Neo-Catechumenal Way

[MandyF]

Hi mahalia,

I must say that there are many misconceptions abou the Way. Myself I used tot hink they were fanatics, but once I started to attend I began to realise the truth about everything they did and you start to see it differently and see the sense behind it. (you don’t expect this to come from a scientific & sceptical person like me, but it’s simply the truth)

In my language it is called ‘The walk’ (just different interpretations with different languages.) In reality it is called that way because in the Way member’s just try to deepen their relationship with Christ and try to convert to better Christians. The Way because everyday we try to find the right passage which leads to Christ in all we do (not always easy…Me myself usually end up taking the wrong path, but hope that with God’s love I will improve)

Please don’t call it “the Way”.
Jesus Christ is “the Way”.

The Neocathecumenal way is a way.
I know that they call it the Way, but that doesn’t mean they’re right.

 

[MandyF]

Hi, just to clarify, it is called the way because the members are encourages to always choose the right passage that leads to Christ in everything they do.

Also, untill last year it was not an official Church entity (like everything else the church takes its time to evaluate it) and Last year the Pope made it an official church entity encouraging them to continue working to spread Christian teachings.

Yes they did change something in the litury. Before the members used to receive the Eucharisty indivitually (take it and sit down), now after everyone receives the Eucharisty in his hands they stay standing up and comsume it all together (like the last supper, they all eat it together).

The change wasn’t due to something being ‘wrong’ as such but to make it better

This is going on right now (the 8 weeks of classes) at the Parish I will be joining.

The Priest I’ve been meeting with (in preparation of my coming into the church) suggested I try to attend these meetings as part of my preparation.

I come to the Chuch with extensive Biblical study from a few prodestant denominations. (I studied a few in my search for what I saw as truth in Christianity…but found that truth in the Catholic church)

Anyway, after our meeting last night, something did not seem quite right to me. I’ve been praying about this group and seeking to know if God desires me to affiliate with them after my confirmation. Anyway, after I had a disturbing dream last night I decided to start to research all I can about this group online. I’ve been doing that for a few hours now.

What has drawn me greatly into the Church (beyond what I"ve learned from the Catechism and other studies I"ve done on my own), was the beauty of the Mass. From what I have read online (both pro and anti towards this group), this group seems to celebrate something that appears to be different enough from the Mass that I have already been so blessed by that this fact alone is enough for me to have decided that I will not be joining them. (but will finish out the 8 weeks of attending the meetings since this is part of my preparation for joining the Church)

I have also read that the addition of “The Way” (yes that name bothered me due to Jesus being the Way the Truth and the Light…use of that names implies too much in my opinion) also has caused great splits within Parishes where it (this group) is active.

Some of the things they have said in the meetings at the Parish I am joining resonate with the limited education I have in Buddhism. Then at times, they sound very Full Gospel (Pentecost Prodestant) or very liberal evangelical in nature.

I don’t completly understand but from what I read, the late Pope John Paul II gave this group something like 2 or 5 years to operate in the Church and then the current Pope (Benedict) recently appeared to give a soft endorsement to this group but with warnings regarding their treatment of the liturgy. Forgive me for this being sketchy but I just skimmed articles on this early this morning and remember I am not a member yet. (Of the Catholic Church…but will be soon)

Anyway, just my thoughts and what is happening right now regarding this group.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Hi, just to clarify, it is called the way because the members are encourages to always choose the right passage that leads to Christ in everything they do.

Also, untill last year it was not an official Church entity (like everything else the church takes its time to evaluate it) and Last year the Pope made it an official church entity encouraging them to continue working to spread Christian teachings.

Yes they did change something in the litury. Before the members used to receive the Eucharisty indivitually (take it and sit down), now after everyone receives the Eucharisty in his hands they stay standing up and comsume it all together (like the last supper, they all eat it together).

The change wasn’t due to something being ‘wrong’ as such but to make it better

The Eucharist (notice correct spelling) should be consumed once it is received, it should not be held onto only to be consumed as a group. Thats an aberation and I wuold like to see the Church document that allows for this.

The Neo-Catechumenal Way, as I have heard of it in parishes, sets up its own community within a parish separate from the rest of the parish, that is wrong.

Any and all corrections ordered by the Vatican to the practice of the Liturgy are done because the ways they were being done are incorrect, if they are correct then corrections will not be ordered.

