The first proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ, otherwise known as the Kerygma: ‘Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you, and now he is living at your side to enlighten, strengthen and free you.’ (Evangelii Gaudium, 164).
Pope Benedict XVI said we can no longer assume faith for the baptized. With that, let's not assume anything, and focus initially on the basic gospel message (or Kerygma).
A way to understand the kerygma is the proverbial “elevator speech.” If you had five minutes to witness your Catholic faith to someone, how would you express it? Where do we fit into the divine plan? What should be our response?
Our Catholic elevator speech will be uniquely our own, as we share our personal experience of the love of Christ and the importance of our faith, but four central movements should be common to every proclamation of the kerygma. Ask your parish how to get started.