May 21 - "Mass Survey Results Continued & A New Parochial Vicar for St. Francis"

At all the masses last weekend I announced that Father Jonathan (Jack) Berard has been assigned by Cardinal Wuerl to be the Parochial Vicar (formerly known as Assistant or Associate Pastor) for St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Derwood, MD.  Fr. Berard will report here on July 12, 2017.  I am inviting him to write an article for the bulletin in which he introduces himself to us.  Look for that article in a future issue of the bulletin.
Please welcome Joseph Salser, a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Washington, to the parish for his summer placement.  Joseph will be with us for two months this summer and is slated to return again in September for a seminary placement during the next academic year.  While Joseph is here, he will be ordained a deacon.  That will occur on June 10, 2017. 
I want to continue to report on the Mass Preferences Survey that we took earlier this year.  The survey shows that the feeling of community and music are the most noteworthy part about the weekend worship experience here at St. Francis.
Based on targeted results of the parish’s recent Mass Preferences Survey, respondents most enjoy the feeling of community at St. Francis, the experience of music within the Liturgy and the messages they receive through the Homilies.
Thirty-four percent of the respondents to the survey administered in March reported that community atmosphere ranks as the best part of the weekend worship experience at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Twenty-nine percent of respondents named music as the highlight of their weekend worship, while 18 percent named homilies as the biggest appeal of attending St. Francis.
Although worship was not specifically listed as a choice respondents could pick from in answering what was the best part of St. Francis’ weekend worship experience, nine respondents listed ‘worship,’ ‘receiving Eucharist,’ and ‘the consecration’ under ‘Other’ on this question.
One respondent advocated for “more spirituality and teaching” from the clergy celebrating Mass. “The music is nice, but we need more quiet prayer time and reflection – especially for the youth,” the respondent stated. “Our world is too noisy – they aren’t taught to meditate or [are] given opportunities to speak to God quietly in their hearts.”
On the question asking respondents if they could change or add one thing to the weekend worship experience at St. Francis, respondents had quite a bit to share.
Of 311 respondents, roughly 12 percent of comments related to music, in some form. At least 13 respondents want to add music that is “more contemporary,” “more modern,” “so congregation can join in,” “more upbeat/faster temp,” “more current and uplifting,” and “contemporary Christian.”  On the other hand, five respondents asked for a Mass with “no music.”
Currently, St. Francis offers a six-Mass schedule, with musical niches during each Mass. See the parish web site, www.sfadw.org, under ‘Worship’ à ‘Mass’ to see the types of music performed at each Mass. Beginning Sunday, July 2, the 1 p.m. Mass will be phased out, eliminating one of the cantor-led Masses.
Roughly 6 percent of respondents to this question stated that they’d like to see more fellowship offered, either through coffee and doughnuts on a regular basis, a meal after Mass, or just opportunities to connect as people. 
Kids’ needs during Masses were of interest to 3 percent of respondents answering this question. Three respondents specifically asked for “more kid-tailored homilies”; currently, St. Francis of Assisi Parish offers homilies especially tailored for children once a month during the 11:15 a.m. Mass from September to May. A  Children’s Liturgy of the Word, where children in fifth grade or younger are invited to go to a separate area to hear age-appropriate commentary on the day’s readings, also takes place at the 11:15 a.m. Mass from September to May.
The subject matter of homilies also struck a chord for respondents listening for themselves. About 3 percent of respondents similarly named “improved homilies” as the enhancement they’d like to make to the weekend worship experience. However, when defining what ‘improved’ means, responses covered the entire spectrum of “educational/not personal experience,” “tying the readings to today’s complex environment,” “less politics,” and “longer sermons/Word of God/biblical exposition.”
Just about 2 percent of respondents – or five people -- said an investment in the church’s sound system would enhance the weekend worship experience. “Improve the sound system,” said one respondent. “It is often difficult to understand the speakers – a lot of them mumble.”
For more information about the Mass Preferences Survey, contact Communications Coordinator Melissa Egan at [email protected].
Until next week,
Fr. John Dillon