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Catholic_Press
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Newark, N.J., May 27, 2009 / 06:35 am (CNA).- The Archdiocese of Newark on Saturday ordained 13 priests, the United States’ largest ordination class of 2009.
Full article…
Full article…
Archdiocese of Newark leads the nation in priestly ordinations (CNA)
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Scoobyshme
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I would have to say I’m pleasantly surprised. I would’ve expected the honor to go to one of the more public orthodox dioceses, like Lincoln, Nebraska, or Denver, Colorado, etc. Good job!
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redrosetea
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No matter what happens the Holy Spirit is still at work in our church…this is proof of it
May they be a credit to God and our faith
May they be a credit to God and our faith
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NewEnglandPriest
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I would caution that Newark’s ordination numbers are “artificially” inflated. The archdiocese of Newark ordains priests for the Neocatechumenal Way and those are included in the numbers for the archdiocese. The Neocatechumenal Way is not a religious order so their priests must be ordained for a particular diocese. But the neocatechumenal way runs it own seminary in the archdiocese and their priests tend to follow their own rules even though the are technically ordained as priests of the archdiocese of Newark.
And the “The Way” (as they call themselves) do not have a great record for orthodoxy.
And the “The Way” (as they call themselves) do not have a great record for orthodoxy.
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Earthen_Vessel
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I find your post rather uncharitable. First, the Redemptoris Mater seminaries of the Neocatechumnal Way ARE under the authority of the Diocesan Bishop. This is certainly the case in Newark. Seminarians who are ordained from these seminaries become diocesan priests in every way. It is much more than a “technicality.” The only difference is that they are missionary priests as well and make themselves available, with the Bishop’s permission, to go anywhere in the world. Therefore, your mathematics is found wanting if you fail to count these good priests. Do you know any of these priests? The ones I know are tireless workers in the vineyard and give their lives for the new evangelization. Something that is lacking in many priests today.
Furthermore, tell me, what are their “own rules” as you put it? Care to explain since you seem to be making yourself an expert in this matter?
And as for orthodoxy, what do you mean by that? Do you mean that being under the authority of the Holy Father and the Magesterium is not orthodox? Benedict XVI would beg to differ with you, I’m certain, as would the Archbishop of Newark.
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NewEnglandPriest
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You’ve answered some of your own questions.
- They have their own seminary. That is highly unusual. Show me how many diocese are running parallel seminaries in their own diocese.
- They become diocesan priests canonically but end up doing their own thing. As you pointed out, they do missionary work at the discretion of “The Way” with the permission of the bishop. That is very unusual. Usually when someone is ordained for a diocese they serve only the bishop, not another community.
- As I said, they are technically diocesan priests, but they give a minimum of equal time to “The Way.”
Your last line is indicitive of a Neocatecumenal attitude. Yes, I have met these priests and seminarians. There are some I like very much, but there is a prevailing attitude of superiority and an emphesis on thier own community rather than their parish.
Apparently you’ve never been to a NeoCat mass. It is rather different from a regular sunday mass in a parish. I enjoyed seeing their seperate tabernacle for the book of the Gospels, just another example of their own rules.
The Vatican has had to slap them over the last few years for liturgical abuses. They did finally fall in line by stopping the practices of their own Easter vigils and other such abuses.
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NewEnglandPriest
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Oh and its interesting how most of your posts are about “The Way”. Typical tactics of this group.
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Earthen_Vessel
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Typical tactics? I haven’t the foggiest what you mean by that. Any post I’ve placed here is of my own accord, not a part of some grand strategy.
Look, I haven’t taken shots at anybody specific in the Church on these boards. Many, such as yourself, come here and take shots at other groups, in this case The Neocatechumenal Way. If you want to take a shot at it, you should expect a defense from those who know a little about it and support it.
And when I do so, I can factually claim a few things, like the Holy Father’s and the Archbishop’s strong support.
As to what I said about priests from Redemptoris Mater seminaries, I’m basing that on my own experiences. I’ve seen many of these guys drop everything at the drop of a hat to bring spiritual consolation to me and to others, and also to bring the Good News to the poor and disconsolate. I don’t think I’m way out on a limb to say that that spirit is often lacking in our parishes. It’s not a matter of superiority at all. These priests are all sinners like the rest of us and would be the first to tell you so. But they’d likely also tell you that it’s through God’s forgiveness of their sins and His action in their lives, that they’ve seen God’s love and answered His call to the priesthood. I don’t see anything superior in that. I’d call it the efficacy of God’s Word acting in the lives of these men.
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NewEnglandPriest
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You have to admit its a little suspicious when most of your posts are about The Way. It would seem your main goal is to “spread the news” about The Way.
If you truly know about it then you would have known to what I was refering in my original post. If you truly know them then you know their Eucharistic liturgies are very different from a regular Mass. Though the Vatican did bring them more into line in 2005.
You would also know that while the are canonically diocesan priests, they spend at least half their time in activities related to their NeoCat community. If they weren’t a separate group then the Vatican wouldn’t have had to force them to have their lay members attend their local parish at least once a month. There’s no parish priest I’m aware of who holds a separate Sunday Mass for his own group of people.
