Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2025 Disciple Maker Index survey at Saint Bernadette Catholic Church. A total of 183 people completed the survey in English or Spanish.

The Disciple Maker Index, developed by the Catholic Leadership Institute, helps a parish understand the spiritual life of its people, the ways the parish supports their growth, and the opportunities that may help the community become more missionary. The survey is not a vote or a complete description of every parishioner. It is a valuable tool that allows us to listen, recognize the ways God is already working among us, and identify areas that deserve greater pastoral attention.

Reasons for gratitude

A strong foundation in the Catholic faith

The results reveal a strong commitment to the central teachings of our faith:

• 98% agreed or strongly agreed that Jesus died and rose again.
• 98% affirmed that the Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood of Christ.
• 95% affirmed that Sacred Scripture is the Word of God.
• 92% affirmed the teaching authority of the Church.
• 97% expressed confidence in the moral teachings of Jesus.

These responses show that Saint Bernadette possesses a strong foundation upon which we can continue building a life of discipleship and mission.

A community centered on Christ and prayer

The survey also revealed encouraging signs in the spiritual lives of our parishioners:

• 86% described their relationship with Jesus as the most important relationship in their lives or said they had personally encountered Jesus and were growing as disciples.
• 95% reported attending Mass at least weekly.
• 83% reported spending time in personal prayer daily or weekly.
• 87% said the parish helps them grow spiritually.

These results reflect a community that values Christ, prayer, the sacraments, and the life of faith.

A welcoming parish that supports sacramental life

Parishioners also expressed strong appreciation for the life and ministries of Saint Bernadette:

• 90% would recommend Saint Bernadette to another person.
• 87% described the parish as welcoming.
• 88% said the Mass helps them grow spiritually.
• 91% said sacramental preparation supports their spiritual growth.
• 94% would recommend our parish religious education program.
• 86% said the parish provides opportunities to serve.

We are grateful for our clergy, religious sisters, deacon, staff, catechists, ministry leaders, volunteers, and parishioners whose faithful service contributes to these results.

Opportunities for growth

The purpose of the DMI is not simply to celebrate what is going well. It also helps us recognize where Christ may be inviting us to grow.

Continuing formation and spiritual accompaniment

Half of the respondents said they were growing in faith but would like to grow more than they currently are. This represents a genuine spiritual hunger and an important opportunity for the parish.

Although 59% said small groups help them grow spiritually and 63% said the parish helps them learn how to read the Bible, these were among the areas with the greatest potential for development. We can do more to offer accessible Bible formation, small faith-sharing communities, retreats, and opportunities for spiritual accompaniment.

Becoming more confident missionary disciples

Our parishioners have a strong Catholic faith, but the results indicate that we can become more intentional about sharing it:

• 46% reported inviting someone to Mass monthly or more frequently.
• 33% reported inviting someone to another parish activity monthly or more frequently.
• 41% reported sharing their personal faith story monthly or more frequently.
• 66% reported praying with another person monthly or more frequently.

These results invite us to help parishioners speak naturally about their relationship with Christ, share their personal witness, invite others into the life of the Church, and respond confidently to questions about the faith.

Involving more young people, volunteers, and lay leaders

While 86% said the parish offers opportunities to serve, 67% felt involved in parish decisions. Among the parishioners most actively involved in parish life, the two most frequently identified needs were more volunteers participating in ministries and more young people becoming involved.

This is an opportunity to invite, train, and accompany new volunteers and lay leaders. Shared responsibility means recognizing that every baptized person has gifts and a role in the mission of the Church.

How the results are guiding us

After prayer, consultation, and study of the DMI results, our parish planning process has focused on three pastoral priorities:

Marriage and Family

Fifty-four percent of respondents have school-age children, and 99% agreed that parents are responsible for helping their children know Jesus. We want to strengthen marriages, accompany parents, support family prayer, and help families become the first place where faith is learned and lived.

Evangelization

We want to help people encounter Christ more deeply and become comfortable sharing their faith. This includes formation in Scripture, personal testimony, invitation, prayer, and one-to-one accompaniment.

Shared Responsibility

We want to identify and form more volunteers, young people, ministry leaders, and lay disciples. We also want to strengthen communication, collaboration, and opportunities for parishioners to participate in the mission and life of Saint Bernadette.

Moving forward together

The DMI results do not represent the conclusion of our pastoral planning. They provide a starting point and a direction. In the coming months, we will continue sharing concrete initiatives connected with these priorities, including opportunities for family life, couples, evangelization formation, service, and ministry involvement.

Thank you again to everyone who participated in the survey and to all who serve our parish so generously. These results reveal many graces that God has already given to Saint Bernadette, as well as new possibilities for growth.

Please continue to pray for our parish as we seek to become ever more fully United in Faith — Unidos en la fe.

Percentages are rounded and refer to those who responded to the 2025 Disciple Maker Index survey.