 

[m134e5]

There are set norms for reception of the Eucharist.The pope can give dispensations from those norms, but I doubt either the current pope or the previous one did- or would have done so. I have a hard time trusting a community that deviates from the set norms for reception of the Eucharist without permission. It is virtuous to be obedient to the Church- it is most virtuous when you do it without understanding the reason for what is being asked of you. Have faith in God, in the Church He built, & in the Rock on which He built it.

 

[littlequestion]

There is a notorious cult outside the Catholic Church called “The Way”. I doubt there is any connection but it is important to note that when people use a confusing term, others are always available to exploit it.

That being said, the rest of this picture of a “Neo-Catechumen” thing looks very ugly, indeed. Here is a prayer posted elsewhere that seems appropriate here, and if I were a student or faculty member in any seminary with a dorm full of them, I would pray it:

*“Oh Blessed Mother Mary, I am weak and you are most loving towards me, a small child of the Church.
Please throw your cloak around me and grasp my hand when evil ones approach.
They prowl about, turning our flesh into their meat and our souls into their prey.
They rip our infants from the womb and our old ones from our arms.
Oh Blessed Mother Mary, I pray this Rosary for the special protection of my home and parish from the deceitful attacks of the Serpent whose head you have already crushed.” *

 

[HOLYHEARTS]

I agree with everything Brother David, O.Carm has stated. Bishops, Priests & Laity are
to follow all the Rubrics set forth in the Altar Missals (both NO & TLM) & other Ecclesial
Documents. They are approved by the Holy Father and are to be obeyed by the whole Catholic Church.

 

[Itari]

From what I’ve seen, the seminarians that do not have under-grad degrees (this varies according to the diocese and the provisions set) either work to get an undergrad in philosophy prior to entering theology, or complete the requisites for both simultaneously. Usually the period of missionary work is done halfway into theology ranging from 2-3 years.

About the liturgy, it is celebrated in the manner instructed by the Statutes, taught by the Prefect for the Congregation of DW and Sacr.

When the pope spoke to the roman curia prior to the approval, he said they found a new way of integrating it into the parish, one of the ways i think this was achieved was making it “part of the pastoral work of the parish open to all the faithful.”

 

[simplepraise]

I am new to this Catholic Answers but have periodically checked articles on it. I am shocked at the responses that have been given about the Neo- Cat. Well not at all of them.
I was born into the Catholic church, raised Catholic, and never have I understood my catholic faith more clearly than I do now that I am in the Neo-Catechumenal Way.
Before finding the Neo-Cat (what I call it) I was attending mass every Sunday while living in Sin. I had no understanding of the sacraments that were given to me, no apreciation of the body of Christ. I use to be on birth control after having 2 children and was thinking of getting my tubes tide before the Neo. I have been involved for six years and have been enlightened about the Eucharist and how sacred it is. I now am married through the church and have 5 children 3 in heaven and I am expecting another. I also pray the rosary, pray to the saints and have an understanding of my Catholic faith. I am not sure what has gone wrong in the Catholic church as to were I can attend every Sunday and never have a true understanding of what is going on. I apreciate the Neo Cat for enlightening me and showing me how important the Catholic Church truly is. I attend both regular and Neo masses. I think they are both wonderful. With regards to holding the bread and eating as an assembly. I was tought we do this to reflect and respect this gift in our hands that it is the body of christ and to be respected. We take it after the priest just as we do in regular mass but just as a community.
As far as priests getting a speed ticket through the seminary. Not true. Each one comes with different education and different ages and different situations. These rash judgements are rediculous. The priests and seminarians I have met our the most humble and full of life people I have ever met.
IDK I just do not understand what the problem is. It has truly saved my life and brought alot of youth back to the church. Just in my family we have a family in mission in Japan, a priest, one in the seminary and 3 nuns. Is it really a bad thing? I think not.
I have been called a fanatic because I go to church to often. Really thats a bad thing? In my opinion I need all the help I can get. And I definately do not have all the answers… and I need to rely on Gods strength…

 

[fianne19]

I was just curious what kind of interactions people have had with “the Way”. Talking to some seminarians in my locale it sounds like there’s been a real lack of integration between Neo-Cat seminarians and regular diocesan seminarians…the Neo-Cats live in their own formation house (in very tight quarters apparently) and come to classes at the regular diocesan seminary, but have almost no interactions with their brother seminarians outside of the classroom. They also seem to have the ability to be put on a fast-track to the priesthood, being allowed to skip philosophy and some theology courses, and many do not possess prior undergraduate degrees.

