2% |
| Cannot take basics for granted - too high turnover | 6 | 1% |
| Partner with other parishes - travel the Mass | 6 | 1% |
| How keep families interested in Mass | 14 | 3% |
| Find a different way to count people at Mass - the clicking during Mass is very distracting | 15 | 3% |
| Continually running out of Eucharist/wine during communion | 12 | 3% |
| Breaking open the sacraments, the Mass | 8 | 2% |
| Alternative formats for all members of parish, see Mass as prayer | 17 | 4% |
| More emotion, modern | 12 | 3% |
| Simple takes away from liturgy | 6 | 1% |
| Change approach to worship, not the theology | 9 | 2% |
| Mass needs better continuity, too choppy, too many distractions, delays, movement | 17 | 4% |
| Different Masses have different fellowship tone i.e. traditional, nontraditional, traditional music, updated music | 9 | 2% |
| Video feed to Narthax for parents of small children with ability to video weddings & sell them | 21 | 5% |
| More socializing after Mass | 25 | 5% |
| If a St. Columban sports team is at Mass, acknowledge them with a blessing for that day | 12 | 3% |
| Awareness to people about holding hands for Our Father & bowing after receiving communion - most people are not aware of this | 9 | 2% |
| More discussion & communication about what has gone on with the priest | 14 | 3% |
| References available for Masses at other parishes with other language Masses | 9 | 2% |
| 1/3 of parish attend Mass - alternate worship service to bring back other 2/3, increase Mass attendance | 12 | 3% |
| Music | ||
| The choir is wonderful | 15 | 3% |
| Different choirs by Mass type, invite Gospel choir, choir exchange | 32 | 7% |
| Music needs to be changed. More variety and livelier in music, stronger guitar group, perhaps paid professional musicians including parishioners, contemporary | 204 | 44% |
| Wish we had more "singable" music & a greater variety, old favorites | 37 | 8% |
| Music played at too high a note - music good | 6 | 1% |
| More participation, more practice | 10 | 2% |
| Wish cantors would practice before people arrive for Mass | 11 | 2% |
| Do not see other priests making the impact Fr. Larry does, should sing more, Fr. Larry brings the liturgy to life | 28 | 6% |
| Have priest exchange from an inner city parish | 9 | 2% |
| Hope strong attendance at weekend Masses continues | 11 | 2% |
| Youth Worship and prayer | ||
| Teen Mass - something more contemporary music, possibly something after Mass, evening, youth musicians | 346 | 75% |
| Youth oriented services - keep them from switching to The Vineyard | 9 | 2% |
| Youth program needs more organized events that include the 3 F's - food, faith, fun | 14 | 3% |
| Talent session for youth - include all, not just private schools | 18 | 4% |
| Are we addressing the needs of young couples & teenagers - they go to other churches | 6 | 1% |
| Wish we had some contemporary services | 18 | 4% |
| May crowning in school | 18 | 4% |
| Time | ||
| Would like a later Mass or prayer service on weekdays (9 a.m.) | 15 | 3% |
| Shorter | 41 | 9% |
| Spanish | 42 | 9% |
| Divine Mercy Sunday | 9 | 2% |
| Wednesday night | 5 | 1% |
| Would like a Sunday evening Mass | 62 | 13% |
| Wish we had more Mass choices (Sunday night) | 9 | 2% |
| Christmas eve Mass at 8 pm, 10:00 pm, 10:30 pm | 17 | 4% |
| Where is 11 o'clock group | 6 | 1% |
| 12:30 Monday Mass nice - intimate | 9 | 2% |
| Latin Mass more traditional | 9 | 2% |
| Wish for a more consistent fixed schedule for week day Masses, later AM | 27 | 6% |
| Baptism | ||
| Continue baptisms at Mass | 22 | 5% |
| Separate baptisms, have Baptism Sunday | 47 | 10% |
| Cannot see baptisms - pillars | 6 | 1% |
| First Communion | ||
| Strong opinions about changing current way 1st communicants receive Eucharist. Pastor, principal and 2nd Gr Teachers, not lay ministers. Congregation remain seated to witness this event. Each child participate by having a job to do - readings, petitions etc. | 12 | 3% |
| Pray for the unborn & departed | 8 | 2% |
| Other forms of Worship | ||
| Other forms of worship besides Mass - Stations of the Cross, Worshipful Adoration - 24 hrs one day a week, Ecumenical Service, Charismatic prayer | 18 | 4% |
| Provide opportunity for Eucharistic Adoration periodically | 25 | 5% |
| Children's Christmas pageant to replace Santa's wkshop | 5 | 1% |
| Homily and Ministers | ||
| Quarterly visits with priests to give feedback on how to make homily more relevant | 6 | 1% |
| Our visiting priests lose people with their homilies. They can be too much into church history. No message is received. | 15 | 3% |
| Relate gospel or other readins to tough issues of the day. Let's teach what the Catholic view is & why, pertinent to readings, relevant, congregation members preach | 96 | 21% |
| Invite ministers from non-Catholic Loveland churches to give the sermon | 9 | 2% |
| Would like to see people more disciplined - get to Mass on time, fulfill ministries | 8 | 2% |
| Proofread names before Mass to get correct pronunciation, improve server errors | 21 | 5% |
| Lecturers too slow - more normal speaking voice | 10 | 2% |
| Retreats | ||
| Retreats on the premises, open door policy, reflective, mini-retreats, week end, couples, teachers, busy mons | 71 | 15% |
| Marriage ministry for married couples w/wo children | 9 | 2% |
| Ministry of Service | ||
| Outreach to inactive members, why inactive or leaving, exit interviews, more focused | 56 | 12% |
| Issues -Right to life, silent majority, life, family, abortion, capital punishment, divorce | 49 | 11% |
