2026 Parish Survey Results

Thank you to all of those who completed the St. Gregory’s parish survey in January. We received 95 responses via online and on
paper. The 25% response rate of registered households is a healthy response rate.
On the backside of this insert, you will find pie charts that summarize the responses to the survey questions. There were
questions that allowed survey takers to provide comments about what they like or don’t like about St. Gregory’s. We
appreciated receiving those comments. And, while it is not possible to respond to each of those comments, we will certainly
make changes where possible.

Broadly speaking, the survey results were generally positive for St. Gregory’s. 76% of parishioners said that they are either very
satisfied or satisfied with the parish. Some of the comments specifically mentioned satisfaction with the community, the small
size of the parish, and the music.

As to be expected in any survey, there were concerns in the comments. One of the major concerns was the lack of an earlier
Sunday Mass time. Prior to the modification to the Sunday Mass schedule (which went into effect in January 2024), I mentioned
in a bulletin article that it was no longer feasible to keep to the 9:30 a.m. Mass time. Sunday Mass was moved to 10:30 a.m. so
that 1 priest could cover the three Masses between St. Gregory’s and Sacred Heart, as sometimes there is only 1 priest available.
Although St. Gregory’s does not have an early Sunday Mass, there are many parishioners who occasionally make the 15-minute
drive from North Branch to Sacred Heart for their 8:30 a.m. Mass.

There were two other concerns that had some frequency in the comments. One was related to lack of parishioner involvement.
The other was a desire for the parish to be more welcoming and to provide more activities, especially in the evening. I will give
some space to both criticisms in future bulletin articles.

-Fr. Matt