GOOD NEWS AMONG BAD NEWS

The Pandemic and the proclamation of the Kerygma

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a great vulnerability of society and individuals who had been caught by it. The fear caused by this crisis is often augmented by the mass media spreading negative reports. However, even in such situations both individuals and communities can find faith related psychological support and resilience. The paper explores the modern trends of catechesis in the Catholic Church, with a special emphasis on the kerygmatic catechesis. This aims at deepening personal faith as a relationship, which gives the believer stability even in times of uncertainty or distress. During the time of trial such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the kerygmatic catechesis appears as an essential aspect of the Church’s preaching. The announcement of God’s love and mercy helps individuals overcome fear and meaninglessness while entering a new relationship dimension which does not end with death. Amid seemingly endless flow of negative events, the proclamation of Kerygma shines as the only good news. The kerygmatic dimension of catechesis is also emphasized in the new Directory for Catechesis which sets out the main directions of catechesis in the coming years. At the same time, although not giving a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it provides a stable orientation to the catechesis.