Jack Jezreel offered a vision for the future of parishes. Even "alive" parishes seem to be lacking opportunities for human transformation. "People in parishes don't experience much metanoia or spiritual re-orientation," he said. Unsettling data indicates there is nothing to distinguish the lifestyles, practices and opinions of Catholic parishioners from the rest of American society. Yet we as Catholics should be able to experience "abundant life," he explained, "life lived so richly it intersects with the boundless life of God."

Jezreel suggested that we model our parish lives on those of vowed religious communities. Almost all religious communities had their roots "in the stuff of reform," and many community founders were inspired by "calls to discipleship that weren't part of the working vocabulary of being a baptized, churched Catholic." Jezreel drew on personal experience: he, his wife and daughters live with the Sisters of Loretto at a motherhouse in Kentucky.

Jezreel listed three characteristics of religious communities so significant for discipleship that they should be adapted to parishes:

1. The presumption of ministry. "Parishes must insist that all able-bodied members must be actively engaged in service of the needy."

2. Vows. The laity have no commitment language outside of marriage. "Vows represent a way of making us human, establishing expectations and responsibilities, defining limits and choices." Jezreel contends that a broader menu of vow options would enrich parishes.

3. Alternative economics. "Shared economics -- putting the incomes of all into a common pot, then distributing amongst all as need dictates -- means that no one starves while others feast."