Proven Success in Creating a Culture of Mission

by | Oct 20, 2018 | Eastern Province, Inspiration, Ministries, News, Uncategorized

Creating a culture of mission has to be more than an ideal. It actually has to change people’s lives. Here is a proven success story!

In a post on FamVIn, Fr. Aidan Rooney shares proof that it is possible to create a culture of mission.

A Lilly study of 5000 alumni of WorX, a program whose early supporter was the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission, confirmed its effectiveness. Sean Sanford, program creator, said the Vincentians are “the ones that gave them access to a spirituality” that shaped their calling: the charism of St. Vincent de Paul and the witness of his sons.”

Here just some of the results…

  • 93%  of their respondents still identify as Catholic;
  • 84% still belong to a parish or faith-based community;
  • 8 out of 10 respondents said that their participation influenced this.

This graphic presents perspectives of both alumni and parents.

No wonder they write…

Today we’re proud to announce the release of our new study on youth engagement in faith, service, and social justice, “What WorX: Measuring the Impact of Faith-Based Service and Social Justice Programs on Catholic Youth,” which you can find👉 http://www.faithjustice.org/resources/

The study found “youth engagement in faith continues long after WorX programs end.” In fact, 84% still belong to a parish or faith-based community – 8 out of 10 respondents said that their participation influenced this in some way; 94% of respondents indicated that participation in a WorX program influenced them to continue volunteering. You can check out the full report to learn more!

This study was researched and written in collaboration with the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI.

Do you know of other such studies of the long-term results of your youth and young adult program?

Fr. Rooney explains further.

In the mid-2000s, the Eastern Province if the Congregation of the Mission created space for some insightful young people to take a parish-based Catholic service learning program based in Catholic Social teaching and turn it into a program that reaches youth, adolescents and young adults, and now counts over 5000 alumni. I was happy to work along side and sometimes mentor these young people in leadership.

Their “worX” suite of programs along with other formation and prayer offerings are now called the Center for FaithJustice. They wanted to find out, in the shadow of the synod on youth, if they have had an impact in the last ten years. Here’s what they say.

Their connection with the Congregation officially ended in 2008, but at their recent 10th anniversary celebration of the incorpration of the Center as an independent non-profit organization, they named the Vincentians as the ones that gave them access to a spirituality that shaped their calling: the charism of St. Vincent de Paul and the witness of his sons. CFJ is doing something right! You can find out more by browsing their entire site.

Read the impressive full report through the link on their website. In a related news item see how another ministry of the Easter Province, Niagara University, is moving toward a “culture of mission.”