Good Shepherd ParishHuntsville, AlabamaApril 2012

Matthew Kelly Passion and Purpose:Post Event Survey Results

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Purpose and ContentSurvey designed to evaluate value of

Matthew Kelly’s “Passion & Purpose” seminar and to gain insights for the question of “what next?”

Content:DemographicsEvaluation of activities associated with

Matthew Kelly programLessons Learned from Matthew KellyPersonal Faith Journeys and Potential Parish

Support

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Demographics100 surveys with 96 completed

~15% of attendeesNot statistically significant – but a potentially

valuable data setRespondent’s Parish Affiliation

Good Shepherd 91.1% Holy Spirit 8.9% Other :

All Saints (Knoxville, TN) Our Lady of Fatima (Alcoa, TN) Sacred Heart (Cullman, AL) SFX (Birmingham, AL) St Joseph (Tuskegee, AL)

St. Dominic (Mobile, AL) St. James the Less (Corinth, MS) St. John the Baptist (Madison, AL) St. Joseph's (Dalton, GA) St. Thomas the Apostle St. William (Guntersville, Al)

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Demographics (continued)

Gender: 27.8% male and 72.2% femaleAge:

Range: 16 – 81Mean: 57 Distribution:

80-81 370-79 1160-69 3050-59 2641-49 1730-39 716 - 29 2

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Demographics (continued)75% of respondents are “cradle Catholics” Almost 25% are converts – most long term

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Matthew Kelly Activities

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Rediscovering CatholicismBook Receipt: 94.8% of respondents

and/or their family received a copy of Matthew Kelly’s Rediscovering Catholicism

Reading: 9% read none of it38% read some of it53% read all of it

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Motivation to Attend Seminar

46 respondents provided “other” comments

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Motivation to Attend Seminar (continued)Clear linkage between Kelly’s books, CDs,

and reputation and attendanceSources of “Rediscovering Catholicism” varied i.e.,

Good Shepherd distribution, Cursillo, son’s high school etc.

Others influenced attendanceRecommendations from friends, family, Father,

and even strangersTickets purchased as gifts

Searching and Responding to ChallengesGet out of rut, broaden horizons, improve, enrich

my faith lifeShare my faith –easily; evangelize

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Expectations of SeminarVariety of “other”

responsesSome had no

expectationsSome were searching or

seeking Spiritual inspirationNew ideas for promoting

Jesus in the worldRenew my hope in the

ChurchWords, ideas,

understanding and inspiration for living my faith.

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Value of SeminarMore than 85% of respondents considered the Matthew Kelly seminar to be

valuable58% said it was “extremely valuable”13% indicated it was of limited or no value

1 - Little or No Value 2%2 4%

3 - Some Value 7%4 28%

5 - Extremely Valuable 58%

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LearningResponses to question “What 2 or 3

things did you learn?” varied widelyCommon Themes

Special insights for being a better version of myself (i.e., silence, confession, reading, intimacy)

Pride in accomplishments and potential political power of the Church

Concerns over future of the ChurchPersonal and poignant responses (see

hand-out)

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Faith Journey

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Personal Faith JourneyResponses to question “What do you

personally need to extend and/or deepen your personal faith life?” were both unique and common

Common ThemesNeed to carve out more time for silence,

prayer, reading, and being with/listening to GodDesire to read and understand the BibleThe commitment for more frequent confession

Individual personal responses included on hand-out

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Parish SupportResponses to question “What can your

parish do to support your efforts to extend and/or deepen your personal faith life?” were obviously parish-specific, some respondents felt more supported than others

Common ThemesCall for adult educationCall for Bible StudyCall for prayer groupsCall for programs such as Matthew Kelly

Many additional ideas included on hand-out15

Participation in Parish Activities

62% of respondents currently engaged in “service” to parish (EM, lector, usher, music, etc)

Some consistency in previous findings for potential parish support and “might participate” responses

Growth potential for social outreach groups/activities

Will Never Participate

Might Participate

Did Participate

Currently Participating

3% 45% 33% 18%7% 37% 33% 24%8% 41% 26% 25%16% 63% 10% 11%7% 42% 30% 21%16% 61% 16% 6%8% 40% 26% 26%2% 20% 16% 62%0% 37% 21% 42%

Parish LIbraryAdoration of the Blessed sacrament (at Holy Spirit)Service to Parish (EM, Lector, Usher, Music, etc)Social Outreach (Habitat for Humanity, CASA, Meals

Bible StudyFaith Sharing GroupsPrayer GroupsBook ClubGroup Recitation of the Rosary

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Annual Mass AttendanceAssuming that attendance at Mass is a major indicator of

engagement as a Catholic, the question “Approximately how many times a year do you attend Mass?” was posed

82.3% of respondents attend more than “Sunday Mass”Over a third of respondents attend Mass on an average of 2-3 times

per week

0 0.0%1-5 1.0%

5-12 0.0%13-52 16.7%53-99 45.8%100+ 36.5%

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Implications for “What’s Next”

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Relevance of Survey ResultsDemographics

Not a representative sampleDisproportionately older 72% femaleWilling and able to spend $39 on a spiritual seminar for a SaturdaySignificant number already engaged in parish activitiesFrequent Mass attendees

~10% of responses not from Good ShepherdPositively, strong on-line response for age distribution of respondents

Matthew KellyClear linkage between distribution of Rediscovering Catholicism and

attendance at seminarNational reputation and multi-media appeal enhanced interest –

locally and regionallyBeyond Holy Spirit, participation by local parishes was no greater than

“out-of-sector” participationRespondents readily identified with Kelly’s frame works and language

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Relevance (continued)

Personal Faith JourneySignificant individual variation – may be age/stage

of life relatedCommon call for more silence, more prayer, more

Biblical and spiritual reading/studyPotential Parish Support

Applicability of results cluttered by non-Good Shepherd responses

Strong call for adult education (including Bible Study)

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Individual SensibilitiesUnique Cases:

Respondent : Did not attend. Thought the cost was prohibitive. I missed the introduction to this presentation, and

did not get a book? We travel to take care of elderly family in another parish, about every other weekend so may have missed why this person was so inspiring.

Continued opportunity, and a budget for it. Lack of job meant lack of funds for extras like the seminar.

I have the desire to do mission work. Often I am blessed with either time and no funds or funds and no time, depending on what work assignments I am able to get. It is very frustrating to me. I do what I can locally.

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