May 28 - "Memorial Day Prayer & More Survey Results"

I want to begin this column with a Prayer for Memorial Day taken from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers.  I found this prayer on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and present it to you for your thoughts and prayers, particularly for tomorrow when we celebrate Memorial Day:
                God of power and mercy, you destroy war and put down earthly pride.  Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears, that we may all deserve to be called your sons and daughters.  Keep in your mercy those men and women who have died in the cause of freedom and bring them safely into your kingdom of justice and peace.  We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.  R/. Amen
I want to devote this rest of this column to the Mass Preferences Survey to report on some more of the interesting information that we have gleaned from it.
It seems that the only constant on people’s minds as they were completing the Mass Preferences Survey in March was that individual respondents feel strongly about different aspects of St. Francis of Assisi Church, according to the results of the last survey question.  
Members of the Communications Ministry, which administered the survey, posed the open-ended inquiry, “Are there any other comments you’d like to add?” as the survey’s final question. The results of the question varied greatly, with no one answer being the same for more than 6 percent of respondents.
Four respondents – or 3 percent of the total people who answered this question – said they’d like to see an improved sound system, including new microphones, in the church.  I am also grateful to the four respondents who reported some complimentary things about my pastoral ministry here at St. Francis of Assisi.  I really do feel blessed to be here as the pastor of this wonderful parish.
Three respondents expressed their gratitude for the Joyful Greeter Ministry, whose ministers greet parishioners at the doors of the church at every Mass.  The same number of people complimented St. Francis’ “great” music program, though, three other respondents said they’d like to hear different styles of music. “[It’s] always nice to hear new songs, but traditional songs help people feel engaged,” one respondent said. “I want to leave Mass feeling good, happy that I am ready for the week inspired.”
One respondent also wondered if it’s possible to rotate the choirs and musical groups occasionally among Mass times.
And the answer most given by respondents? Ten people – or 6 percent of the total respondents – said they “loved St. Francis.”
For more information about the survey, contact Communications Coordinator Melissa Egan at [email protected].
 
Until next week,
 
Fr. John Dillon