OLDER PARISHIONERS: ANALYSIS OF SURVEY

Living alone: 53     Average time in parish: 38 years     Range: 2 to 80 years

Preferred form of Mass (some made 2 choices)

Times of Mass seemed to reflect present preferences though some perhaps not happy. e.g. preferred “no music” but would like Mass at 11:15. Not, on reflection, a very helpful question.

102 people (76% of all respondents) were in favour of a club.

Analysis of those wanting a club

Almost all agreed that the club should be in the afternoon. Providing transport would be essential for some.

Only 6 could not get to Mass alone but the weather could be a problem. There were mentions of the steepness of the hill in several responses. Providing transport is going to be vital to the success of any project.

People chose the following (in bold) from the options offered or made their own suggestions (not in bold)

ANALYSIS OF SURVEY : IMPORTANT POINTS

• transport: the hill (mentioned many times)
• car parking problems
• more disabled spaces
• More Road Groups wanted
• Adopt a grandparent scheme
• More visits by clergy (particularly) and laity
• Systematic help with shopping: a “buddy” scheme
• a committee focused on the needs of this group
• easier access to priests
• an accurate database
• annual parish lunch for the elderly
• too much emphasis on the website
• under 70’s feel too young
• Mass at 12:00 on a weekday once a month followed by light lunch
• Bring back evening Mass on Bank Holidays
• Mass intentions in newsletter each week*
• Hymn boards not visible from back of church
• put cushions on some benches
• improve sound systems in the Halls
• services and sermons too long
• Masses too long: have “grown” over recent years
• Christmas and Easter celebrations too long
• 11:15 Mass should always be in Latin
• more ministers required for Holy Communion: queues too long
• could the 6:30 Saturday Mass be earlier in the winter?
• replace Sunday evening Masses with Holy Hour and Benediction
• several spoken comments asking for a bigger, more comprehensive weekly newsletter

Very encouraging

• 2 genuine offers of help
• “delighted you are doing something for our age group”
   

A few quotes

• Some of OAP’s like to sleep in the afternoon
• Latin Mass – certainly not!

and

• I hope decisions regarding this initiative will be taken by committee, not by an individual

Volunteers to serve on the committee now needed.
Please contact mmduffytinyworld [dot] co [dot] uk if you feel able to help or have a comment to make.

Margaret Duffy, July 2009