On the whole, U.S. CATHOLIC readers sing praises for their parishes.

Compared to most Americans, U.S. Catholic readers are church regulars. While many nationwide surveys point to a decline in church attendance, the majority of online readers and print subscribers who responded to a survey on parish life say that they can be found in their parishes at least twice a week. Even more, nearly a third claim they are churching it up several days a week.

Fifteen percent answered "other" to our question about church attendance, but most of those responses pointed out that we didn't include an option for those who attend daily Mass in addition to the Sunday liturgy. Only a handful admitted that the frequency of their church attendance is somewhere between seldom and Sundays only.

And who would spend all that time at a place they don't love? Accordingly, a quarter of readers surveyed gave their parishes high marks-either 9s or 10s-out of a possible 10. To explain their above-average ratings, many of these parishioners said they love how welcoming their parish is and the sense of community they find there.

Alan J. Fredian of Hinsdale, Illinois says that in his parish, "there is a strong feeling of belonging among the people who worship there." Gerard Beaudette of New Gloucester, Maine says of his parish community, "We are like a tight-knit family."

Of her Austin, Texas parish, Rhetta Philips says, "We have families who move out of the parish but continue to drive great distances to remain a part of our parish family."

For some churches, like Chicagoan Jeanie Lewis' parish, other members really are like blood relatives. "I love that so many of the kids of this parish come back here to raise their kids. Our Catholic school has a large percentage of ‘faith legacy' kids."

But while a close-knit community might feel welcoming and inclusive to members heavily involved in parish life, Eleanora Rauschenback's comment is a sobering reminder of what it can be like to be a less active parishioner. "Sometimes I feel as if I am on the outside looking in," she says. "I think you need to be active in order to really feel as if you belong."

Readers who rated their parish a 7, 8, or 9 said it was because there is always room for improvement-no parish is perfect. Nancie Chmielewski of Milwaukee had great things to say about her parish home. It is "a very hospitable community and we have a strong social justice charism; we also are creative with prayer and grounded in a theology consistent with Vatican II." But she added, "We do need to continue to grow and expand our membership. We are striving for the community to have a self-understanding of parish ownership."

Chmielewski's parish isn't the only one struggling for a communal sense of ownership. Several readers commented on the need for more lay involvement when asked what they would do if pastor for a day. While some expressed concern over wanting to help relieve their pastors of burdensome administrative duties, many expressed the desire for a more democratic approach to decision-making in their churches.

Jerry Bowers in Parma Heights, Ohio thinks his parish council should be elected by parishioners rather than be appointed by the pastor. He says that if he were pastor, he'd welcome "much more input from the people via surveys and polls."

Frank A. McConville of Wellesley, Massachusetts says his vision of pastoral leadership includes encouraging lay leaders "to initiate and take risks. I'd only hold a veto for things that might get the parish into real trouble."

Pleased with the work of her pastor in this area, Kathleen Galway of West Chester, Ohio says that if she were in his position, "I'd continue along the current path of openness and inclusion. I'd also surround myself with cooperative staff and then delegate areas of responsibility."

Dennis Winkesas of Norfolk, Virginia says that if he were pastor of his parish, he'd "make sacramental preparation meaningful and easier for busy parents to participate in rather than setting up a spiritual obstacle course for the people."

Meaningful preparation for and celebration of the sacraments was a common theme among surveyed readers. For most, a well-prepared liturgy is of the highest importance in terms of what a parish provides its community.

Asked to rate the importance of the things parishes most commonly provide their members, a well-prepared liturgy earned the highest rating, a 4.6 out of 5, followed closely by religious education for children, which earned a 4.5. And parishes seem to be providing these accordingly-80 percent and 79 percent of readers say their parishes are doing a good job in these areas, respectively.

The news isn't all good, though. Unfortunately, a top parish concern has to do with outreach to youth and young adult Catholics. When asked to rate how well their parishes are serving different groups, young adults received the second-lowest score, a 2.7, with single adults receiving the lowest score, a measly 2.4.