homily; catechesis; regionalism; regional culture; “small homeland”; values

Abstract

Every individual listening to the word of God, delivered either in the Holy Mass homily or parish catechesis, lives in a speci c cultural environment, sometimes referred to as a “small home- land”. It provides the “regional context” of preaching.

This paper presents the inspiring role of this “context” in contemporary preaching of the Gos- pel. In view of dominant globalization trends, this context seems to gain increasing importance. To avoid misunderstanding, the paper starts with presenting necessary de nitions, such as the meaning of the term: “homily”, “parish catechesis” or “regional context”. Since the realization of the word of God delivered during the homily or parish catechesis always takes place in a speci c life of an individual who lives, works or rests in a speci c local community and who is immersed in its cul- ture, the signi cance of this context in preaching the word of God is demonstrated. Additionally, the paper presents the content of the regional culture to be used both in the homily and in the parish catechesis.

In this context, homiletic and catechetical suggestions are indicated, among which the need for spiritual sensitivity and openness of homilists and catechists to the values of cultural heritage of the region comes to the fore.