February 15, 2012 Status of Implementation of Synod Initiative I Origin of the Report At its January 26, 2008 meeting, the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (APC) considered a proposal to offer Cardinal Mahony six reports, one on each of the Initiatives of the 2003 Synod. The six reports would outline the work done throughout the archdiocese in implementing the six Initiatives. The APC appointed an ad hoc committee1 to study the council’s ability and willingness to undertake the reports. At the May 10, 2008 meeting, the APC heard the recommendations of the ad hoc committee. It had developed an extensive template for creating the reports and urged the APC to undertake them. The APC endorsed the reporting proposal and identified the order in which the reports would be completed. It was determined that Synod Initiative I would be one of the last reports, as Cardinal Mahony’s pastoral document on evangelization, “A Fresh Encounter with Jesus Christ: Directions in Evangelization” was just being published, and the APC wanted to allow some time for the document to be received by the People of God in the Archdiocese. Scope of the Report In May 2010, the APC established an ad hoc committee2 to develop the report on Initiative I. The group met at Holy Family Church, South Pasadena, for its initial meeting in June 2010. Fr. Tom Rausch gave the committee a brief overview of evangelization and some general trends and directions in the US Catholic Church. The committee discussed the parameters of collecting data on evangelization in the Archdiocese. The primary purpose of the survey was to give the Archdiocese a snapshot of the successes and challenges of evangelization in our local Church to help us all in planning our evangelization strategies. The committee concluded that it would use the four priorities developed by the San Fernando Pastoral Council’s Evangelization committee (based on Synod Initiative I). These priorities provided the basis for the goals to build a survey instrument to help us measure how the Archdiocese is proclaiming the power and presence of God in the world, and what an effective evangelizing parish might look like: To seek out and draw in the unbelieving and the unchurched, To foster life-long discipleship and spiritual growth, To assist all the baptized in the discernment of their spiritual gifts (charisms) and vocations, To equip and support extraordinary apostolates The committee then developed a 16 question survey, including contact and demographic information, which was translated in Spanish. The original intention was to email/mail the survey to all 288 parishes, but both Cardinal Mahony and Archbishop Gomez expressed concerns that the survey might not be completed by many of the parishes because of 1 February 15, 2012 “survey fatigue”. The committee shifted its strategy to approach a smaller group of 60 parishes, 12 in each region. Using Together in Mission data to ensure a representative sample of parishes from low income to moderate to affluent parishes, three parishes were selected from each deanery. Confidentiality of the parishes surveyed was stressed. Rather than emailing/mailing the survey, the committee decided to train members of the Regional Pastoral Councils to administer the surveys face to face or over the phone. Two trainings were held in November 2010 and February 2011. In December 2010, a copy of the survey with a cover memorandum was sent to the Auxiliary Bishops and the Deans to inform them of the survey process, and invite their questions, concerns or input. In February 2011, a cover memorandum was sent with the instrument to the Pastors/Administrators/PLDs of the 60 target parishes. The memorandum explained that the purpose of the survey was to identify and gather information about evangelization resources that are currently available throughout the archdiocese. The memorandum stressed that the intention of the survey was to focus on identifying the parishes’ understanding and implementation of evangelization processes that have been effectively developed and used by Catholics in the Los Angeles area. The respondents were asked to provide pastoral evidence to support their responses. In addition, a clarification of each question was available if the respondent asked. The clarifications were statements from church documents on various aspects of evangelization. Development of the Report The five Regional Pastoral Council representatives used the survey instruments to conduct the interviews between February and August 2011. They reported back the results of the survey instruments to the committee, which input the survey results into Survey Monkey. 38 of the 60 parishes took the survey. Some of the potential respondents who did not take part felt they had not been in the parish long enough to have the knowledge to answer the questions accurately. The survey was analyzed along with the pastoral evidence provided as back up to the results. A copy of the aggregate survey results and comments (the parish information is kept confidential), as well as the survey template with the clarifications, are attached. 2 February 15, 2012 Summary of Responses Regarding Synod Initiative I In brief, the highlights of the survey results are as follows: 62% felt that 20% or less of parishioners understand themselves to be evangelizers. 74% indicated their parish has a process that actively seeks out and draws in the unbelieving and unchurched, as well as fallen away Catholics. 75% felt that discerning charisms is important and that they are able to do this. 44% felt that 20% or less of parishioners recognize themselves as having a vocation. 67% believed their parish has a formational process(es) that supports and equips the laity to transform the secular world. 29% indicated that over 80% of parish staff had received formal training in evangelization, such that they could proclaim the Good News in such a way as to call forth a faith response in others. 20% believed that over 90% of parish staff are effective evangelizers. 60% felt that evangelization is the central focus of their parish activity and that everything they do in their parish community is viewed through the lens of evangelization. 58% believed that 20% or less of their parishioners has had a personal life changing encounter with Jesus Christ. 62% responded that they do not have a full time staff person dedicated to evangelization. Below is a more detailed summary of the survey results for the questions concerning evangelization, including the pastoral evidence which was presented. What is your intuitive sense of the percentage of parishioners who understand themselves to be evangelizers? 62% of respondents felt that 0-20% of their parishioners understood themselves to be evangelizers. Many respondents stated as pastoral evidence that most Catholics do not understand evangelization, even though they may be evangelizing informally through the witness of their lives. Those in ministries are more likely to view themselves as evangelizers and to understand what that means. One respondent felt that the fact that his church is full meant that the parishioners were good evangelizers. Other respondents pointed to the cultural differences between different groups and the impact that has on evangelization: Hispanic culture tends to be more embracing and accepting of evangelization, whereas Anglo culture tends to be uncomfortable with evangelization. 3 February 15, 2012 Our parish community has a process that actively seeks out and draws in the unbelieving and the unchurched. 74% of the respondents replied YES to this question. The pastoral evidence they cited for processes targeting the unbelieving and unchurched include: RCIA (the most popular response), Baptism, St. Vincent de Paul, Marriage Prep, going door to door (Hispanic parishioners), Charismatic groups, Come Home for Christmas, Bible Study, RENEW, Legion of Mary, visiting the homebound, Life Teen, Landings, advertising in local newspapers, bulletin and website. One parish described how it had distributed 1000 flyers at the Christmas liturgies inviting those who were unchurched to attend a follow up meeting, but had no responses. Our parish community has a process that seeks out and draws in fallen away Catholics. Perhaps not surprisingly, the same number of respondents (74%) as the previous question stated they had a process targeting fallen away Catholics. The pastoral evidence presented for this question was broadly similar to the previous question with some differences. There was a greater focus on the importance of the sacraments as a way to connect with fallen away Catholics, especially weddings, baptisms and sacramental preparation. Quinceaneras were also included as an effective way of reaching out to fallen away Catholics. List some ways the parish helps individuals find their place in the community. The list included the following programs/activities/processes: Just Faith, invitation to liturgy, hospitality group, devotions, prayer groups, Adoration, lectors, Fellowship of Catholic Christian Women, Divine Mercy, El Shaddai, Eucharistic Ministers, ministries, Religious Education, Ministry Fairs, University Series, Pastoral Council, Retreats, Missions, RCIA, welcome package. Discerning charisms is an important skill in the Church’s work for evangelization. I know how to discern charisms. 75% of the respondents felt that they knew how to discern charisms. Most of the pastoral evidence presented was subjective rather than objective. One respondent did mention involvement with