PN cathedral survey reveals strengths, areas for emphasis

The first Engagement and Culture Survey of the cathedral parish and of Our Lady of Lourdes in Palmerston North was taken in August 2025. The aim of the survey was to develop an understanding of the parish’s needs through the perceptions and spiritual practices of parishioners.  

There were 459 survey responses, which was about 46 per cent of Sunday Mass attendees.

Overall, parishioners report a moderate to strong sense of belonging, feel spiritually nourished by the Eucharist and are committed to the parish’s vision and mission, with particularly high scores in worship and prayer, with many describing Mass and personal prayer as deep encounters with Christ and the Holy Spirit.

However, the overall confidence and active engagement in evangelisation and social justice were only moderate, and relatively few comments mentioned these areas.

There was a notable gap between high scores for worship and prayer compared with lower, though still moderate, scores for “Living the Gospel”, suggesting that missionary and service-oriented discipleship could be further developed, the survey summary stated.

“Taken together, the survey affirms many strengths and points the Senior Leadership Team toward a strategic focus on strengthening synodal leadership and communication, carefully navigating liturgical tensions, and intentionally developing parishioners’ capacity and confidence in mission and social justice, so that the parish’s vision and mission can be more fully embodied in daily life.”

Recommendations for actions on mission and care for the wider community in the survey report included suggestions for preaching, workshops, parish-wide mission projects and making Prayers of the Faithful more focused on global issues.

FULL STORY

2025 Culture and Engagement Survey Results (Cathedral of the Holy Spirit)