On 5 November 2014, the Bishops’ Conference’s Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis published a research paper titled: ‘Challenges and Opportunities for the New Evangelisation: A Case Study of Catholic Primary School Parents in England and Wales’.
The research, conducted by Dr Ann Casson, focused on the spiritual needs and interests, as well as the faith and practice, of Catholic parents of children in Catholic primary schools in England and Wales.
Primarily it sought to explore the Catholicity of Catholic parents, investigating what existing connections they value with the Church and considered how the Church can strengthen its relationship with them, in encouraging the sharing of the gifts and talents that they bring to the Body of Christ.
The case study is part of the ‘Crossing the Threshold’ initiative which encourages and equips ministry and outreach to non-churchgoing Catholics. Questions for reflection are offered at the end of each chapter to invite and encourage reflection and discussion.
New Evangelisation
Catholics on the edges
Research focus and methodology
Elements of a Catholic Faith
Catholic values
A questioning faith
Choosing a Catholic school
Catholicity of the Catholic school
A Catholic community
Motivation for going to Mass
Challenges
Attitudes to Sunday Mass
A sense of belonging
A sense of not belonging
Parish activities
A desire for learning
Learning experiences
Religious literacy needs
A brief analysis of the findings
Implications: A desire for learning
Implications: Challenging a sense of not belonging
Implications: The Catholic primary school and New Evangelisation
This executive summary shows what you can find in the 87-page PDF. You can download the research using the link to the right of this page or below.
cbcew.org.uk/marriage-and-family-life
This research complements the work already being pioneered by the Bishops’ Conference Marriage and Family Life Project Office, and also a number of initiatives being developed by evangelisation and education co-workers across England and Wales.
cbcew.org.uk/non-churchgoing-catholics
Section on the Bishops’ Conference site for outreach to non-churchgoing Catholics
cbcew.org.uk/evangelisation-and-catechesis
Our Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis
