Pastor bringing in Neocatechumenal Way; what should I know?

  • Thread starter Thread starter DaveBj
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I do not see how they should get a pass on violations of the rubrics and GIRM.
 
Okay…I’ve been in the Way for two years now. And came here because of the Guam issue.

Appearances, and that’s what it is, appearances, can be misleading, especially if the candidate doesn’t complete the full 6-week catechesis, and attend the first retreat after the catechesis where there is more explanation of why this or that is done or not done.

It’s been an experience, and I’ve been through the Charismatic Renewal, Cursillo, and other charisms that are beginning to “pop” up in parishes.

Firstly, I’d say this — St. Francis’s charism was not accepted by people at first. He had trouble. As did St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. Heck, even today, I don’t trust the Jesuits all that much, especially when many of them espoused Liberation Theology (is our pope one of them—thankfully, not—but I digress. Jesuits did not have a pretty history).

This being said, I can go at length about what is going on. With music, and this is just speculation since Kiko first ministered to the destitute gypsies living in caves/shanytowns in the outskirts of Madrid, the music is lovely to my ears. Very Gypsie and flamenco-like. But I’m biased. I’ve always loved this type of music since I am of Hispanic/Latino origin.

I believe that all this charism has done is to make life real. Very small communities are much better. That fellowship is there that at times you don’t get when attending a papal mass in the hot sun during WJD, or at the Vatican.

But, please, ask me anything. I’m not a leader in my local community. The Eucharist is open to all now. But most folks would be turned off, especially if they haven’t been through the initial catechesis and its ongoing catechesis. And as for fruit — many of the young people, young adults, want to serve the Holy Church and become priests, lay missionaries, etc. Two young men in my group are still struggling with their vocation — and it’s not one or the other but priesthood, marriage, or celibacy as a single adult. That last part is what got to me. I haven’t seen that in many of the other charisms, or not as much.

I wrote too much…blessings to all. Gus
 
felsguy said:
I give you credit for attending, anticipating that it would be different from what you are used to and most likely from what you prefer. With the experience now, you know that it is not something for you. I should think that others would have had an opposite (positive) reaction and therefore they would benefit from continuing to participate.
Click to expand...
Exactly. And thank you for updating all of us and being so thorough. This is really helpful.

I would most likely stick with the tried and true, as well.

God bless you, OP. and may you have a blessed Lent and Easter Season.🙂
 
Jennifoo said:
Exactly. And thank you for updating all of us and being so thorough. This is really helpful.

I would most likely stick with the tried and true, as well.

God bless you, OP. and may you have a blessed Lent and Easter Season.🙂
Click to expand...
Thank you, Jennifoo, and may God bless you as well 🙂
 
As a priest, I have only the most positive of things to say about The Neocatechumenal Way.

I am delighted to learn that it is being welcomed in the State of Alabama as I do not have occasion to follow its activities in North America – but I am sure it will be a great blessing for both this parish and for the diocese…as it has been and continues to be for so many throughout the world.
 
Thank you. I will read the linked article in more detail later when I have some time.
 
Don_Ruggero said:
As a priest, I have only the most positive of things to say about The Neocatechumenal Way.

I am delighted to learn that it is being welcomed in the State of Alabama as I do not have occasion to follow its activities in North America – but I am sure it will be a great blessing for both this parish and for the diocese…as it has been and continues to be for so many throughout the world.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut, Father. The movement is only three months old in our parish, and I thing the team has been dividing their time between our parish and another parish north of here; other than that, I do not know that it has made any other inroads in the state of Alabama. And three months is too short a time for any fruit to have developed.

Be all that as it may, I will still exercise my preference to attend Masses which are conducted in our church building as opposed to a conference room, and which are conducted in accordance with the General Instructions of the Roman Missal.
 
DaveBj said:
Be all that as it may, I will still exercise my preference to attend Masses which are conducted in our church building as opposed to a conference room, and which are conducted in accordance with the General Instructions of the Roman Missal.
Click to expand...
Indeed that is your prerogative.

Equally, I hope all of those who will find/are finding The Way to be enriching to them and to their families and to their walk with the Lord will make of it a great success in your parish and in your diocese – and beyond.
 
DaveBj said:
Be all that as it may, I will still exercise my preference to attend Masses which are conducted in our church building as opposed to a conference room, and which are conducted in accordance with the General Instructions of the Roman Missal.
Click to expand...
That last clause would indeed be a deal-breaker for me. I don’t see how not following the approved liturgical books is OK.
 
