This past weekend, Diana and I were in the Diocese of Portland, Maine, for the Maine Mission Summit: Initiation Team Training. We were thrilled to be able to speak to both the clergy of the diocese and to the parish catechumenate teams to help them gain a deeper understanding of the Christian initiation process.

During our time there, we discovered that Bishop James Ruggieri, who has been the head of the diocese since May 2024, has his own podcast. In a couple of recent episodes, he talked about how to proclaim the gospel. We loved what he had to say, and we want to share some of Bishop Ruggieri’s practical, doable takeaways that can help you and your team accomplish your parish’s mission to evangelize.

The heart of the message: What is the kerygma?

Bishop Ruggieri said that proclaiming the gospel is not just for bishops or missionaries, but for every single baptized person. At its core is the kerygma, which he defined as “to proclaim like a herald.” It’s not a quiet, private message, he said, nor is it a theology class or apologetics. Instead, it’s a simple, burning message that encapsulates the core public message of the Church. As Pope Francis taught, “The most important thing is the first proclamation: Jesus Christ has saved you”.

Bishop Ruggieri’s simple statement of the kerygma is: 

God made you for a relationship with him. Sin broke that relationship, but Jesus came to restore it. He died and He rose. He is alive. And He wants your heart. Turn back. He loves you. You are lovable. 

There are many, many ways to state the kerygma, and Bishop Ruggeiri’s formulation is profoundly simple, yet deeply powerful.

Practical takeaways for proclaiming the gospel

So, how can we practically embody and share this deeply powerful message in our own neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces? Bishop Ruggieri offers several concrete suggestions:

1. Live the gospel visibly: The bishop advises us to live out the gospel with joy, patience, and humility. When we live this way, our gospel-living often prompts others to ask, “Why are you like this?” Our wordless witness makes other curious and leads to the opportunity to share good news with them. So our first step, and our daily practice, is to live our faith authentically and joyfully, letting our passion for Christ shine forth.
2. Speak plainly: Bishop Ruggieri cautions us not to feel the need to be poetic or overly complex. When people get curious by our behavior and ask us why were are so joyful or patient, the bishop suggests a simple statement like, “Jesus has changed my life. He’s forgiven me. He’s real.” You can also share how your church community provides support, strength, love, and nourishment. For teams, this means encouraging catechumens to share their own emerging experiences of faith in simple, heartfelt ways. Part of the training process for catechumens is to teach them to evangelize, and they can learn from our example.
3. Pray for boldness: Proclaiming the gospel can feel daunting, but Bishop Ruggieri encourages us to simply pray for boldness. He quotes Acts 4:29: “Lord, grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness”. The Holy Spirit provides courage, and we already possess this gift through baptism and confirmation. For your team, this is a call to pray before every session, every encounter, asking for the Spirit to empower you to speak Christ’s love clearly and confidently.
4. Begin with relationship: Proclamation is inherently personal. Bishop Ruggieri says:

The kerygma is not just a set of theological ideas. It’s a living, powerful message that has the power to change lives. It speaks of a God who is love. It speaks of a humanity wounded by sin. It speaks of a savior who died and rose. And it speaks of a call, an invitation to repentance and new life. And this proclamation has a unique character. It must be joyful, bold, spirit-filled, and personal. It’s not merely catechesis or moral instruction. It’s the announcement that something decisive has happened in history, and it is good news.

Bishop Ruggieri calls us to a vibrant, outward-looking, and deeply spiritual approach to Christian initiation.

Two modes of proclamation

Bishop Ruggieri identified two essential modes of proclaiming the gospel, inspired by the Beatitudes in Matthew and Luke:

• Proclamation from the mountain: This represents teaching with clarity and authority, like Jesus delivering the Sermon on the Mount. It emphasizes truth, formation, and clear doctrinal teaching.
• Proclamation from the plain: This style is about proclaiming from alongside, with compassion and solidarity, like Jesus standing at eye level with the crowd. It focuses on empathy, encounter, and bringing hope to the wounded.

Bishop Ruggieri said that the church needs both modes and that they are interrelated. While clear catechesis is vital (the mountain), pastoral care, listening, and accompaniment are equally necessary (the plain). He quoted Pope Benedict XVI who said that “The church does not grow by proselytism, but by attraction.” People are attracted by seeing joyful Catholics live out their faith.

For catechumenate teams, this means:

• Balancing truth with love: Never separate doctrinal instruction from compassionate accompaniment.
• Embracing “messiness”: Evangelization is not confined to parish walls; it involves engaging with the world’s suffering and diverse needs, even if it means getting “bruised and dirty.”
• Responding to different seekers: Tailor your “first proclamation” to unbelievers, seekers, and believers, recognizing their unique needs and levels of faith.
• Year-round invitation: When someone expresses curiosity, our response should be “Come and see,” reflecting an open, continuous invitation, rather than asking seekers to return when classes start.

Bishop Ruggieri calls us to a vibrant, outward-looking, and deeply spiritual approach to Christian initiation. His message to his diocese – and to us – is to passionately proclaim Christ’s saving love as an ongoing journey, embracing the “messiness” of real-world evangelization, and integrating seekers into the daily, liturgical life of missionary discipleship.

What do you think?

What most inspires you about Bishop Ruggieri’s thoughts on proclaiming the gospel? What something you think you can implement within your catechumenate team or within your parish? Please share your thoughts below.