A New Way to Be Church Parish Renewal from the Outside In

“If the Church is ever going to actualize its full potency as a force for good it will happen only when the parish is at the center of the work of compassion and justice, and the work of com­passion and justice is at the center of the parish.”

What is the future of the American Church? Building on the legacy of the Catholic Church's robust historical witness, the inspiration of Pope Fran­cis, and his own experiences as parish minister, Catholic Worker member, and founder of Just­Faith Ministries, Jack Jezreel presents a unique vision for renewing parish life.

Promoting an outward, mission-oriented iden­tity that connects evangelization, faith-forma­tion, service, spirituality, and social justice, he argues that a true “Vatican II” parish knows that ministry is done by everyone, everywhere— not exclusively by clergy and not primarily on parish property. He ties this to Pope Francis’s vision of a community of missionary disciples and the call of “encounter.”

The book is leavened by Jezreel's reflections on scripture and his own personal experience of family, parish ministry, service, and work for social justice. He ends the book with a practi­cal guide for implementing these principles in your own parish.