Thank you for all you do to meet your parish catechetical needs. You play an important role in religious education in the Archdiocese. As our partner in catechesis, it is very important that you continue to assist us in getting a clear picture of the state of Catechesis and Youth Ministry in the Archdiocese. For that reason once again we are asking your support in completing the 2010-2011 Catechetical and Youth Ministry Data Survey.

We are aware that not every question in the survey is applicable to every parish, given the size, the multilingual reality and the fact that we have included youth ministry into the scope of the OFCYM. Keeping that in mind, we ask you to provide as much information as you can, that describes the reality of catechesis and youth in your parish. To complete the data survey, you may need to seek input from other staff members such as the adult or youth ministry coordinators, or the coordinators of programs in different languages.

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Please return the data survey by May 20, 2011.

Instructions for downloading the data surveys:

         2010-2011 Parish Catechetical Programs Data Survey

         2010-2011 Parish Youth Ministry Data Survey

• You will need adobe reader to open the data survey form. If you don’t have an adobe reader installed on your computer, you can download it for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/
• Make sure you save a blank copy of the survey to your hard drive, and then fill in the form directly on the PDF page. Then save the completed form to your hard drive.
• Once completed please email the form to hprelich@archchicago.org

     or

• If preferred, you can print a blank copy of the survey and complete by hand.

                Fax to 312-534-3801
           or mail to
               Meyer Center
               OFCYM-Data Survey
               3525 S. Lake Park Ave. 
               Chicago IL 60653
 

The information in this report comes from the 2010/2011 Office for Catechesis and Youth Ministry (OFCYM) Parish Catechetical Programs Data Survey, which was mailed out to 365 parishes of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Out of these parishes, 256 or 71% returned the survey in time to be included in this report.

The information on child and youth catechesis is supplemented by information from the 2009/2010 Office for Catechesis and Youth Ministry Data Survey and the 2010 Parish Annual Report. The data on catechetical leadership is supplemented with additional information gathered by the office and personal visits to parishes.

 Here are some significant trends the data reveals this year:

Catechetical Leadership
It is the policy of the Archdiocese of Chicago [Policy #801.1] that every parish has an approved catechetical leader or shares one with another parish.

The responses received and supplemental OFCYM data indicate the following:
 

Employment Status
• There are 79% (290) parish catechetical leaders who are paid. Out of the 79%, 45% (165) are full-time and 34% (125) are part-time.
• There are 21% (75) parish catechetical leaders who are volunteers. Out of these volunteers, 20 are pastors and the other 55 are lay volunteers. 

Leadership Formation Status
• As of June 2011, 36% (133) of parish catechetical leaders are approved, 29% (105) have only a file established with the OFCYM, and 35% (127) of parish catechetical leaders do not have a file with the office. Of all the 133 parish catechetical leaders, 20% (75) are also certified.
• This past year, four catechetical leaders were certified: three as parish Directors of Religious Education and one as Coordinator of Religious Education.

Continue reading the survey report highlights »