Reason for Hope:

2025/2026 Professional Development Days

"Always be ready to give an Explanation... For a reason for your hope." 1 Peter 3:15

The Kerygma & New Evangelization

The kerygma is the fundamental or initial proclamation or announcement of the Christian Gospel, which focuses on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the basis for salvation and a new life. It encompasses God's loving plan for creation, humanity's sin, God's solution through Jesus, and the call for a response of repentance and faith.

The New Evangelization is the re-proclamation or even the initial proclamation of the gospel to those who are already baptized. This 50 year old idea that the church (the baptized) was in need of a new evangelization, a re-introduction to the savior was not an idea or a programmatic gimmick, it was a call action. Made popular in Pope Saint John Paul II's encyclical Redemptoris Missio (Mission of the Redeemer) and founded in Pope Paul VI's 1975 apostolic exhortation, Evangelii nuntiandi (Proclaim the Gospel), the call for a new evangelization has been refined and pushed forward through each passing generation by Pope's Benedict XVI, Francis and now Leo XIV.

So what does that mean for the parish faith formation, PSR or CCD program? It means every effort of catechesis or faith formation must be preceded by a serious and intentional sharing of the kerygma. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega and everything, including catechesis, begins and ends with Him. The entirety of the catechesis of our faith, it's truths and traditions can only be shared (taught) if the receivers' heart has been introduced, opened and has received the savior.

Families are searching for a Savior, they are seeking the Truth, and many, especially young people, are yearning for the opposite of or even an escape from the mediocrity and falsehoods offered to them by the world. We as parish ministry leaders, catechists and mentors, must not only embrace but implement this not so new evangelization and meet these families in their now, in their triumphs and in their failures, with the HOPE of the Gospel! The new evangelization is not a hard change, in fact it only asks of us two very important things. The first is to change our approach; how we meet, see, accompany and deliver the faith (Think Emmaus), and the second, to be gently and respectfully steadfast and unwavering in proclaiming the gospel and the truth's of our faith.

The Changing Landscape of Faith Formation

The purpose of this booklet is to provide a tool to help revision parish faith formation structures. It is hard to imagine making a change when we may have not experienced or seen another way. We will explore the use of the who, what, when, where, why, and how framework to honestly evaluate our current practices and implement the vision of the Church for faith formation in this time.



Partnering with Parents

How can we partner with parents and develop vital and vibrant families of faith? Over the past two decades we have been called to focus more and more on parents and whole family formation. Here is a great resources from the USCCB in 2020 on assessing and redesigning your faith formation approach.

Have you let us know when your retreat is?

Each year we receive many phone calls from parishioners who have been sent to us seeking help in locating a confirmation retreat. If you have not done so already, please take a moment to let us know when your confirmation retreat is taking place.

Reimagining Catholic Teen Ministry in Today's Culture:

Renowned for his leadership in youth ministry, Jim Beckman joins the Augustine Institute and Formed.org to bring us into the NOW of youth ministry with middle and high school youth. Click on the link below and scroll to the bottom to watch this amazing webinar. Even watch the Q & A at the end!!!!!!

YDisciple & Alpha Catholic Partner for a deeper approach to Confirmation

Alpha Youth and YDisciple have partnered to create the Confirmation Toolkit—a collection of resources that will help you trade checklists for conversations and textbooks for real encounters with the Holy Spirit.

The Confirmation Toolkit includes leader training and other supplemental resources. The best part? It’s completely free and completely bilingual.

Relationships Matter: The Youth Ministry Review

Youth Ministry & Confirmation can't be about pizza, talks, and service hours. Everything hinges on real relationships built on trust and truth.

YDisciple Highlights Work in two Diocese of Palm Beach Parishes:

We are excited to share with you that YDisciple has recognized the success happening within our small group vision for youth ministry and confirmation. They have decided to highlight three of our small group mentors (2 from St. Jude, Boca and 1 from St. Lucie, PSL) and will be using their witness and experience to train other mentors around the globe. We invite you to hear from these 3 amazing mentors... Want to know more about the process, call Andy (561) 775.9559 or jbaker@diocesepb.org

Featured Formation Opportunity: Franciscan Catechetical Institute

Whether at home or gathered in person at the parish, this FREE resource is available to a wide range of parish leaders, catechists, mentors, core teams, OCIA, parents and more. For more information let us know how we can help.