Rosetta, while your support for the group is laudable and understandable, I think that perhaps some distinctions should be made.
I have been to one Neocatechumenal Way service. I happened to be there by accident due to circumstances beyond my control. My previous pastor was in the beginning stages of Alzheimers and had wandered into our parish. It was my task to take him to the former Episcopal Vicar who was the pastor at what is now the Cathedral. I knew that something was happening at the church, but, I wasn’t quite sure what it was until I saw the configuration of the sanctuary.
This was about 8PM and the pastor had already celebrated two weddings, a funeral and the anticipated Sunday Mass. My former pastor and I were seated at a side pew as we watched the whole service play out. The flowers on top of the altar were rather strange, but, even more disconcerting was the fact that the chairs were arranged in a circle and they were all gathered in the sanctuary.
While the prayers were th ones used for the Mass, as were the readings, everything else was radically different, from the composition of the bread to the sacred vessels, including a huge octagon chalice and a very large paten. The Liturgy of the Word was very long, due in part to the excessive commentary that seemed to have bled into the readings. The homily was not even a homily at all. Mind you, the celebrant is the best homilist in the diocese; however, he wasn’t given the chance to do much preaching, as the community pretty much took over.
Part of me wanted to bolt out the door, especially with the singing, which was not singing, but, more like wailing. This is not meant to be disrespectful, but, that is what it sounded like. My former pastor turned to me and asked me what had happened to the priest at this parish. “Is this even Catholic,” he asked me. Even though he was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s, his mind was clear enough to figure out that this wasn’t normal. He couldn’t remember if he had eaten that day or how he got to our city from another town, but, it sure registered to him that something was amiss that night. Furthermore, the look of angst on the face of the celebrant pretty much told the story. It wasn’t so much that he was tired (he enjoys celebrating Mass), but, this particular service was very draining and very difficut because it was against what the norms for the Holy Sacrifice require.
My former pastor did recognize the EP (even though it was in Spanish) and, it was moving to see him raise his hand during the Consecration, as though he were a concelebrant, and to bow his head at the elevation of each species. However, he still had questions about what was going on with the group.
The reception of Holy Communion was strange, as well, since the group remained seated at their places during the distribution.
All told, the service took almost two hours. Once the group left, my friend (the pastor) asked me what was up with our mutual friend (my former pastor). I explained the situation and he agreed to take care of him. I escorted my former pastor to the sacristy and I heard him ask our friend, “XXXX, just what in the world was going on out there?” The pastor had a look of consternation at what had just happened. He later told me that this was not something he enjoyed doing, but, he had to because it was at the bishop’s request.
I have also been to a couple of their meetings, since I had to open up the church for them, on occasion. While their catechesis is okay, ithey did do something rather strange when their seminar was over. They gathered outside, formed a huge circle, joined hands and began to dance. I somehow got sucked into the whirlwind and it was not the most comfortable feeling in the world.
Mind you, I am not a fuddy duddy, but, this was too much. However, I did not want to apear inhospitable (in fact, I had to open up and close after them on quite a few occasoins), but, I just didn’t want to do this. One time, the pastor, who didn’t want to dance, grabbed a baby and pushed me into the circle.
He figured I should have a share in his pain.
Rosetta, these are good people and they have the best of intentions, but, it’s the manner in which they have celebrated the Mass that raises the huge, glaring red flag.
Thus, what they did in the past was no where near looking like the normal Sunday Mass you attend in your regular parish. It is no wonder that there were many objections to this particular format and why the Holy Father acted in the manner he did.
As for Jesus and the fulfillment of the law, remember,too, that He didn’t waste any time clearing the temple of the money changers and the animal vendors. He very much cared how He was to be worshipped and, through the Petrine Ministry, left this to the care of St. Peter and his successors.
