By Marie Mulvenna

A recent parish survey taken at Immaculate Heart of Mary not only obtained a response total of 95 percent but also gave the parish some interesting data as to where it is going, a five year projection picture, specifically of the parish’s school, as well as some guidelines for correcting weak points and implementing results of the feedback. The parish will now attempt to correct special areas voiced in the survey as well as respond to some pertinent questions raised in the results.

Rev. Mr. Jack Druding, deacon at IHM told The Georgia Bulletin that the brief written survey was taken during January and February and was a project under the auspices of the parish council. Deacon Druding said the survey results furnished a good projection of IHM needs and interest and would be the basis for work this summer on methods of responding to the survey issues.

He noted that the survey was developed to obtain a picture of the parish area and what sort of projection could be made about IHM School. The school now has 435 students, 321 of them from within parish boundaries and 114 from outside the parish itself or from non-Catholic families. Although the figures show a decline for future school enrollment the projected enrollment figures for public schools also show a decline. This, he said, was a good barometer of the future of the school especially since the parish had recently raised tuition by 3 percent.

There are 279 elementary level children attending public schools who also attend religious education classes, 73 high school students who also take part in religious education programs, and some 435 in public schools who do not take a role in parish programs of religion.

The nature of the geographic area of the parish, Deacon Druding reported, has long been that of a changing one, with families subject to transfer and a fairly frequent turnover of residents. According to the survey, projected moves from the IHM area are expected to decline, indicating a more stable parish community. Sixty percent of those surveyed said that expected to be in the parish four years or more, with only 5 percent indicating they would be in the parish less than one year. Twenty percent of respondents were uncertain about their length of stay in the area.

Survey results showed that the largest age bracket of the parish was the 30 to 50 year old category, rather than a younger age bracket.

Of the 1,205 families in the parish, 723 are families with children and the total number in the parish is 4,088. Deacon Druding termed the reply rate “phenomenal,” saying that the subject had been used for homilies on three Sundays and that replies were received at the vestibule, at the rectory, by mail and via the children at IHM School. Some were also obtained by members of the parish Legion of Mary and the prayer group.

Other statistics shown in the survey were: 20 percent of the families were involved with IHM school and 5 percent were involved with the school of religion. Families interested in becoming involved totaled 190 with 13 percent indicating future involvement with the school, 23 percent with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and 13 percent with the Women’s Guild.

Another question concerned the use of the envelope system for parish contributions. Some 53 percent currently utilize the envelope with the usage increasing as the families remain in the parish over four years.

Deacon Druding said it was known that many large business firms utilize such surveys on a five-year basis to receive some sort of direction in planning. “We wanted to see where the parish was going.” He noted that many additional comments had been received in the survey, including mention of homilies, parish staff, and requests about teaching and specific problems. He said about 10 percent of respondents added comments, most of which were positive.

Deacon Druding said the parish staff would now act on the results, with specific efforts to implement the responses received. He added that the parish planned a follow-up procedure, saying “another such survey would assist in keeping parish records up to date.”