Has this been witnessed by others?

the members don’t call it “the way” as if referred to be “the way to the Lord”, “the way” that they refer to is the “NC Way”. I am a member and i have friends in the seminary as well. they don’t do that fast-track, it’s not acceptable. they are strict about it because it is not easy to study it and just know it in just a few years, that’s not possible. you should have ASKED them there in your seminary, i believe you just got intimidated with the way it is there in your seminary. you might be wrong about things there and informations. have you ever tried talking to them? if you have, maybe you can post it here and let us know what happened, i just can’t believe it. i understand and respect your post as you have experienced it, but as a member of the community, i can disagree to what i have experienced as well.

 

[fianne19]

I am new to this Catholic Answers but have periodically checked articles on it. I am shocked at the responses that have been given about the Neo- Cat. Well not at all of them.
I was born into the Catholic church, raised Catholic, and never have I understood my catholic faith more clearly than I do now that I am in the Neo-Catechumenal Way.
Before finding the Neo-Cat (what I call it) I was attending mass every Sunday while living in Sin. I had no understanding of the sacraments that were given to me, no apreciation of the body of Christ. I use to be on birth control after having 2 children and was thinking of getting my tubes tide before the Neo. I have been involved for six years and have been enlightened about the Eucharist and how sacred it is. I now am married through the church and have 5 children 3 in heaven and I am expecting another. I also pray the rosary, pray to the saints and have an understanding of my Catholic faith. I am not sure what has gone wrong in the Catholic church as to were I can attend every Sunday and never have a true understanding of what is going on. I apreciate the Neo Cat for enlightening me and showing me how important the Catholic Church truly is. I attend both regular and Neo masses. I think they are both wonderful. With regards to holding the bread and eating as an assembly. I was tought we do this to reflect and respect this gift in our hands that it is the body of christ and to be respected. We take it after the priest just as we do in regular mass but just as a community.
As far as priests getting a speed ticket through the seminary. Not true. Each one comes with different education and different ages and different situations. These rash judgements are rediculous. The priests and seminarians I have met our the most humble and full of life people I have ever met.
IDK I just do not understand what the problem is. It has truly saved my life and brought alot of youth back to the church. Just in my family we have a family in mission in Japan, a priest, one in the seminary and 3 nuns. Is it really a bad thing? I think not.
I have been called a fanatic because I go to church to often. Really thats a bad thing? In my opinion I need all the help I can get. And I definately do not have all the answers… and I need to rely on Gods strength…

hi there

i agree with you. my family was moved by the NC Way too. People will not just understand it until they are part of it and knows what really is happening. i just smile with what i read, sometimes get surprised and frustrated. what they see is what they get, that’s all they can comment is what they see. they never had try to do something about it even. i just hope they talk to the members first and ask what’s this and what’s that, why is this like this and why is it like that. cheers!

 

[fianne19]

There is a notorious cult outside the Catholic Church called “The Way”. I doubt there is any connection but it is important to note that when people use a confusing term, others are always available to exploit it.

That being said, the rest of this picture of a “Neo-Catechumen” thing looks very ugly, indeed. Here is a prayer posted elsewhere that seems appropriate here, and if I were a student or faculty member in any seminary with a dorm full of them, I would pray it:

*“Oh Blessed Mother Mary, I am weak and you are most loving towards me, a small child of the Church.
Please throw your cloak around me and grasp my hand when evil ones approach.
They prowl about, turning our flesh into their meat and our souls into their prey.
They rip our infants from the womb and our old ones from our arms.
Oh Blessed Mother Mary, I pray this Rosary for the special protection of my home and parish from the deceitful attacks of the Serpent whose head you have already crushed.” *

littlequestion,

prayers of the NC Way and songs are all based in the bible. yours is based somewhere ridiculous. we’re all not perfect, neither NC Way is perfect. NC members are not perfect, evn you are not perfect. all we can do is respect each other.

 

[fianne19]

Speaking of bad taste, I googled the Neo-Cat way last night to find that it is quite common for its members to recieve communion sitting down and drink the Precious Blood through a straw. And to think that we have debates here at CAF over whether receiving in the hand is a good idea, never mind what these people do!

No wonder their constitutions are in Limbo at the Vatican…

that’s not true. NC way members don’t drink from a straw. have you seen the Last Supper movies where apostles pass the cup of wine? that’s the same. also with the bread.

 

[143molly]

I LOVE MY COMMUNITY
Those of you who have never been a part of the neocatechumenal way are being falsely informed. Neocats are the same as everyone else. We are firm believers in the Lord and all that is holy. We simply intake the word of the Lord more often than normal Catholics. Under God we are all united as one. Please stop the hate.

