CHARLOTTE — In the spring of 2025, thousands of Catholics across the Diocese of Charlotte took part in a wide-ranging look at their faith journey and their parish’s role in supporting spiritual growth. The “Disciple Maker Index” invited adults across western North Carolina to share insights on beliefs, parish participation, relationships and demographics. Administered for free by the Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI), the survey measured key aspects of parish life, including Mass experience and preaching.
The results offer a snapshot of how regular Mass-goers are living their faith – and where parishes can strengthen formation and outreach to form missionary disciples.
See all Disciple Maker Index results
A snapshot of active Catholics
From March to April 2025, 24,332 people in 78 of the diocese’s 93 parishes and missions completed the 75-question DMI survey. While not a random or representative sample of all 565,000 Catholics in the 46-county diocese, the study captured the views of regular Mass-goers, plus about 200 disengaged Catholics who participated through targeted outreach.
Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., said the effort builds on the Church’s global Synod on Synodality, engaging the people of the diocese on what they think about their faith and their experience.
“It is an occasion to look at our current circumstances,” Bishop Martin said, “and discern how the Holy Spirit is calling us to walk together, listen and learn from each other as each one of us is called to be missionary disciples of Christ.”
Core Catholic beliefs
The first major finding was clear: respondents exhibited deep personal devotion and strong adherence to core Catholic beliefs:
• 93% agreed/strongly agreed on the Real Presence in the Eucharist
• 96% agreed/strongly agreed on Jesus’ death and resurrection
• 94% agreed/strongly agreed on the divine inspiration of Scripture
• 91% agreed/strongly agreed with Jesus’ moral teachings for their life
• 86% agreed/strongly agreed with the Church’s teaching authority
• 87% agreed/strongly agreed the Church is critical to their relationship with God
The high numbers of people who said they agreed about the Eucharist, Scripture and the Church’s authority were among the top “strengths” that CLI identified in the diocese’s overall DMI results.
Spiritual practices
Respondents also reported high levels of spiritual practice:
• 93% attend Mass at least weekly
• 69% pray daily
• 46% participate in devotions weekly or more
• 36% attend Bible study weekly or more
• 25% go to Eucharistic Adoration at least weekly
Most described themselves as growing spiritually, though the survey results noted opportunities for improvement: 62% had not attended a retreat in the past year, and 45% had not participated in a faith-formation class or workshop.
The ‘Sunday Experience’
The DMI survey underscored the importance of hospitality, reverent worship, relevant homilies, uplifting music and accessible parish information in what CLI calls the “Sunday Experience.”
Thirty-five parishes scored above the diocesan average for Sunday experience. One of those top-performing parishes was St. Francis of Assisi in Lenoir, where hospitality is woven into parish culture. Volunteers brew coffee and serve homemade food after Mass each Sunday, creating a warm environment. “Just being kind to people shows your love of Christ,” said parish hospitality leader Angela Smith. “You may be entertaining angels.”
Yet only 50% of DMI respondents said they strongly agreed that their church makes them “feel welcomed and accepted.” That number was lower for older people (56 and over), divorced or widowed Catholics, and people without kids.
CLI notes that parishioners who feel welcome are twice as likely to recommend their parish to others.
Father Eckert Pastors are central to creating that sense of belonging. CLI research shows that respondents who feel positively toward their pastor are nine times more likely to recommend their parish.
Compelling preaching is also one of the strongest predictors of parishioner satisfaction and engagement. Parishioners who appreciate their pastor’s homilies are 1.7 times more likely to recommend their parish, CLI research has found.
At St. Francis of Assisi, 81% of their DMI respondents strongly agreed the parish offers excellent homilies. Father Alfonso Gamez Jr. said he grounds his preaching in the real experiences of his people. “It’s a practical approach and it’s very accessible,” he explains, “because people know what they experience.”
Priests also stressed the importance and joy of connecting with parishioners outside of Mass. Father John Eckert of Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury described greeting people after Mass as a “weekly family reunion.”
Parish effectiveness
How well a parish supports people personally and spiritually is a key factor in their ability to nurture their faith and become disciples. Respondents said besides the Eucharist, relationship with other parishioners is the next biggest factor that keeps them connected to parish life. Yet only 34% of respondents said they “strongly agreed” that their parish provides a community to support them or their family in times of need.
Several high-performing parishes credit their success to intentional listening. Sacred Heart expanded confession times and Mass options after a parish-wide survey and prioritizes personalized service. Other parishes emphasize flexibility – whether that’s additional Masses and confession times, or weekend and evening programs and retreats. Expanded options for people to join small faith-sharing groups also play an important role in building community and strengthening discipleship.
More faith formation
A key opportunity identified in the DMI was catechesis. Only 33% strongly agreed their parish helps them grow spiritually by forming them as disciples of Jesus Christ; 45% strongly agreed their parish helps them grow spiritually as a Catholic; and only 20% strongly agreed that their parish equips them to share their personal witness story.
Parishioners who say their church helps form them as a disciple are twice as likely to say their parish helps them grow spiritually as a Catholic, CLI research has found.
Diocesan parishes that received high marks on this measure emphasize faith formation at all ages, scheduling programs and retreats that are relevant to busy families and young adults, as well as focusing on empowering parents to serve as the primary formators of their children.
Missionary impulse
The DMI results also highlighted a major disconnect: while regular Mass-goers said their personal faith is strong, confidence in sharing that faith is low:
• 28% have never shared their personal witness story
• 27% have never invited someone to Mass
• 29% have never invited someone to a parish activity
• 19% have never shared the story of Jesus with another person
• 78% have never invited a man to consider the priesthood
• 72% have never encouraged someone to consider religious life
Father GamezCLI research says that the greatest predictor of evangelization is whether parishioners feel equipped by their parish. Parishioners who feel confident answering questions about Church teaching are 1.6 times more likely to share their personal witness. Yet only a minority of the diocese’s DMI respondents say their parish gives them that confidence. Many respondents said they want more catechesis, and they look to their pastor for it.
Father Gamez summarized the missionary challenge this way: “You can’t give what you don’t have. Our job is to feed people well, and from that abundance they will evangelize.”
Looking ahead
The diocese’s DMI results reveal a local Church with deep faith, yet clear opportunities for improvement – especially to help Catholics grow confident in sharing their faith and becoming missionary disciples.
Bishop Martin is reviewing the DMI survey alongside other research, feedback from clergy and diocesan leaders, and the listening sessions of the local Synod. The result will shape a strategic vision for the diocese’s future – one grounded in listening and focused on forming disciples who can share the Good News in a rapidly changing world.
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle
See all Disciple Maker Index results