4 April 2023
Dear Parish Priests and PPC Chairpersons,
This is just a quick communication to update everyone on the status of the Parish Alive Parish Surveys. At the APC meeting on 4 March, I reported that the surveys would be sent to all parishes in April. I just wanted to give you a little more detail about this as I know parishes are eagerly awaiting receiving their reports.
WHEN TO EXPECT YOUR SURVEY REPORT
Our team is currently processing the reports and formatting them and so we are on target to send out the reports in April. With this coming week being Holy Week and school holidays, it is practical for us to send out the reports in the last two weeks of April (17 – 30 April).
A BIG PROJECT ACROSS THE ARCHDIOCESE
This is the first time we have run such a survey in parishes across the whole Archdiocese. We received survey results from approximately 3,000 individuals in 60 parishes. It was a big and ambitious undertaking and we all have done so well! We will learn from our efforts and get better each time we do it. So, congratulations, thanks and well done to everyone on making an excellent start!
As you can imagine there is a lot of work needed to process all the data into meaningful reports for each parish. A sneak peek of the results shows that there is a lot of invaluable information for PPC’s to analyse and use. It is evident that our parishioners love our faith and genuinely care. This process is very synodal and beckons us to listen to our parishioners with an open heart as we are led in this process by the Holy Spirit.
SUPPORT TO HELP ANALYSE AND USE YOUR REPORT
When you receive your Parish Alive Parish Survey, it will include some guidelines on how to analyse and use your report explaining what the numbers mean and how to get started. There will also be a ZOOM workshop in May to provide support and a forum for discussion about the Parish Survey. We will answer any questions you have, and it will also importantly give us the opportunity to share experiences as we journey together.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
WISHING YOU A BLESSED HOLY WEEK AND EASTER
Let us now enter into Holy Week asking Our Lord to bless us all, our families and friends. As we gaze upon the cross, we see the immense love Jesus has for us and as He rises on the third day we exult in his glorious victory and the promise of our salvation! As Pope John Paul II said “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song” so let us be filled with hope and love! I wish you a most blessed Holy Week and abundant blessings for a joyful Easter!
God bless.
Brandon Abrahams
Parish Alive Leadership Support
brandon.abrahams@gmail.com