 

[chief714]

I agree with Molly.
Stop hating. We’re called to follow Christ’s example of Love. His example of unconditional love even if it brings us to death.
I’m a Neo-Cat brother in the way here in Orange County California and I converted from Protestant to Catholocism to the way.
Our Eucharist & Word (Liturgy) have an EXTREME REVERENCE to Christ & our Holy Father. No one has ever received the Body or Blood sitting down or out of a straw.
I’m still new and considered a “Pre” NeoCat but I know for a FACT GOD has called me and my family here for our salvation. We are learning to attempt to live our baptism DAILY. Which is tough… it’s difficult to love those you dislike for who they are. It’s difficult to accept the reflection of self seen in others. For instance, the lack of Christs Love I have for those of you who knock my way of life and relationship with Christ in this WAY of living because you simply don’t understand, haven’t taken the actual time to step IN and see what it’s about but take the typical google aproach to things.

So… with this venting I apologize, because I know that I have no right to judge you. Please, talk to actual catechists about the NeoCat way before you believe everything people write on the internet.

May God Bless you

Christ has Risen!

 

[cyejbv]

How do they get their degree without having an undergrad degree. Our seminary is accredited and there are standards for acceptance and awarding degrees that must be followed to keep accrediation. The only people I know who were fast tracked were men who already earned a degree in Theology before entering. Then again, we don’t have an Neo-cats in our seminary, only diocesan and Vincentians.

Technically, there is no such thing as a Neocat seminarian, they are “officially” becoming diocesan priests. I didn’t know this until recently, that they have their own seminaries seems to be a distinction without a difference, all are being trained as diocesan priests, “officially”. Just FYI.

 

[chief714]

The fact that such a movement is even being tolerated demonstrates the insanity in the Church. It should be crushed by the Vicar of Christ with all the force he can muster. At the very least, its liturgy should be suppressed and relegated to the schismatic churches where it belongs. [/qote] and what movement would that be Dauphin? Why do you have such hate for the Neocatechuminal way?

The liturgy isn’t just kind-hearted goofiness; it’s a mockery of the Holy Sacrifice straight from the designs of Satan.

 

[nagyszakall]

chief714, that post which you are quoting is more than 3 years old. I don’t think it’s worth fighting this by posting on threads.
You see, here people write whatever they want without any consequences. Take another case, for instance that of the Pope: you see everything he says gets scrutinized and has consequences (hopefully). See what he says about the Way… and don’t waste your time replying to 3 year old posts of total idiots.

 

[HOLYHEARTS]

I do not have any documentation just now, but a few months ago, the Bishops of Japan had a run-in with the Holy See over the Neo-Catechumenal Way. You might be able to find the documents exchanged publicly by googling them up somehow…In any case, the
Bishops advised the Vatican that they were suppressing The Way in at least some of the Diocese in Japan b/c The Way was seriously impeding true evangelization in that nation.

 

[nagyszakall]

If you do not have documentation just now, then be wise, and hold off posting silly notes until you get the documentation. Always look at the sources. Compare what Popes Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI have said with some isolated cases of bishops…
And be sure, it was not the bishops in Japan who advised the Vatican, but the Pope himself who advised the bishops, not to do what they proceeded to do.
First, they tried through the bishops’ conference of Japan to cease activities of the NCW in all of Japan for five years. They were told by the Holy See that the bishops’ conference does not have that authority. They were also told by the Holy Father to wait until a delegate from the Holy See examines the situation and begins a dialogue. A couple of bishops did exactly the contrary. They did not wait but acted right away. Did they have the authority to do it? Yes they did. Is it right to do the exact contrary of what the Holy Father advises you? I guess they just have to do what they think is right. But to draw conclusions from this, which will form your opinion about a reality (which is, by the way, fully approved by the Holy See) much of which exists outside of Japan is perhaps a bit hasty.

 

[cyejbv]

ucanews.com/2011/01/20/bishop-speaks-out-on-neo-cats/

catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=8976

The presence of the NCW seems to be creating quite a bit of divisiveness in Japan, but it certainly isn’t unique to the NCW.
That being said, the bigger issue is remembering that as Catholics we are members of the Mystical Body of Christ. To neglect to pray with charity and humility for resolutions to and protection against *any *discord among us, is to forget our CCD lessons: we put another thorn in the crown of our Lord with such neglect.