It isn't universal, of course -- few things are -- but a parish we were blessed to stumble into a few years back amazed us. Masses are packed. The pastor and his associates preach urgently and lovingly. They celebrate Mass reverently (and, now, ad orientem). Confession lines are jammed. Parish life bustles. The altar boy corps is numerous, and young men stick with it through high school. The school is booming. 

And, blessedly, there are three young men of this parish now in formation for the priesthood for our diocese, which in turn has 45 seminarians. 

These things all work together because Christ is at the center of parish life. He is the end in sight, the only plausible way forward.