Is the Eucharist within them as sacramentaly valid as any Eucharistic celebration in any other “standard” catholic parish?
Yes… usually. Nowadays, almost all Neocat masses are valid. I say ‘almost all’ because every once in a while, there crops up a reenactment of an old attempt within the Neocat Way for a different liturgy (circa 70s-80s). This new liturgy was in no way approved by the Vatican and was firmly opposed.
Generally, if you can recognize the Neocat mass as an actual Mass, then it is valid. The self-created liturgy was closed to outsiders. It had no altar, but rather long tables erected in a circle. There would be multiple readings outside of the prescribed lectionary and homilies or reflections would be given by laity. The priest would consecrate the Eucharist sitting at the table using a self-made and in some cases invalid (didn’t have the words "this is my body… this is my blood’) Eucharistic prayer. There were some instances (according to priests outside of our Order who had witnessed it) where the laity was asked to consecrate the Eucharist with the priest.
Some people say that this is just rumor and slander, however our Order has a function hall which we used to rent out to groups for masses and retreats (the Neocat Way among them) and we found evidence of these types of services when cleaning up after them. All of the paintings, the tabernacle, altar and chairs were removed from our chapel and instead the tables had been set up. Brothers who were doing some cleaning in the kitchen next to the Chapel heard parts of this service, so we do know that it does happen. This was about seven years ago, a little while before we stopped allowing the Neocat groups to rent our chapel for this very purpose.
Now, let me stress again, this is
very rare nowadays. I will not deny that the Neocat Way does good missionary work. There is no doubt in my mind that they do. It is just that coming from an Order which is centered around the Eucharist, these practices (and others with regards to the Neocat interactions with the various dioceses) have made me realize that the Neocat Way is not for me.
Now, this is just with regards to the clerical arm of the Neocat Way. Every interaction I have had with the laity of the Neocat Way has been wonderful.
Why then on Saturday evening and not on Sunday like the rest of us? I is ok if I take Eucharist with the neocats on Saturday and the next day I take it again on Sunday’s mass at my local parish?
The Mass on Saturday night is called the Vigil. It is considered part of the Sunday Liturgy. Sunday, for the Church, begins at either sundown on Saturday or between 4-5pm for some dioceses to account for the later sunset in summer. It is perfectly valid for Sunday obligation
if it is the Sunday liturgy. Special masses done with a special set of readings (weddings, funerals, Masses of the Holy Spirit) do not count for the Sunday obligation unless there is a special dispensation by the Bishop.
Hope this helped,
Br. Ben, CRM
