The Kerygma: In the Shantytown With the Poor

"This is one of those books that, in its simplicity, is full of substance and depth, and it deserves to be read." - Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship

Francisco ("Kiko") Argüello was an award-winning painter, and an atheist. Struggling with the contrast between his desire for justice and the lack of justice in the world, he adopted existentialism and its explanation of life: everything is absurd.

But if everything is absurd, why paint? For that matter, why even live? Such questions led Argüello to the brink of despair. He called out to God and personally experienced the reality of divine love as revealed in Jesus Christ.

Dedicating his life to Christ, Argüello began living among the very poor. While in a slum on the outskirts of Madrid, Argüello met the lay missionary Carmen Hernández, and together they began proclaiming the good news of salvation to the poorest of the poor. Their method of transmitting faith in Christ and building Christian community has become a model of evangelization. Now known as the "Neocatchumenal Way", it has spread to cities throughout the world and received the approval of the Vatican.

"The Neocatechumenal Way is an itinerary of Christian initiation and of permanent education in faith. Kiko's catechesis, published here, is a strong lesson for disciples. In this catechesis the entire announcement of the Gospel is impressively condensed." - Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn

"The Neocatechumenal Way is a gift of the Holy Spirit to help the Church." - Pope Benedict XVI

Francisco José Gomez-Argüello Wirtz was born in Leon, Spain, in 1939. He studied fine arts at the Royal Academy of San Fernando in Madrid, where he became a professor of painting and drawing. In 1959 he received Spain's National Prize for Painting. Along with Carmen Hernández he founded the Neocatechumenal Way.