Father John Manno gives overview at Nov. 1 DPC meeting
By Tami S. Scott
Editor
Syracuse Diocese vicar for clergy, Father John Manno, spoke at last month’s Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC) to provide an overview of the diocesan results from the Catholic Leadership Institute’s Disciple Maker Index (DMI). Parishioners were asked to partake in this survey earlier this year. The data he reviewed was taken from 11,757 completed surveys. Of those surveyed, the majority were 55 and older; 12% were under 55. Father Manno, also the pastor of Holy Family in Syracuse and St. Marianne Cope in Lakeland and Solvay, said he was pleased with the response, but also spoke to “the need of doing a better job getting our young people involved.”
In a slideshow presentation, in addition to the demographics, Fr. Manno broke down the results from the following categories: Strengths and Opportunities, Factors for a Thriving Parish, Spiritual Experience, and Sharing the Faith. For instance, under Strengths and Opportunities, 72% of parishioners in the diocese feel they are being formed as disciples. “According to Catholic Leadership Institute and compared nationally, that’s a very good number,” Fr. Manno said. In contrast, 23% of people said they’ve participated in a retreat of some kind. “That’s a small number, 23 percent … As Catholic Leadership points out, [that’s] an opportunity for growth,” Father remarked.
To gain a better understanding of the DMI and how results may affect future decision-making, The Catholic Sun reached out to Fr. Manno. In a Q&A format, below are his responses.
Q: What was the main goal of this diocesan-wide survey?
A: Having come out of COVID and having participated in the Synodal process, the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) served as an opportunity to have the people of the parishes of the Diocese of Syracuse speak candidly about their parishes. Specifically, how their parishes are helping to form the people of God as faithful disciples. It was a great exercise to engage in and provides the diocese, the pastors, parish life directors, administrators, and parish lay leadership with valuable insight on what the people in the pews think of their parishes.
Q: How will the information gained from the survey serve the diocese moving forward?
A: Overall, it gives the diocese a good snapshot of each parish community as reported by the people of the parish. It will help the diocese in pastoral planning, placement of priests and deacons, and sharing the good news of what parishes are doing well, so other parishes can glean from the information. There is a lot to learn and share from the DMI that will help to shape our diocesan family as we go forward.
Q: What two or three positive or negative percentage results stood out to you, and why?
A: The things that stood out to me from the DMI are that parishes are doing a good job at instructing the people on Church teaching. The results from the DMI were overwhelmingly positive in this area. Also, the other positive was that people love their parish communities. While there may be some agreement that our parishes are not perfect, people truly love their parishes and want the best for them. In terms of the negatives, the DMI revealed that people are not too keen on going out and being missionary disciples or encouraging vocations. This is an area for growth, and I am confident much is being done and will be done to help people grow in this area.
Q: Overall, what did you take away from parishioners’ responses?
A: My takeaways from my parish — I am grateful for the honesty and sincerity of the people who responded. It is clear to me that the people are happy with their parish, and in those areas of growth, we have to find ways to work on those areas and turn those weaknesses into strengths. Now that we are equipped with the information, we have to move on it. A survey is only useful if we do something with the information we glean from it.
Q: When will the individual parish results of the DMI survey be shared with parishioners?
A: The parishes all have a parish point of contact (PPOC). That person should work with the pastor to determine how the information can be shared at the parish level. There is a lot of information, so people have to be patient with how it is shared. I know some parishes have shared it already, and some plan on sharing it during Advent or in the new year.
In other DPC news
• Deacon Jeff Dixe, diocesan director of Adult Ministerial Formation, gave a presentation about the various services his office provides, including Formation for Ministry, the Genesis Mission, a Spiritual Gifts self-assessment, workshops, and pastoral leadership.
• Bishop Douglas J. Lucia responded to several questions posed by attendees during his regular Q&A session at the meeting.
The DPC will next meet on Saturday, March 7 at Holy Cross Church in DeWitt.
