Thank you for the help -- managed to solve the situation

[seekingpeace]

Thanks for the suggestions. Luckily this ended up just being a miscommunication on one side and a misunderstanding on the other.

All is well. God bless.

 

[Wesrock]

Were you asked not to go to the mass at all or only to avoid reception of the Eucharist?

 

[TheLittleLady]

to not attend the church?

You are welcome to attend Mass! The only thing a non-Catholic cannot do is receive the Sacraments.

They have asked you not to attend the Neocatechumenal way. From what I have read, the Neocat Way is required to abide by the norms of the Church with regard to liturgy, that would mean that anyone can attend Mass, so, maybe did they mean you cannot go to the other non-liturgical activities?

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/...way-only-applies-to-non-liturgical-catechesis

 

[Wesrock]

I know in the early church (early centuries) non-baptized Christians were excused from the second half of the liturgy (they’d sit through the Liturgy of the Word and leave for the Liturgy of the Eucharist), but that isn’t generally practiced anymore except maybe for those already intending conversion (they go for study during this time). I’m not aware of any Catholics norm which excludes non-Catholic from the mass, and the general policy is that they should be welcomed.

I’ve little knowledge of the Neocatechumenal Way, so I don’t know if it has to do with their program or if there’s something different going on at your boyfriend’s parish.

 

[Wesrock]

I’m sorry you’ve had this experience. Non-Catholics are welcome at mass as a norm. That includes the entire mass. I’m not aware of any exclusions to that norm, but I could be corrected on that. I’ve no other insight and suspect something fishy, but I could be wrong.

 

[JamalChristophr]

Im pretty sure you have every right to be there if you want. It’s the priest who is the leader of the flock, including the neochatecunenal way. You and your boyfriend need to go speak directly with him.

Few Catholics, myself included, know very much of the Neo Catecumenal Way. The groups tend to be quite small and I think there could be room for misinformation in some of these very small group environments.

It strikes me as being very anti-Catholic, against who we are as the Catholic Church to say that you can’t come.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Please do not confuse what “The Way” does, with being the general practice of the Catholic Church. I don’t want to bash on The Way because maybe it is a good thing for some people, but they have been criticized for, among other things, objecting to relationships their members had with people not members of The Way, even if the person who wasn’t in The Way was a practicing Catholic rather than a non-Catholic Christian. The Way kind of wants to do its own little stuff with its own members from what I’ve heard. It is not an inclusive group.

I’m not sure if them holding a “private Mass” where they decide who can attend is allowed. In recent years, the Church has frowned upon excluding anyone from a Mass, which usually happens in the context of groups wanting to have some “private Mass” for their members only. You could ask the parish pastor whether it is permissible for them to exclude you in this manner, although I realize maybe you don’t want to make waves with your boyfriend’s fellow Way members.

Regarding regular ordinary Masses not held by The Way, you’d be welcome to attend them, although since you are not Catholic, you’re asked not to receive the Eucharist. My husband is not Catholic and has been to many Masses with me, no problem, once they even asked him to help out with taking up the collection.

I hope this helps. God bless you.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I think the bigger question here, and maybe one you’ve already considered, is how it’s going to affect your relationship as your boyfriend gets more committed to The Way and they make more demands on his time. And whether they have some way you can be included in at least some of his activities, even if they wish to keep the Mass “members only” (which to be honest would turn me off in a big way from joining them as I believe Mass should be open to all).

I hope they do have other ways to include you and that you and your boyfriend continue to have positive experiences with The Way.

 

[thequeen]

Does this parish have a womens group? I was allowed to be part of our women’s guild before I was officially Catholic and while I was receiving private instruction from a very good priest.Oh I come from a Pentecostal church of God background. I think that I would find a parish that was a bit more welcoming. And since your boyfriend did not come to your defense I would question his value as boyfriend or any kind of friend.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Talk to the Pastor. I’ve never encountered a parish that restricts things like study groups, fellowship groups, volunteer service groups, to practicing Catholics only. The only things that have that restriction are usually ministry like EMHC or Catechist.