Parish checkups measure 'how Holy Spirit is guiding us'

Published: 2007-08-01

WEST BABYLON, N.Y. (CNS) -- Seven Long Island parishes are giving themselves a spiritual checkup -- conducting surveys to find out how actively engaged their parishioners are. "It's like going to a doctor," said Marie Guido, stewardship coordinator at St. Gerard Majella Church in Port Jefferson Station. "You get your vital signs checked to see where you're doing good and what you need to work on." Working with the Gallup Organization, those parishes met earlier this summer at Our Lady of Grace Church in West Babylon to discuss the findings of the survey that each has taken of their parishioners and to begin planning ways to draw parishioners into more active engagement. St. Gerard's has been conducting "membership engagement" surveys since 2001. The other parishes are new to the process. Al Winseman, global leader for Gallup's Faith Practices division, referred to a book that Gallup has published about how parishes and other congregations have been able to use the survey. "St. Gerard's here on Long Island is one chapter. They're one of our success stories."

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