An Hour Together in a Mission:
"Covid 19 Pandemic: Challenges & Opportunities in Family Evangelization"
I. Introduction
Just 2 days ago the long-awaited updated Directory for Catechesis was released in the Vatican providing
guidelines for the Church's mission of proclaiming the Gospel through catechesis and evangelization.
It was drafted under the direction of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization. It was
approved by Pope Francis on March 23 - the liturgical memorial of Saint Turibius of Mongrovejo, a 16th
century saint who gave a strong impetus to evangelization and catechesis.
This latest edition comes as a follow-up to the "General Catechetical Directory" of 1971, and the
"General Directory for Catechesis" of 1997 both of which were issued by the Congregation for Clergy.
The new Directory seeks to highlight the close link between evangelization and catechesis. It underlines
that every baptized person is a missionary called to find new ways of communicating the faith with
commitment and responsibility.
In this regard, the new Directory proposes three major principles of action: Witnessing, Mercy and
Dialogue.
The new Directory containing over 300 pages, and is made up of 3 parts divided into 12 chapters.
1. the formation of catechists
2. the catechetical process
3. the catechesis in parishes, schools, ecclesiastical movements and other Church associations
II. Family Evangelization
Definition of Terms:
* Evangelization
* Family Evangelization
* New Evangelization
* Catechesis
Evangelization - initial proclamation of the Good News (kerygma) that leads one to encounter Christ
and prepares one for baptism.
Pope Francis captures the core message of this kerygma in Christus vivit:
* "God who is love".
* "Christ saves you".
* "He is alive!".
Family Evangelization - proclamation of the Gospel by word and life in the Church of the Home.
New Evangelization - new not so much in content but in terms of audience, fervor, methods, and
expressions.
Audience: Generation X (41-55), Y (26-40), Z (8-25), Alpha (1-7) and their context: the digital culture as
entwined with the ongoing globalization.
- lapsed Catholics and in irregular situations
- youth
- poor
- persons with disability
- prisoners
- other Christians and faithful of other religions
Fervor: "Zeal for your House consumes me!" - includes our common home.
Methods: synodal, participatory, communal, dialogical, listening, digital, unconventional, ecumenism
and interreligious dialogue
Expressions: social media platforms, arts and music.
Catechesis: the process of maturing in Christian faith - faith that does justice - integral faith.
III. Challenges and Opportunities in Family Evangelization brought about by the Covid-19 Pandemic
1. Challenges:
* To observe Social Distancing and Mass Gathering Prohibition while being evangelized and evangelizing
families
* To cope with Loss / Decrease of Family Income in ways consistent with the Gospel
* To maintain and improve Internet Connectivity for mutual support and formation
2. Opportunities:
* To maximize increased family time together for family faith formation and prayer (even daily online
masses)
* To embrace parents' greater responsibility to form their children at home
* To guide the family on the proper use of Digital technology
3. Both challenges and opportunities:
* To slow down and develop contemplative stance in life
* To see the poor and those in peripheries
* To care for the common home - ecological conversion and fight consumerism - less is more
These are but starters and never at all meant to be exhaustive... Please contribute by sharing in our
ICCFM FB Page or in WhatsApp.
Bishop Gerry