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CHARLOTTE — People like the Eucharistic Congress. That sums up the results of a satisfaction survey conducted after the Sept. 23-24 congress.

Since the first diocesan Eucharistic Congress in 2005, survey data have been collected to determine satisfaction levels with the spiritual experience, the organization of the liturgical events, the audiovisual support, the vendors and even the food served at the Charlotte Convention Center.

In all, more than 240 people filled out the eight-question survey this year. Each question measured satisfaction on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest score.

Overall satisfaction received a rating of 4.27. Satisfaction with the spiritual experience was 4.08. Both numbers represent an increase in the satisfaction level from last year's survey results.

"I have attended most of Eucharistic Congresses and this was the best. It was larger, I thought, but organized super. Congrats to all," wrote one person.

Another wrote, "Each year the Eucharistic Congress grows and grows, like yeast rising. Each year there is a new call to live our faith."

Also receiving high marks were the satisfaction ratings with the audiovisual support in the main halls of the event, the vendor area and the check-in process for the children's tracks. Volunteers at the check-in desk used the online documentation service Google Docs for the first time to speed up the process.

Not every comment was positive. "Ask vendors to have more Spanish materials," wrote one person. Several comments were made about the hard concrete when it came to kneeling during the Holy Hour and the Mass.

And one person complained about the rainy weather during the morning procession: "The only disappointment was the brief procession necessitated by the rain."

Rated lowest was the food offered at the convention center, although the 3.17 score was an improvement over the 2010 congress, which received a score of 3.12. Comments in the survey complained about the cost of the food items being offered. Jori Goodman, a representative of the convention center, responded, "We continuously evaluate our menu options for events and will use this information."

Information gathered in the survey is used by the Eucharistic Congress steering committee, which is planning for next year's congress. It will be held Sept. 21-22, 2012.

What did you think?

It's not too late to submit an evaluation of the 2011 Eucharistic Congress. Go online to www.GoEucharist.com to share your comments.

— David Hains, Director of Communication