| Outreach projects - Guatimala , New Orleans, Cinci acea, inner city, adopt a parish, Rice bowl, singles, "adopt" a child, aged | 117 | 25% |
| Something be done to attract more people, participation in ministries | 17 | 4% |
| Keeping people involved after they don't have children in school | 14 | 3% |
| Education of those divorced on current Church teachings | 9 | 2% |
| Nationally known outside speakers (Matthew Kelly) for religious views on current events i.e. death, war, contraception, better planning and communication | 70 | 15% |
| Collaboration w other inter-parish or interfaith on a lecture series | 10 | 2% |
| Not a desire to focus as much on Evangelization but more focus on the parish family, get our own house in order, be inward focused | 38 | 8% |
| No big gaps | 8 | 2% |
| Need diversity in the parish, serve needs, who is my neighbor | 52 | 11% |
| Other ethnic groups in the parish who have needs | 9 | 2% |
| Honor all kinds of commitment | 7 | 2% |
| Who of our neighbors are parishioners | 9 | 2% |
| Festivals run by school families - need to involve ERE families by obtaining a list of names to contact | 12 | 3% |
| Tailor ministries to specific demographic groups in parish, make ministry list more available | 31 | 7% |
| Shortage of priests - more responsibility fall on parishioners - prayer services, lead programs | 6 | 1% |
| Need to reach out to parents of GBL kids - a support group? | 8 | 2% |
| Need a 20-30's age group social group - similar to Primetimers for those too old for SMILE, younger adult | 17 | 4% |
| Family movie night once a month - provide snacks, food, family movie as a community "celebration" Good to meet different families | 5 | 1% |
| Programs or gatherings to involve St. C. graduates or parents of grads | 36 | 8% |
| Need to reach families whose kids don't go to St. Columban. Establish a strong core to the parish and not just the school. Get informaion to them on objectives, speakers etc | 15 | 3% |
| Need to involve adults whose kids are gone off to college & who no longer have the school connection | 15 | 3% |
| Parishioners who have kids are more involved in the parish. Once the kids grow up, they are not as involved. Need ways to keep them at the parish | 9 | 2% |
| When recognizing people who serve St. C., include the spouses who stay at home with the kids so that their spouse may get involved. | 15 | 3% |
| Need to involve adults whose kids are gone off to college & who no longer have the school connection | 23 | 5% |
| Great programs all ready in place - K of C, St Vincent de Paul, Outreach, Primetimers | 15 | 3% |
| Adult athletic groups | 7 | 2% |
| Penance service such as those at Good Shepherd, reconciliation for children | 20 | 4% |
| Get small groups to meet after Mass more often | 9 | 2% |
| More groups appealing to more age grps & special interests e.g. golf league | 7 | 2% |
| Bereavement follow-up more long term, a check up | 18 | 4% |
| Focus groups for different demographics | 7 | 2% |
| Community | 0% | |
| Small group communities to engage adults, engage 2nd and 3rd ripple parishioneers | 34 | 7% |
| Picnics, potluck suppers, carnival, large gatherings, opportunities with the beer & gambling | 9 | 2% |
| Welcoming committee that is really actively meeting & talking with new members | 5 | 1% |
| Increase sense of community - bible studies, donuts after all Masses to help meet more people in parish, connunity building, hospitality, social, fellowship | 53 | 11% |
| Parish so hugh, hard to get community feel if no children in the school | 17 | 4% |
| Ministry of Administration | ||
| We need to do better letting the administration know when we have issues e.g. illness, death | 15 | 3% |
| Additional paid staff | 9 | 2% |
| Business manager | 5 | 1% |
| Person for scheduling and organizing | 33 | 7% |
| More volunteers | 37 | 8% |
| Communication | ||
| Website - offer links for message boards, possibly books or readings, needs update | 30 | 6% |
| Better communication w the parish office, directory update | 35 | 8% |
| Newsletter | 12 | 3% |
| Info on programs that exist | 36 | 8% |
| More frequent communication about needs of parish, reports from outreach, use technology, promote volunteer opportunities, communicate with parents without children | 68 | 15% |
| More intercommunication within all parishes with information regarding programs, Masses etc. | 9 | 2% |
| Post deaths, those who are sick, kid's clubs by ages to get them more involved | 9 | 2% |
| Facilities | ||
| All purpose center, gym, offices | 53 | 11% |
| Playground | 9 | 2% |
| Finish undercroft | 9 | 2% |
| Comfortable meeting places for parish youth groups and more parish support | 8 | 2% |
| More holy pictures in church, stained glass - church should look more like a Catholic church | 9 | 2% |
| Show parishioners diagrams, plans to know where money is going | 12 | 3% |
| Parking | 15 | 3% |
| Acoustics, hearing aides | 15 | 3% |
| Resource Development | ||
| Capital Campaign | 24 | 5% |
| Financial commitments | 7 | 2% |
| More dramatic ways to share our resources | 7 | 2% |
| Finances | ||
| Better job of matching "a need" with "a talent." | 5 | 1% |
| Really call on people if they have volunteered for something. Often an offer is made to help but no one calls back or contacts that volunteer, follow-up | 30 | 6% |
| Should we pass the basket? | 8 | 2% |
| Try passing a basket instead of in vestibule to see if it increases donations | 10 | 2% |
| Reinstate children's envelopes | 10 | 2% |
| Other parishes that have more money should help to contribute to other lesser parishes who need it | 9 | 2% |
| Funding for programs | 5 | 1% |