Next Generation Parish
St. Francis Xavier is on a journey to become a Next Generation Parish!
As members of the Body of Christ, we will come together in faith to forge a renewed path that brings hope and Christ's love into our community. Over the next year, we will increasingly seek to become a parish that fosters spiritual maturity, shares leadership, offers a vibrant Sunday experience, and embraces a missionary impulse.
THE RESULTS FROM THE DISCIPLE MAKER INDEX (DMI) SURVEY ARE HERE!
This past August, St. Francis Xavier joined parishes across the Diocese of Tulsa in Bishop Konderla's initiative "Next Generation Parish", in collaboration with the Catholic Leadership Institute — a two-year journey that transforms parish life through prayerful discernment, leadership formation, and accompaniment.
The first step we took in October of 2025 was the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) Survey. We had an amazing response rate, 47% of Sunday Mass attendants (~1,200), which is higher than in previous years that we have taken the survey (2020 & 2023). The Catholic Leadership Institute (CLi) considers anything above 10% of the average Sunday Mass attendance as significant. Well done!
559 Respondents — 1,200 Sunday Mass Attendants
First, we want to thank all who participated in the survey. The results offer clear benchmarks for understanding our parish's greatest opportunities and strengths. Your answers helped us see how much we have grown, and where we can continue to improve. The Discovery Team, made up of staff and volunteers met for 12 sessions to review those results alongside parish interviews, listening sessions, and sacramental and demographic information. Now it is time to thank you for participating and share encouraging highlights — the strengths your parish can build on. Some of the encouraging highlights include:
#1: 79% Strongly Agree in the belief that scripture is the word of God — above the national average.
#2: 10% of respondents receive pastoral counseling or spiritual direction on a monthly basis — above the national average.
Our current Next Generation Parish Heartbeat:
Here is how our parish ranks on 4 key parts of a “Next Generation Parish” based off of the average percentage of “Strongly Agree”
OUR PARISH: ST. FRANCIS XAVIER:
#1: Foster’s Intentional Worship —34%
Worship can include Sunday Mass or moments of individual worship in the community
Questions related to the characteristic of Fostering Intentional Worship:
1: Preaching and homilies that connect my faith with my everyday life.
2: Offering vibrant and engaging Sunday Masses
3: Making me feel welcomed and accepted
4: Offering music that deepens my desire to participate more fully in the Sunday liturgy.
#2: Shares Responsibility — 26.1%
Creating co-responsibility where the community has a culture, and everyone protects it.
Questions related to the characteristic of Sharing Responsibility:
1: I would recommend the staff of my parish to a friend.
2: Following up with me when I express interest in becoming more involved.
3: Providing a community to support me and/or my family in times of need.
4: Exhibiting care to members of our community through charitable work and donations
5: Involving me in decisions that affect the future of the parish.
6: Providing transparent information to me about the finances of the parish.
7: Providing me with opportunities to serve those in need.
#3: Deepens Individual Discipleship — 21.5%
Fosters apostolic zeal to ignite a love for Jesus Christ in a world that does not know him.
Questions related to the characteristic of Deepening Individual Discipleship:
1: My Parish helps me grow spiritually as a Catholic.
2: Helping me develop a personal life that connects me with God.
3: Teaching me to read and pray with the bible.
4: Connecting me with a small faith-sharing group
5: Preparing me/my family for the sacraments (baptism, Eucharist, Confession, Confirmation, Marriage)
6: Providing retreats, workshops & other resources to help me figure out my life’s purpose.
#4: Embraces A Missionary Impulse — 18%
Leading others to Jesus.
Questions related to the characteristic of Deepening Individual Discipleship:
1: Teaching me how to share the story of Jesus
2: Teaching me how to share my personal witness story
3: Growing my confidence in the Church’s teachings so I can answer other’s questions
4: Helping me recognize how God is working in my life
5: Forming me as a disciple of Jesus Christ
NEXT STEPS:
Now we begin the next step together — putting these priorities into action as a parish family guided by the Holy Spirit. This summer, our Discovery Team will be sharing the fruits of their work — including our parish Mission, Vision, Values, and Priorities. After that, we enter Phase 3: Accompaniment, as we begin putting our plan into action through August 2027. Stay tuned, and please continue to pray for this intention and for the growth and protection of our parish.