Thank you for posting this. After reading this thankfully I am sure I won’t have to worry about this stuff being allowed in my parish
 
With respect to Bishop Schneider, how can he claim that the NCW is a “Protestant-Jewish community inside the Church with a Catholic decoration only.” I guess that would include the Charismatic Renewal, with its many forms of worship that are similar to the Pentecostals in America, with their jumping, praising, and hand-holding during the Our Father during the Mass.
 
johnnyc176 said:
Thank you for posting this. After reading this thankfully I am sure I won’t have to worry about this stuff being allowed in my parish
Click to expand...
I am sorry, but I have an issue when we start looking to the bishop of Kazakhstan as the authority on a church matter, rather than Rome.

I am not saying that the bishop is wrong; but I would point out that Cardinal Ottaviani had (and still has) those who looked to him for guidance; he attempted to steer Vatican 2 by the documents he had drawn up, and over 2,000 bishops of the works said “No. we are not going that way.”

Bishop Schneider has an opinion; and those who follow that opinion are most welcome to not participate in any way with the Neocatechumenal Way. That, however, is not to say that he is correct; only that he has an opinion profoundly held, and going or not going to a Neocatechumenal Mass is not a matter of faith and morals.

And no, I am not a member; I have no idea if it is present in my Archdiocese, and am not likely to research the matter.
 
DaveBj said:
This was a total goat-rope,
Click to expand...
I am still laughing. That has to be a southernism that I picked up while stationed in Texas; I am the only one out west who ever uses it.
DaveBj said:
The Matter for this Mass was valid, but apparently they bake their own bread, and the full wafer was about the diameter of a saucer, which after Consecration was then torn into pieces to match the number of attendees. A friend of mine was in on the baking process, and she confirmed that it was only flour and water, but it baked up about a half inch thick, and it was very, very, VERY chewy.
Click to expand...
I just returned from a 4 day silent retreat at Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey. They do likewise, although the large host is scored so it breaks up relatively easily. They also use the small hosts normally found in a parish, and the laity who are receiving mostly receive the small ones, as most of the large host is distributed to the monks.

And yes, it is very chewy - which really emphasizes Christ’s command: “Take and eat.”

Because of its size, it simply is not practical for a large group.
 
otjm said:
I am still laughing. That has to be a southernism that I picked up while stationed in Texas; I am the only one out west who ever uses it.snip
Click to expand...
Yes, I picked it the term “goat-rope” (and “goat-ropers”) at Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX 😃

Back on topic, NCW is still active at our parish, but I have completely distanced myself, and I have no idea what they’re currently doing doing.
 
DaveBj said:
Yes, I picked it the term “goat-rope” (and “goat-ropers”) at Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX 😃

Back on topic, NCW is still active at our parish, but I have completely distanced myself, and I have no idea what they’re currently doing doing.
Click to expand...
There is plenty of room within the Church for a variety spiritualities. Don’t fret.
 
Pope Benedict XVI on the Charismatic Movement:

Address of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI to Charismatic Covenant Communities October 2008 -
“What we learn in the New Testament on charisms, which appeared as visible signs of the coming of the Holy Spirit, is not a historical event of the past, but a reality ever alive. It is the same divine Spirit, soul of the Church, that acts in every age and those mys- terious and effective interventions of the Spirit are manifest in our time in a providential way. The Movements and New Communities are like an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in con- temporary society. We can, therefore, rightly say that one of the positive elements and aspects of the Community of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is
precisely their emphasis on the charisms or gifts of the Holy Spirit and their merit lies in having recalled their topicality in the Church.”
 
You have caused the FSSP to fall even lower in my estimation.

The charismatic renewal has been one of God’s special gifts to the Church, as has been affirmed by the hierarchy of the Church.
 
otjm said:
I am sorry, but I have an issue when we start looking to the bishop of Kazakhstan as the authority on a church matter, rather than Rome.

I am not saying that the bishop is wrong; but I would point out that Cardinal Ottaviani had (and still has) those who looked to him for guidance; he attempted to steer Vatican 2 by the documents he had drawn up, and over 2,000 bishops of the works said “No. we are not going that way.”

Bishop Schneider has an opinion; and those who follow that opinion are most welcome to not participate in any way with the Neocatechumenal Way. That, however, is not to say that he is correct; only that he has an opinion profoundly held, and going or not going to a Neocatechumenal Mass is not a matter of faith and morals.

And no, I am not a member; I have no idea if it is present in my Archdiocese, and am not likely to research the matter.
Click to expand...
There are multiple dioceses in Kazakhstan. Bishop Schneider is not, however, at the head of any of them – he is merely an auxiliary bishop in Kazakhstan.

Given the widespread support within the College of Bishops for the Neocatechumenal Way, the many seminaries that they administer throughout the world, and the many people who have been enriched and are part of The Way, I should trust they are not much afflicted by the dissenting opinion of one auxiliary bishop in Kazakhstan.

On the other hand, to describe it in the terms he does shows that this particular auxiliary
bishop is very far removed from the thoughts and judgements of his brother bishops…which speaks volumes.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top