2. Aims To draw together themes from previous modules To apply these themes to the work you do in Parishes To construct and conduct a research project (e.g. a survey) which demonstrates the student’s understanding of principles and their practical outworking in Parish life.
3. Learning Outcomes Clarity of purpose and expectations of your Parish work Measure how far these are achieved Understand different research methods and how to use them Produce, analyse and interpret data from your parish in the light of learning over past year
10. Parish as Portion of People of God CIC 515: Community of Christ’s faithful (Cf CIC 369 Diocese as ‘portion of people of God’) Emphasis on sacramentally initiated community Implications for Mission: Constructed of people who choose to be part of Parish Primarily care for regular and occasional worshippers Witness to surroundings: Openness to allow others in Equipping insiders to engage in world.
13. Mission In the Church's evangelizing activity there are of course certain elements and aspects to be specially insisted on. Some of them are so important that there will be a tendency simply to identify them with evangelization. Thus it has been possible to define evangelization in terms of proclaiming Christ to those who do not know Him, of preaching, of catechesis, of conferring Baptism and the other sacraments. Any partial and fragmentary definition which attempts to render the reality of evangelization in all its richness, complexity and dynamism does so only at the risk of impoverishing it and even of distorting it.... For the Church, evangelizing means bringing the Good News into all the strata of humanity, and through its influence transforming humanity from within and making it new. EN 17,18
17. Mission Mission is a single but complex reality Missionary activity is nothing other and nothing less than the manifestation or epiphany of God's plan and its fulfilment in the world and in history; in this history God, by means of missions, clearly accomplishes the history of salvation.”What paths does the Church follow in order to achieve this goal? Mission is a single but complex reality, and it develops in a variety of ways. Among these ways, some have particular importance in the present situation of the Church and the world. RM 41
18. Mission Witness Life of missionary, families, communities Concern for people, charity to the poor Initial Proclamation of Christ the Saviour Conversion and Baptism Forming Local Churches Incarnating the Gospel in cultures Dialogue with brothers and sisters of other faiths Promoting Development Forming Consciences Works of Charity RM 42-60
19. The What of Mission Witness and proclamation Catechesis and formation Liturgy, prayer and contemplation Justice, peace and the integrity of creation Interreligious and secular dialogue Inculturation Reconciliation
20. The How of Mission Spirituality of Mission Spirituality OF x Spirituality FOR Dialogue: Discovering how the Reign of God is already present Prophecy Discovering how the Reign of God is Not Yet Present The Practice of Mission Table Fellowship as Goal of Mission in its fullness Daily Life, Eucharist, World
21. What is your mission? What do you aim to do for the evangelising mission of the Church through the work you do? Write a concise (max three sentence) “Mission Statement” for your own ministry
25. How many RCIA candidates did you have in 2010? Why was RCIA good this year? Most worthwhile research has elements of both Qualitative and Quantitative
26. Typical Research process Awareness of area that needs study Possession of some initial questions Review of what is already out there in the field Prepare survey/questionnaire Draft Pilot Introductory letter (Ethics and legalities) Roll out survey/questionnaire Analyse results Qualitative reflection
27. Some examples of Mission Research Analysis of Mission Trends(Literature Review) Questionnaire: 1,200 Parishioners (5,000 distributed) 450 Parish Priests (1,250 distributed) 60 Bishops and Diocesan Officers and Staff Interviews and ‘lenses’ Recommendations
29. Some examples of Mission Research PAK undertook audit Produced Questionnaire Information entered into Database Face to face interview with Each Dean Examined Demographic Data from ODPM and Local Government Wrote report
30. Audit Questionnaire Mix of closed and open questions Mostly numbers which could be fed into spreadsheets Bare numbers cannot tell whole story, needed to hear people’s stories and feelings Have a look yourself. Quickly fill in Section 5 about your own Parish as best you can.
31. Audit Questionnaire What sort of questions were being asked? What sort of information would the answers give? Why ask these things? Who can use the results?
32. Some examples of Mission Research Time frame too ambitious Too many ‘stakeholders’ wanting too many questions Lack of focus Not enough action in consequence
33. Some examples of Mission Research No Questionnaire! Completely Qualitative! Gathered people for colloquium ‘Talking Together’ Listening to stories Critical Friend Mirroring back and signposting Diversity and Vitality
34. Some examples of Mission Research Commission from Edinburgh 2010 Study Process Discussion by ecumenical research team Web analysis Questionnaire and analysis Interviews with sample of those who filled in the questionnaire
35. Some examples of Mission Research Survey Introduction Page 1 and 2 of questions Interview Letter to interviewees Focussed questions for interviewer
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39. What do you want from your research? What context/situation needs examining? What is the background in existing thinking (literature review etc.) What information do you want to find out? What learning are you seeking? What questions do you need to ask? How do you need to ask them?
40. Bibliography Stephen B. BevansConstants in Context: A Theology of Mission for Today (OrbisMaryknoll 2004) Roger P. Schroeder What is the Mission of the Church: A guide for Catholics? (OrbisMaryknoll, 2008) Philip Knights and Andrea Murray Evangelisation in England and Wales (Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales , 2002) Philip Knights Changing Evangelisation: Themes and Stories from Catholics in local Mission (CTBI, London, 2007 Anne Richards et al Foundations for Mission (CTBI, London 2010)
