On this page, you will find the parish, cluster, deanery, and diocesan reports that were promised each year.

This data should help you and your councils gauge evangelization efforts. 

• If evangelization is working, within time, there will be more people involved in parish life – coming to Mass, receiving the sacraments, and joining events. 

• If numbers decrease, it is important for the parish and cluster to analyze why. Is the population changing in your area? Does programming need to look different? If youth numbers are decreasing or non-existent, should there be more focus on adult programming – family-based programming, bereavement programming, OCIA programming – programming that focuses on issues for those mid- to later- in life? If Mass attendance is continuing to decline, what kinds of evangelization needs to happen? Should there be more teaching on what the Mass is? Should we be sharing with others the holiness and specific gift of receiving Christ in the Eucharist? 

A statement from Bishop Powers:

As a diocese, and indeed as a Church around the world, we are at a turning point. We live in such a time that God in His Providence seems to have offered us a choice: we can either continue to watch the decline of the Church or we can take up our mission anew with faith, courage and passion. For me, the choice is clear. We must rouse ourselves out of complacency. We must courageously move past simply maintaining our programs and structures and allow the Lord to lead us into a deep renewal of our identity and purpose.

If you have ideas on evangelization efforts or would like to personally share why you left the church, please reach out to the cluster office at 715-479-8704 or to brigette@northernlakescatholics.org.