On the evening of 18 September, the parish of Ryde-Gladesville came together for a significant moment of listening, reflection, and forward planning.
Parish priest Fr Greg Morgan FMVD welcomed parishioners to an evening of insights and dialogue, joined by director of the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation Daniel Ang, and Dr Sam Sterland of NCLS Research.
Together they unpacked the findings of a recent parish-wide survey conducted at the end of May, a pivotal part of the parish’s pastoral discernment process.
This survey, undertaken using the respected National Church Life Survey (NCLS) model, aimed to “feel the pulse” of the parish.
The results of that survey were made public on the night, aiming to provide an honest and hopeful snapshot of where the Ryde-Gladesville Catholic Parish (RGCP) stands today – and where it is being called tomorrow.
“The day was to celebrate what is working well in the parish as well as to take stock of where the people feel we are today and gain some objective feedback from Dr Sterland,” Fr Morgan later told The Catholic Weekly.
“We don’t simply want to rest on our laurels, neither do we want to change everything or add a lot of activity in an already busy parish.”
The findings are both encouraging and challenging. Ryde-Gladesville is a vibrant parish – second in the archdiocese for baptisms, first for first holy Communions, and among the top five for both confirmations and overall parish giving. These figures reflect not just sacramental activity, but a thriving community of faith that is deeply engaged across generations.
Yet as Ang noted in his address at the gathering, the numbers are only part of the story.
He pointed to the strong foundations of the parish, a tradition of serving close to 4,000 Catholic families, as well as the dynamic challenge of change in Ryde, where more than 40 per cent have arrived in the past five years.
This kind of mobility brings both opportunity and urgency. It places evangelisation not in the abstract, but in the everyday – on local streets, in neighbourhood schools, and around kitchen tables. The mission field is not “out there,” Ang noted, but “right here”.
With a national perspective, Dr Sterland highlighted several areas where Ryde-Gladesville is not only holding steady but leading. He noted the parish’s particular strengths in nurturing faith across generations, offering vibrant ministry for children, and fostering a culture of innovation that sets it apart from many others across the country.
Ang reinforced these observations, pointing to the deep trust families place in the parish to accompany their children in faith. He highlighted the parish’s youth group – one of the largest in the archdiocese – as a powerful sign of the community’s investment in the next generation.
Meanwhile, Ryde-Gladesville’s position among the top five parishes for financial giving reflects not only generosity, but a shared sense of ownership and stewardship that sustains its mission.
Yet beyond all of these markers, Ang offered a deeper reminder: that lasting renewal is not the fruit of activity alone, but of prayer.
“While we often try to manage our time, it’s our energy that truly runs low…Your retreats, adoration, formation nights, and joyful community celebrations are not optional extras but the oxygen of mission.”
The culture of Ryde-Gladesville, he observed, is not one of maintenance, but mission. Whether it’s the welcome extended at Little Noah’s Café, the outreach of Our Lady’s Kitchen, or the intergenerational faith nurtured through family camps and formation nights, the parish is living out its call to be a place of encounter, transformation and discipleship.
As the evening closed, parishioners were reminded that this moment is not the end of the conversation, but the beginning of a new phase of discernment. The survey results will guide a pastoral vision for the next five years.
