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Strengths and Weaknesses

At our March Generations of Faith we began an evaluation process of our GOF program by asking groups to begin a list of the Strengths and Weaknesses of the program.

Granted, we didnt have much time due to the rest of session, but we started.  Below you'll see the combined comments from Wednesday and Saturday.

 

I'd appreciate your help continuing this process.....look over the list - if there are strengths or weaknesses you would like to add, please email them to me at mwestenberg@stmattsgb.org

STRENGTHS:

  • Enjoyable Meetings
  • Excitement
  • Learn things
  • Involves whole family  / Family togetherness (4)
  • The meal-eating together (2)
  • Sense of community
  • Interactive
  • Mike
  • Open forum
  • Humor
  • YNIA program
  • Making things current
  • Family talked them into coming
  • Memorization (lack of)
  • Once a month meetings (easier to attend) (2)
  • Nice to have the whole family involved
  • Meeting the community - Meeting new people in the parish through break out sessions (2)
  • Focus on lifelong learning
  • Message delivered to reach everyone in the family (5)
  • Variety and interaction
  • Sacrament prep – workbook/homework: activites and true understanding
  • Relaxed format/structure (2)
  • Community is involved
  • The food is better than at mass
  • “George’s Diner!”
  • Meal-coming together with family
  • Meeting different people
  • Sacrament prep
  • Interactive
  • Growth of Youth Ministry
  • Speakers for adults
  • Joint activities with other parishes
  • Choice of weeknight or Saturday events (2)
  • Mike makes it fun and easy to understand
  • Service/Community projects – (food bags, etc.)
  • Church Tradition Education – Rosary, Stations, Mass Components, Church Calendar, etc.
  • Vacation Bible School – Students and youth workers
  • Good Food
  • Music (father and son musicians from January session)
  • Testimonials

 

 

 

WEAKNESSES:

  • Memorization (lack of)
  • Traditional prayers are not taught
  • Pre Vatican II
  • Reverence
  • Lack of fear
  • It can and maybe wrong
  • A little long
  • American Idol night
  • No wine (like at mass)
  • Doesn’t seem to be open to demographics that aren’t families
  • The loss of the skits
  • Relaxed structure
  • Need better communication to parents – content of curriculum for reach age group
  • Defined guidelines for sacrament prep
  • Need to build stronger foundation –built on the Catholic Faith
  • Parents & children getting parallel content?
  • Need more speakers (not that we don’t like Mike)
  • Not knowing what children are learning – suggestion - written page on what the kids learned in each of their classes
  • A handout before and after each session as to what the agenda was for the session or for the next session so parents can continue the lesson at home with the children
  • Study material handouts – to do if have time at home
  • Wednesday night time-late for younger children 8:00 pm (hard to get homework etc. done before or after) (2)
  • Childcare
  • Too many Topics per session – rushed
  • Do Community service projects “off holiday” – involve kids
  • Where is Generations Magazine?
  • Allow for suggestions of food (or bring side dishes)
  • Guest speakers occasionally

 

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