Neocatecumenate way

[bejonama]

Our new parish priest, well actually ‘priest in charge’(its a loop hole, he’s married so they are calling him ‘p.i.c’ instead of ‘p.p’) is a neocat, and from what I have gathered he is planning to bring the movement to our parish. I was at WYD this year and I have to say that the many groups I saw there certainly seemed to be full of love and enthusiasm for God. I have been doing lots of research though, and I am finding things I certainly don’t feel comfortable with. I am hoping someone here has had some actual personal experience of the movement so that I can get a clear picture of what we are about to face. The fact that the movement has been approved by Pope Benedict confuses me going on what I have found so far. Can anybody shed some light on why he would have approved it if what I am reading is correct? does anybody know if the neocat communities are making the changes to the liturgy that the pope has ordered?

 

[PhilotheaZ]

For those unfamiliar, here is an article describing the guidelines the Neocatechumenate Way must follow:
zenit.org/article-14922?l=english . Note that a two-year transition was allowed (from December 1, 2005, the date of the letter detailing the guidelines).

It seems that the guidelines were well received, at least officially, as is evidenced in this article: zenit.org/article-14928?l=english

I don’t know how these guidelines are being carried out on the local level.

 

[benedictgal]

The Neocatechumenal Way was approved by the Holy Father, but, with some heavy strings attached to it. First of all, they cannot celebrate the Mass in the bizarre manner they’ve been using where the laity take an active role in the homily. Second, they must conform to the rubrics regarding the form and matter of the bread used for the Mass. Third, they cannot receive Holy Communion seated in their places.

The guidelines were not well received from the onset. The founder, Kiko Aguilar, seemed to think that they were suggestions, rather than directives.

Here is a link to an article by Chiesa that goes a little more in-depth than Zenit.

chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/205382?eng=y

chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/148521?&eng=y

chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/46462?&eng=y

chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/44140?&eng=y

I have had personal experience with the Neocatechumenal Movement’s, hopefully, former liturgy and I found it most disturbing. The music consists more of wailing than singing, loud wailing, to be exact. It is rather strange. Evidently, the Holy See found it strange, too, because the two-year period came about as soon as Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI.

Now, I am not familiar with their catechesis. You can support the catechesis, but, not the way the group has mishandled the liturgy.

 

[benedictgal]

For those unfamiliar, here is an article describing the guidelines the Neocatechumenate Way must follow:
zenit.org/article-14922?l=english . Note that a two-year transition was allowed (from December 1, 2005, the date of the letter detailing the guidelines).

It seems that the guidelines were well received, at least officially, as is evidenced in this article: zenit.org/article-14928?l=english

I don’t know how these guidelines are being carried out on the local level.

I suspect that they many not necessarily have been carried out to the full extent. Although I have seen more of the Neocatechumenals attend the weekend parish Masses, I was a little disturbed when the group took over the music one weekend (the organist went on vacation). The music was awful, loud and wailing. I was already getting a migraine from the noise. The bongo drums and the clackers didn’t help at all.

 

[Joe_5859]

I don’t have personal experience, but they brought the Neocatechumenal Way catechesis to a parish nearby, and that parish is quite orthodox. It seems that most of the problems with the group have stemmed from their liturgical innovations (which, as has been pointed out, have been reigned in). It probably depends upon the particular group as to whether or not they are following the directives as they should be.

If your pastor is planning on starting the group at your parish from the ground up, there’s no reason that you can’t help out to make sure things get started on the right foot.

 

[Gearoidin]

We have had the neocat way in our diocese, actually in my parish, for several years. Yes, the priests are holy, the missionaries involved are enthuastic but the movement here has caused huge problems and has divided the parish into those involved in the neocat way and those not inolved in it. Our bishop has described it as “sect-like”.
In fact it has caused so many problems that our bishop along with the archbishop went to Rome earlier this year to discuss the closure of the neocat associated seminary. See the following report and link.
Gearoidin

ROME (UCAN) – In an extraordinary move, the Japanese Bishops’ Conference sent a delegation last week to discuss with Pope Benedict XVI “the serious problem” they are having with the Neocatechumenal Way and its seminary in Takamatsu diocese.

ucanews.com/2008/04/29/ja…n-five-months/

“Another matter would be The Neocatechumenal Way (the Way) and the International Takamatsu Diocesan Seminary known as Redemptoris Mater. We have here a serious problem. In the small Catholic Church of Japan, the powerful sect-like activity of Way members is divisive and confrontational. It has caused sharp painful division and strife within the Church. We are struggling with all our strength to overcome the problem but feel that if a solution is to be found, the consideration of Your Holiness for the Church in Japan will be of the utmost importance and direly needed.”

“The diocesan seminary is to be ended. The Holy See has agreed that it be closed as a diocesan seminary this year,” he said.

The bishops, he explained, continue to have “serious and deep” problems with the movement that relate to its “way of thinking” and its “attitude” to Japanese culture, liturgy and other issues.