SWOT Worksheet
As you assess your situation consider the following areas and place them in the proper categories — Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
Arenas of parish life:
- Hospitality — Including Sunday mornings, receptivity of the staff, and what happens when someone calls the office with a question or request.
- Mass — Does our liturgy meet the needs and speak to the hearts of young adults? Consider especially music and preaching, these two elements are most frequently cited by young adults as what attracts them to (or repels them from) a parish.
- Sacraments — Marriage, baptism, (preparation for these), and RCIA. Don’t overlook parent components for reconciliation and first Eucharist.
- Faith Formation — Gathered experiences and resources for individual formation.
- Digital Presence — Think about how up-to-date (or not) the parish website and Facebook page are.
- Outreach to young adults and opportunities for young adults to be involved.
- Service Opportunities.
Resources available:
- Money — While there are plenty of ways to do low-cost ministry, it’s important to know how much, if any, money you have at your disposal.
- People — Of course, you should never use people or value them only for what they can give you. But if your ministry is really going to take off, you’re going to need some help. When determining your “resource” people, consider young adults who can take on leadership roles, individuals who can assist you in providing good ministry, and those who can mentor you and/or help you navigate through parish procedures, such as reserving space. If you think of people who can provide particular aspects of ministry for young adults — someone who might be willing to give cooking lessons or a CPA who could offer some tax consulting time — keep a list of those people, too. You’ll need it later.
- Space — What type of space do you have for people to gather? Remember that, as you learn what your young adults are interested in, you may offer some programs that require different spaces. Obviously it’s great to have a comfortable meeting space with tables and chairs or sofas, but keep in mind that a kitchen, gym, or athletic courts may also be useful.
- Time — When you’re starting out, especially, it’s important to be realistic about how much time you (and your team, if you have one) have to dedicate to young adult ministry. Recognizing how much time you have to spend on ministry will allow you to set reasonable goals and manageable expectations — and hopefully avoid disappointment and burnout!
