Who’s A Member?
Parish Newsletter
A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
April, 2015
Who’s A Member?
A recent parish at which a survey was distributed to a random sample of parishioners discovered that a large number of its people were no longer living at the address listed on the parish census forms. This is not an unusual occurrence. Most parishes we work with do not have an accurate listing. In these cases we suggest that the parish initiate an annual Registration Weekend to clarify just who is a member of the parish.
A Simple Response
The process begins with a simple form that is placed at the end of the pews at all of the Masses. Over a four-week period people are asked from the pulpit to fill it out and put it in the collection basket. The form needs to be short so it can be filled out quickly. A sample used at SS. Mary and Patrick Parish in West Burlington, Iowa had the following comments and instructions on the flipside of the card.
________________________________________________________________
WE’RE ‘COUNTING’ ON YOU!
EVERYONE NEEDS TO FILL OUT AND RETURN THE CENSUS.
WHAT DO I DO WITH MY COMPLETED CARD, YOU ASK? IT’S EASY!
- Give completed card to volunteer after Mass
- Drop it in the collection basket
- Hand deliver it to the Parish Office
- Mail it to the parish office (U.S. Mail) [Parish Address added]
If you have questions you can call the parish office at ____________
________________________________________________________________
The Census Form itself was as follows:
________________________________________________________________
SS. Mary & Patrick Parish 2014 Census
HOUSEHOLD INFORATION:
(List all persons living in household. One (1) card per household)
Adults: ______________________ ______________________
Name Name
Children: ______________________ ______________________
Name Birthdate Name Birthdate
Children: ______________________ ______________________
Name Birthdate Name Birthdate
Other: M_F_ ____________________ M_F_ ____________________
Name Birthdate Name Birthdate
Address: ________________________________________________
City:___________________ State:____ Zip:__________ Email:________________
Home Phone:_______________ Cell Phone:_________________
ARE YOU OR OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN OUR PARISH: YES_____ NO______
________________________________________________________________
The Follow-Up
As the responses came in, they were checked off from the census directory. Arrangements were made to contact those interested in volunteering. For those who did not fill it out, a note was mailed with the following request: “Recently we asked our parishioners to fill out a census card like the one you are receiving with this note. We did not receive one for you or your family. Would you mind filling out the enclosed and sending it back to our parish?” The names of those on the census list who did not respond were given to the Outreach Commission which formed a committee to personally contact these people to learn whether the parish might be of any assistance.
Tom Sweetser, SJ and Debora Elkins
Website: www.pepparish.org
