The Importance of Parish Reporting

The Annual Parish Pastoral Report and October Mass Counts originating from the Office of Planning and Operations assist the Diocese with the following:

  • Determining where a need exists for a new parish based on growth rates, Mass counts, and parishioner counts

  • Assisting a location in planning for future expansion by quantifying past growth not only through registered parishioner and mass counts, but also through age group breakdowns

  • Allows for informed decisions regarding priest personnel and assignments

  • Identifying a possible need for assistance from Ethnic Ministries (e.g. – publications, translations, etc.) via ethnicity reporting

  • Sacramental reporting as well as religious education statistics assists the Office of Catechesis and Christian Initiation identify growth and where a need for support might exist

  • Planned projects identified in the Annual Parish Pastoral Report allow the Building and Renovation Coordinator provide support and assistance

  • The Annual Parish Pastoral Report also identifies where assistance is needed in pastoral planning

  • Accurate reporting provides a snapshot of parish life at a given time and will be appreciated by future generations of parishioners and parish administrators as the reports become part of the history of a parish/mission 

In addition to the above internal uses, the sacramental statistics and other information for the Diocese are required annually by the Central Statistics Office of the Church (Vatican) as well as the Official Catholic Directory.  These statistics become part of the permanent history of the Diocese of Charleston.  It is important to provide the most accurate information available. The help of all pastors and administrators is very much appreciated in this effort.

This service is supported by the Office of Planning & Operations. Learn More

Important Links

Complete Your Parish’s APPR

Timeline

  • August – Parishes and Missions receive the APPR from the Diocese
  • September – End of month, the APPR is due. Parishes receive Mass Count forms from the Diocese.
  • October – Mass Counts conducted
  • November –  Mass Counts due
  • December – Diocesan statistics submitted to Official Catholic Directory.
  • January – APPR and Mass Counts utilized to produce the annual diocesan reports for the Bishop and Presbyteral Council.
  • February – Diocesan statistics submitted to the Vatican.

Contacts

Jamie Zbyrowski
jamie@charlestondiocese.org