our dmi results are in
Members of Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Committee and the Implementation Team study the data from the 2026 DMI survey.
Chelsea Cahill, from the Implementation Team, brought along a consultant, daughter Valerie Rose.
There was much to celebrate on May 18 as Stephanie Bosse, Mother of God’s coach from the Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI), explained the results of the Disciple Makers Index (DMI) survey to Parish Pastoral Council, the Finance Committee and the With One Heart Implementation Team.
Parishioners first took the DMI in spring of March 2023. We had an impressive response then with 294 people completing the survey. This year, 291 people filled it out, an accomplishment in its own right.
“Across the board, when parishes retake the DMI, they typically see a significantly lower response rate, so kudos to you for this level of participation,” said Stephanie.
Parishioners first took the DMI in spring of March 2023. We had an impressive response then with 294 people completing the survey. This year, 291 people filled it out, an accomplishment in its own right.
“Across the board, when parishes retake the DMI, they typically see a significantly lower response rate, so kudos to you for this level of participation,” said Stephanie.
DMI Results
The 2026 DMI survey contained the exact same questions as the original one, separated into categories that define the four characteristics of a Next Generation Parish:
In all but one metric, we saw important growth. For example, under “Sunday experience,” we measured the number of people who agree or strongly agree that Mother of God makes them feel welcomed and accepted. In the first DMI, 32% agreed and 59% strongly agreed this was true. This year, 25% agreed and 68% strongly agreed with this statement. When you combine the “agree” and “strongly” agree responses for each year, it reveals an increase from 91% to 93%.
“This may not seem like a large jump, but typically, it’s hard to get people to commit to saying they strongly agree,” said Stephanie. “Moving the needle on this measurement is significant, and you’ve done that in all four categories.”
Similarly, we were successful in the Missionary Impulse category:
Perhaps the most impressive area of growth is under “Sacramental Trends.” Specifically, our average weekly Mass attendance for both Sunday Masses went from 460 to 560. The number of baptisms increased from 16 to 27, and the number of converts (adult baptisms and confirmations) grew from just 1 to 8.
- Spiritual maturity
- Shared leadership
- Sunday experience
- Missionary impulse
In all but one metric, we saw important growth. For example, under “Sunday experience,” we measured the number of people who agree or strongly agree that Mother of God makes them feel welcomed and accepted. In the first DMI, 32% agreed and 59% strongly agreed this was true. This year, 25% agreed and 68% strongly agreed with this statement. When you combine the “agree” and “strongly” agree responses for each year, it reveals an increase from 91% to 93%.
“This may not seem like a large jump, but typically, it’s hard to get people to commit to saying they strongly agree,” said Stephanie. “Moving the needle on this measurement is significant, and you’ve done that in all four categories.”
Similarly, we were successful in the Missionary Impulse category:
| Weekly/Daily | 2023 | 2026 |
| “Teaching me how to share my personal witness story” | 34% agree/15% strongly agree | 36% agree/21% strongly agree |
| “Teaching me how to share the story of Jesus” | 44% agree/28% strongly agree | 48% agree/38% strongly agree |
| “Growing my confidence in Church teachings so I can answer others’ questions” | 54% agree/24% strongly agree | 54% agree/29% strongly agree |
Perhaps the most impressive area of growth is under “Sacramental Trends.” Specifically, our average weekly Mass attendance for both Sunday Masses went from 460 to 560. The number of baptisms increased from 16 to 27, and the number of converts (adult baptisms and confirmations) grew from just 1 to 8.
Interpreting the Data
CLI’s DMI database contains nearly 1.5 million responses to the same questions we answered. The responses come from parishes of all different sizes in the US and Canada. This means we can compare our survey results not only to our past results, but we can benchmark them against other parishes in the diocese and across the continent. If we find parishes that are scoring high in areas we want to improve, we can look at what they’re doing and ask them to share their best practices.
We can also use our own results to inform what priorities we set for the next few years. For example, if there is a metric where we lag behind other parishes, we can focus on what is needed to boost that score.
We can also use our own results to inform what priorities we set for the next few years. For example, if there is a metric where we lag behind other parishes, we can focus on what is needed to boost that score.
Next Steps
Fr. Mike Comer is working with parish leadership to restructure Parish Pastoral Council so that we can maintain the momentum of the Implementation Team and incorporate some of the lessons we’ve learned.
“I want to thank everyone who has worked on the With One Heart initiative for the past three years,” he said at the conclusion of the meeting. “Thank you for your sacrifice, your dedication, your love of Mother of God, our Catholic faith and our God. Keeping the momentum for formulating new priorities and fulfilling our mission is a high priority. It’s been a lot of work, but you have done a magnificent job.”
We will continue to delve into our DMI survey results in the coming months to help shape our plans for the parish. Watch for more updates in the bulletin and The Connector.
“I want to thank everyone who has worked on the With One Heart initiative for the past three years,” he said at the conclusion of the meeting. “Thank you for your sacrifice, your dedication, your love of Mother of God, our Catholic faith and our God. Keeping the momentum for formulating new priorities and fulfilling our mission is a high priority. It’s been a lot of work, but you have done a magnificent job.”
We will continue to delve into our DMI survey results in the coming months to help shape our plans for the parish. Watch for more updates in the bulletin and The Connector.
Signs of Success
Our three With One Heart Priority Teams have been focused on achieving their goals over the past two years, with support from many of you. Here’s a partial list of their accomplishments:
Sustainability
Engagement
Faith Formation
Sustainability
- Compiled a Parish Operations Manual designed to capture and preserve institutional knowledge of important functions carried out by staff and ministry leaders. This online manual is located on a shared drive that parish leaders can access and update as needed.
- Launched a parish app to support broader communication capabilities within and beyond the parish community.
- Launched a new giving platform that works seamlessly with the parish app and the website.
Engagement
- Conducted a ministry survey, in partnership with the Faith Formation Team, to gain insight into parishioners’ perception of engagement in faith formation, ministry and parish life at Mother of God. (100+ people responded.)
- Hosted a ministry fair to build awareness of various ministry opportunities at Mother of God and in the community.
- Developed and presented a Parish Ministry Disciples (PMD) short course on “Knowing and Sharing Your Story,” and expanded it through the diocesan PMD group to include presentations at other parishes.
Faith Formation
- Held Advent craft events for families and individuals (wreath-making), which included a history of the Advent wreath and a prayer service that could be modeled at home.
- Led a Vacation Bible School for three evenings last summer, a first-ever event at Mother of God.
- Facilitated Young Adult Group monthly bible study.
- Completed sacramental preparation for students and assisted with instruction of Order of Christian Initiation for Adults candidates and catechumens.