Lay Survey
Spanish (Español) Version
From Ash Wednesday, February 28, till May 13, 2001, the Committee on the Laity conducted an online survey in English and Spanish. Catholic lay people were invited to fill out a questionnaire addressing how their parishes could better help them integrate their faith with their daily lives.
The parish is the community where lay Catholics participate together as church. As Pope John Paul II said in his Apostolic Exhortation, Christifideles Laici, "The parish is not principally a structure, a territory, or a building, but rather 'the family of God', 'a fellowship afire with a unifying spirit', 'a familial and welcoming home', [and] the 'community of the faithful' (26)." It is this community of faith which is key in helping Catholics respond to their baptismal call. For this reason, the survey focused on parish life.
The survey was not intended to serve as an evaluation of individual parishes or of U.S. parish life in general. Rather, the purpose of the survey was to help the Committee understand national trends and solicit suggestions on how parish life and ministries can better help lay Catholics in fulfilling their mission in the world. The Committee received many, many responses from the laity and is very grateful for all of the feedback.
Some respondents have asked for permission to use this survey within their parish for discussion. If you would like to utilize the survey for your own use within your parish, a copy is available on the Bishops' Conference website at www.usccb.org/laity/laysurvey/summary.shtml and also in Chapter VII.
Many people asked for Catholic resources on the internet, especially for resources to help with adult faith formation. In response, the Bishops Conference website has added a list of accredited Catholic colleges, universities, seminaries, and theologates which currently offer classes or programs in theology, ministry or religion via distance learning. Distance learning can include classes offered utilizing the internet, e-mail, correspondence, or offered at remote locations. The list can be found at www.usccb.org/laity/laysurvey/schools.shtml.
We invite you to visit the Bishops Conference website, www.usccb.org, and its
many resources. Some of the statements you may want to read are: Called and Gifted
for the Third Millennium, Everyday Christianity: To Hunger and Thirst for Justice and
Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us: A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the
United States which identifies the categories used in this survey. You also may be
interested in the daily readings available at www.usccb.org/nab.