Discipleship Maker Index Survey

3 years ago the Archdiocese of Chicago introduced a new DMI (Disciple Maker Index) survey.  Our parish had a 26% response rate which is better than the arch’s 19%. 

The new 2026 survey will be offered between Feb 18 - March 29th.

We encourage you to take the time to complete this survey - the results of which we highly valued in the past.

This DMI survey is intended to track an individual's spiritual growth and their engagement with the parish.  We used this survey to help us with our mission of Making Disciples.

After the 2023 survey results were compiled and reported back to us, the Evangelization and Mission Team highlighted three areas of focus from ten of our areas of strength.  We shared these in bulletin articles and also shared with many ministry groups.  

3 Focus Areas are:

  • Review our Belief that Scripture is the Inspired Word of God and the Eucharist is the Real Presence of Jesus 

  • Continue to build a welcoming parish where all are welcome and motivated to further our discipleship journey

  • Equip us to share how God is at work in our lives beginning Jesus Christ to others. 

Using the three Focus Areas, many initiates and experiences were offered during the past 3 years:

  • The Kingdom of God homily series 2023 ( which began with Fr Ryan’s homily on Forgiveness )

  • Fall 2023 Eucharist homily series (including small group sessions w Fr Riccardo and Kevin Pease) 

  • Winter 2023/2024 Eucharist Homily Series - presented by Fr Paul, Deacon Tom Deacon Bob  

  • Bible Study with Kevin Pease from Loyola  - Feb - March 2024

  • Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible - Spring 2024 

  • Bible Study - Ascension Press - Hebrews  Oct 2024 

  • The Chosen - small group discussions after watching seasons 4, 5 & 6 

  • Alpha for Vicariate I deacons and wives

  • Alpha for the parish Jan - March 2024

  • March 2024 Parish Mission ‘The Power of Prayer’ and entered into new two year Hallow partnership 

  • 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory (shared 1000 books with the parish and offered a guided discussion for the 33 days with a concluding Mass event). May - June 2024

  • Equipped to Go Forth Series Oct - Nov 2024

  • Workshops of Hope Mental Health Series  Oct - Nov 2025

  • Nov 2025 began a 20 week Ascension series Foundations of Faith which breaks open the CCC. 

  • Adoration opportunities expanded  from monthly in 2024 to 2 nights a week in 2025 (2nd & 4th Tuesdays)

We look forward to leveraging your survey results again and as we look to the future.  Your participation will help us track trends and the effectiveness of our efforts the past 3 years.  We will share the DMI survey results parish-wide once they are available.

As a result of the focus areas, we created and presented these series:

Notes from Equipped to Go Forth (Oct - Nov 2024) 

We developed this series internally with Eleanor Segraves.  The sessions were planned intentionally with time for workshop and discussion after the presentation.  

119 Participants registered - 38 were from 22 different area churches.   After the series we spoke to people from a few churches that were planning to present similar content at their parishes.  We shared our powerpoint slides and content outline with anyone who asked.  

Notes from our Workshops of Hope (Oct - Nov 2025) 

This Mental Health Series was created with Suzanne Martiez from Advocate Health Care.  Speakers presented their content and allowed for some very fruitful Q&A.  We also provided resources including more information about the theology of these topics as well as writings by saints, internally designed prayer cards, chaplets, stress balls etc. 

Over 70 people registered including people from eight other Catholic parishes as well as Quentin Bible, the Baptist church down the street. The content was very well received and those who attended thanked us for providing this series. We are looking forward to planning the next series. (We considered this a very good first event, considering there can be a hesitation to attend any type of mental health event.

Summary of our previous experience with the DMI Survey

Fr Ryan and the Evangelization and Mission team of St Francis de Sales reviewed the DMI results and based on statistical strengths, discerned three areas of focus aimed to help people grow as a Disciple of Jesus.  

The DMI statistics were clear, understandable, easy to analyze and aligned with our desire to Make Disciples. These survey results as well as our focus areas were discussed with the ministries within our parish as well as published to the parish as a whole.

Our three focus areas:  Renew Our Belief in Scripture and the Eucharist (Renew our belief that Scripture is the inspired Word of God and the Eucharist is the Real Presence of Jesus); Equip us to Share Our Story (Equip us to share how God is at work in our lives bringing Jesus Christ to others) and Continue to Build a Welcoming Parish (Build a faith community where all are welcome and motivated to further our discipleship journey).  We use these three focus areas as guiding principles for evaluating ministerial initiatives to ensure alignment with parish priorities.