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August 30, 2023
- Four Ways the Catholic Church can Actually Listen to Young People - America Magazine
- What Do We Mean by the Term "Kerygma?" - National Catholic Register
- When the Kerygma Isn't Enough - Why Many 'Nones' Aren't Ready to Hear the Gospel - Detroit Catholic
- Lonely? Religion and Spirituality Can Help - Springtide Research
Important Dates in September 2023
Click the links for more information about the saint or occasion.
1 - World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
2 - Blessed André Grasset (OM)
3 - St. Gregory the Great (M)
8 - The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (F)
14 - Exaltation of the Holy Cross (F)
16 - St. Cornelius and St. Cyprian (M)
20 - St. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, St. Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and companions (M)
21 - St. Matthew (F)
23 - St. Pio of Pietrelcina (M)
24 - World Day of Migrants and Refugees
27 - St. Vincent de Paul (M) & World Tourism Day
28 - St. Michael, St. Gabriel & St. Raphael (F)
30 - St. Jerome (M) & National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
At Pastoral Study Days in early June, we were so inspired by the words of our keynote speaker, Julianne Stanz. As we drift further away from those talks and get ready to dive head first into fall ministry, we wanted to unpack another theme of Julianne’s message. In the June edition of Good News Notes, we unpacked A Christian’s Journey through Four Stages. Today we want to look at the kerygma.
Kerygma is an intimidating Greek word that some heard for the first time at Pastoral Study Days. It refers to the initial and essential proclamation of the gospel message. Pope Paul VI wrote about this proclamation in Evangelii Nuntiandi, “Evangelization will also always contain – as the foundation, center, and at the same time, summit of its dynamism – a clear proclamation that, in Jesus Christ, the Son of God made man, who died and rose from the dead, salvation is offered to all men, as a gift of God’s grace and mercy”(27).
The kerygma can be broken down into five essential elements:
- Creation
- Fall
- Redemption
- Salvation
- Re-creation
This message is foundational to our journey of holiness and discipleship. Pope Francis writes about it in Evangelii Gaudium, “Kerygma, which needs to be the centre of all evangelizing activity and all efforts at Church renewal” (164). He goes on to write, “We must not think that in catechesis the kerygma gives way to a supposedly more “solid” formation. Nothing is more solid, profound, secure, meaningful and wisdom-filled than that initial proclamation.” (165). This proclamation must be embedded in all aspects of parish-life, even the most mundane.
How, then, can we share this essential message? It can be a full program or a shift in how you do the things you’re already doing. Here are a few ideas:
- Kerygmatic preaching, especially during celebrations where we have a lot of visitors like holidays, funerals, and school Mass.
- Incorporate kerygmatic testimony in events and meetings like parish dinners or picnics, youth ministry, or Family of Parish Pastoral Council meetings.
- Run a program that is specifically designed to share and break open the Gospel message like Alpha or The Kerygma Experience.
Julianne shared five elements of the kerygma that she uses in her resource, The Kerygma Experience. She breaks them open like this:
- God is love and has created me for relationship with Him.
- I have broken my relationship with God by my sin.
- Jesus restores my relationship with God through his life, death, resurrection.
- Jesus invites me to trust Him, to turn from sin and to give my life to Him.
- Jesus has poured the Holy Spirit into my heart to bring me to new life in His church and send His Church on mission so that others can experience that new life.
No person can advance on their journey to discipleship without knowing this message. It is the greatest gift we can share. How are you sharing the kerygma with your Family of Parishes this fall?
The Kerygma Experience resources specifically designed for children, teens, and adults can be found here. You can also find Julianne’s slides from Pastoral Study Days here.
Joe Bezzina - Director of Pastoral Services
Claire Bondy - Director of Ongoing Formation & Lay Ecclesial Ministry
Chrisandra Skipper - Pastoral Services Coordinator
Christine Coyle - Family and Youth Ministry Specialist
Olwyn Supeene - Administrative Assistant
Outreach Ministries:Refugee Office
Migrant Worker Ministry
Ministry for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Holy Family Retreat House
If you have a Good News Story from your Family of Parishes, please share it with us! We have an online form available for staff, volunteers, and parishioners to share the Good News happening in their communities!
Diocese of London Pastoral Services:
1070 Waterloo St
London, ON N6A 3Y2
Canada
