Parish Survey on Disability, Inclusion, and Belonging

Belonging, Disability & the Life We Share

What We Learned Together

This year, St. Jude’s invited parishioners to reflect on belonging, disability, accessibility, and hybrid worship. The responses painted a picture that is both encouraging and deeply honest — a portrait of a parish with strong foundations and a clear sense of where we can grow.

Our Strengths

Parishioners consistently described St. Jude’s as a warm, kind, and welcoming community. People feel noticed, supported, and cared for — especially during illness, grief, or life transitions. Many spoke of the comfort of being greeted by name, the joy of familiar faces, and the sense of spiritual connection that holds us together whether we gather in person or online.

Hybrid worship emerged as a meaningful lifeline for those facing mobility challenges, chronic illness, caregiving responsibilities, or distance. People expressed gratitude for the livestream and for moments when the parish acknowledges those worshipping from home.

Parishioners also named the gifts that people with disabilities bring to our shared life — wisdom, prayerfulness, creativity, perseverance, pastoral sensitivity, and a deep sense of faith.

These strengths are not small things. They are signs of a parish rooted in compassion and shaped by long relationships.

Where We Can Grow

The survey also revealed places where we can deepen our welcome.

Physical accessibility is our most significant challenge. Stairs, washrooms, parking, ramp safety, and sound and lighting all present barriers for people with mobility or sensory limitations.

Many parishioners said they are uncertain about what accessibility supports exist or how to request accommodations. This is a communication gap we can close with clarity and care.

Hybrid worship, while meaningful, is not yet fully integrated. Online participants often feel spiritually connected but less personally known and less able to participate in the sacramental and social life of the parish.

Some parishioners — especially those who are single, widowed, or living with invisible disabilities — described moments of feeling unseen or less invited. These reflections invite us to grow in awareness, hospitality, and gentle invitation.

Moving Forward Together

Taken together, the survey shows a parish that offers welcome and belonging, but that can grow in its practices. We are strong in the places that matter most — welcome, compassion, faithfulness, and care. And we are ready to grow in accessibility, communication, hybrid belonging, and the visibility of gifts.

In the months ahead, St. Jude’s will continue listening to one another, gathering stories, and taking thoughtful steps toward deeper inclusion. We hope to have a town hall meeting to report the survey findings in more detail and to gather stories of our experiences of beloning and exclusion. Every voice matters. Every story helps us see more clearly. And every person has a place in the life we share.