Re: small communities. IMHO intentional eucharistic communities by whatever name are one way to go. The limited exposure I have had with IECs has left me with a very favorable impression. The anonymity of large parishes and circuit riding priests, of which I am one, does not seem to "be working" all that well. It is almost impossible for a pastor to know so many folks. 

When Jesus said "wherever 2 or more are gathered in my name I am with them", he said nothing about permission, faculties, gender, sexual orientation, location, etc. Not sure we really absolutely need so many of the huge parish plants.

Although, in some places the family education approach has led to some fairly strange situations. I do not know how to address these, and I'm glad it is not in my lane.

I believe the Spirit is involved in all this through the actual questioning, maybe not in the same old answers.