I think you are aware of all these differences and issues but chose instead to pretend that they are just ordinary parish priests when in fact they are not.
Of course you ignore that they were admonised by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in 2005. In order to have their community approved they had to change some things, but lets not pretend they are just ordinary diocesan priests.
I think it would be incorrect to say that it is often lacking.
Not so much individual superiority, they tend to view the NeoCat Way as “superior” to the diocesan parish community.
If this community works for you, then great, I pray it will continue to do so. However its not entirely honest to say their priests are simply diocesan priests. And on top of that, there’s plenty of info out there regarding questions of their orthodoxy, its not as if I just made that up.
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masondoggy
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The Neocatechumenal Way happens to now have full recognition and approval from The Vatican. If one has such a problem with them and their abilitity to inspire their youth to join the seminary, maybe you should take it up with the Vatican yourself.
This group happens to have the Pope AND the Bishops behind them.
This group happens to have the Pope AND the Bishops behind them.
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Joe_5859
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Way to go Archbishop Myers!
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Earthen_Vessel
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Exactly. NewEnglandPries, you make it seem as if a correction coming from the Vatican is condemnatory in the whole. It is actually a good thing. The Vatican has seen fruits from the charism of the Neocatechumenal Way and is helping to support the Holy Spirit’s work through it. And just as a good father sometimes corrects a son, so the Church does when necessary. But there seems to be great joy from not just Benedict XVI, but also the three Popes before him about the fruits of the Neocatechumenal Way. They are supportive, not condemning.
I’m sure you’ve heard that one shouldn’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. Wouldn’t you agree with that adage?
By the way, the admonishment to attend a “parish mass” once a month is moot at this point, because the approved Statutes of The Neocatechumenal Way now state that the masses of the Communities ARE parish masses.
Last thing NewEnglandPries. I am not spreading anything about The Neocatechumenal Way. If you’re truly following what I post about, you’d realize that basically I’ve just responded to what others have written.
What is truly suspicious is how many people seem to have an axe to grind that then get upset when there is a rebuttal to their position.
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NewEnglandPriest
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Well, saying they have the support of “the Bishops” is an overstatement. They are not welcome in many diocese.
Saying they have the support of the Pope is also a rather vague overstatement. There’s many “Vatican approved” groups that have problems and issues.
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NewEnglandPriest
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Look, out of your aprox 50 posts only about 5 are about something other than the NeoCat Way. Obviously that comes across as you are a member of the community looking to defend them.
Not sure what you mean by that. I know that the NeoCats meet in the Boston area for a Mass that is community only and follows their indult form of people commenting on readings and such.
I’m not upset at all.
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KCT
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Baltimore is ordaining 4 men on Saturday. I believe only 2 are staying in the diocese, however.
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masondoggy
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It is not an overstatement, it is reality.
Just last Sunday I attended a nationwide meeting of the Way in Washington D.C. …attended by the Nuncio to the United States. He made it very clear in his statement that he is fully, 100% behind the Way, as is the Pope…as is the Bishop of the D.C. diocese that wanted to be there very badly but couldn’t because he had Confirmations to attend.
I heard it first hand, from the horse’s mouth.
As for myself, I am not part of the Way, members of my family are. I have attended several events with them, including a pilgrimage to Germany for WYD. I have reserved my judgement on the movement until it received official approval from the Vatican. At this point, I cannot keep silent on the work of the Holy Spirit I have witnessed first hand in my exposure.
There are no words to explain the feeling when you see dozens and dozens of young men/boys respond to a call to come to the alter if they feel a call to the priesthood or religious life. Same for the crowds of females who approach when they’re called up as well.
How many teens do you think would come up to the alter for such a call in your average Sunday youth group gathering?
The Neocatechumenal Way is doing something right.
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NewEnglandPriest
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[sigh] Do you really think the Nuncio is going to address anything negative in such circumstances?
And maybe the bishop couldn’t adjust his schedule or maybe he could and just didn’t. Its not exactly a new excuse to say, “Gee, I’d really love to be there but I can’t.”
I’m sure you did.
I don’t think anyone is claiming they are from the devil or that they are evil.
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Joe_5859
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How did this thread turn into a debate on the Neocatechumenal Way? 
I thought it was about the great job Archbishop Myers is doing in fostering vocations. 
I thought it was about the great job Archbishop Myers is doing in fostering vocations.
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Earthen_Vessel
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Saying that the Pope supports the Neocatechumenal Way is HARDLY an overstatement. Even back when he was Cardinal Ratzinger, he invited the NCW to begin communities in Germany. I could give many other examples, but I fear I’d be wasting my time.
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Earthen_Vessel
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Because NewEnglandPries intimated that the numbers of priestly ordinations in the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ are somehow inflated because some of them come from Redemptoris Mater seminary, which is connected with the Neocatechumenal Way. The seminary is still under the authority and direction of the Archbishop, as I’ve pointed out, otherwise it couldn’t exist. I also know that the Archbishop visits this seminary quite often and is quite familiar with the formation these seminarians receive.How did this thread turn into a debate on the Neocatechumenal Way?
NewEnglandPries didn’t come out and say it, but he acts like there’s something wrong with that, otherwise, why point it out?
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