Neocatechumenal Way
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Abbreviation | NCW |
---|---|
Formation | 1964 |
Founders | Kiko Argüello and Carmen Hernández |
Type | Cult/Sect[1][2] |
Headquarters | Madrid, Rome |
Website | neocatechumenaleiter |
The Neocatechumenal Way, also known as the Neocatechumenate, or NCW is an itinerary/process in the
The Neocatechumenate was begun in
Early history
In the early 1960s, Francisco "Kiko" Argüello moved to the shanty town of 'Palomeras Altas' in Vallecas, Madrid, and gathered a community of Romani people and marginalised poor.[8] He was soon joined by Carmen Hernández, who linked the community to the theological and liturgical zeitgeist surrounding the Second Vatican Council, and won the support of the archbishop of Madrid Casimiro Morcillo González , who had been a relator during sessions of the Council.[9][10]
Gradually, the community's approach was codified in a "catechetical synthesis" referred to as the "
The movement spread through the
Leadership and governance
The community of Neocatechumens was led by the "International Responsible Team of the Way": Argüello, Hernández, and Fr.
Nature and mission of the Neocatechumenal communities
The Neocatechumenal Way as it has been approved by the Holy See is a "Post baptismal catechumenate at the service of the Bishops as a form of diocesan implementation of Christian initiation and of ongoing education in faith, in accordance with the indications of the Second Vatican Council and the Magisterium of the Church”.[14] From the initial catechesis, it typically takes several years and passing through stages of faith formation in the local communities, until a member reaches the "renewal of the baptismal vows."[citation needed]
It is implemented in dioceses under the jurisdiction of the bishop and the guidance of the Responsible Team of the Way “according to the lines proposed by its initiators”.[15][16]
Stages of the Neocatechumenal Way
After two years in the Neocatechumenal Way, followers will be invited to attend the First Scrutiny.[17] In the Second Scrutiny the great phases of the history of salvation: Abraham, Exodus, Desert, Promised Land, etc., and a time is given to them so that they may prove to themselves the sincerity of their intention to follow Jesus Christ. The local ordinary presides over the rites of the Neocatechumenal Way in person or through a delegate.[18]
Missionary activity
Responding to secularization, the Neocatechumenal Way has implemented "families in mission" – families serving to establish the presence of the Catholic Church in countries where there is none (this is referred to as Implantatio Ecclesiae) or to strengthen the presence of Catholic communities in particularly difficult areas.[19]
On 12 January 2006, about 200 families met with Pope
In March 2008 the Way met with nine
On 10 January 2009, Benedict XVI met with over 10,000 people for a celebration marking the 40th anniversary of the Neocatechumenal Way in Rome. From this celebration several whole communities were sent on mission, along with itinerant catechists, mission families, and the Missio Ad Gentes (a newer form of mission that sends three to five families to a particular area at the request of the bishop).[22]
In March 2019, the Neocatechumenal Way acquired the property of a 5173-square-meter part of the Mount of Olives at Jerusalem, in which they plan to build up a new international center named Domus Jerusalem.[23][24]
World Youth Day Pilgrimages & "Vocational Encounters"
Approximately every three years, the World Youth Day has been organized by the Roman Catholic Church, during which the Pope summons youths from all over the world to a chosen city. The Way has been an active supporter of these.[25]
During the pilgrimage event, young members of the Neocatechumenal Way meet with Argüello for a "vocational call." In
The Neocatechumenal Way in the Eastern Rites and the Holy Land
During the Neocatechumenal Way vocational meeting held near the Sea of Galilee following Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the Holy Land in May 2009, Arguello described the Way's situation in the Holy Land. There are seven communities in the Latin Church, in Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem and Cana.[citation needed] In March 2000, the Way opened its Domus Galilaeae formation center on the slopes of the Mount of Beatitudes in Israel. The facility houses a seminary and is used for studies and retreat, Christian seminars and conventions.[27]
In February 2007, bishops of the Holy Land addressed a letter in which they ask to the Neocatechumenal Way "to take place in the heart of the parish in which you announce the Word of God, avoiding to form a separated group", to root believers "in the parishes and in the liturgical traditions in which they have lived for generations", and that all Eucharistic celebrations would be presided by the parish priest. The document stated that the liturgical rite has preserved the Christian faith through the history of their nations and it was "like an identity card, not just a way like another to pray" in the Church.[28]
In June 2007, Melkite archbishop Elias Chacour proposed the establishment of a new "branch" of the Neocatechumenal Way for the Eastern Catholic Churches, Archbp. Chacour stated in his message that he searched for "someone or some community to preach the Good News to my parishioners" as an answer to proselytism of the sects, and that the Neocatechumenal Way is an answer. A spokesman for the Way reported the letter to ZENIT, saying that "We share the sense of urgency expressed by Archbishop Chacour to evangelize 'the living stones' in the land of the Lord."[29]
The Redemptoris Mater Seminaries
The Way also operates several seminaries dubbed
The Statutes and the Catechetical Directory
In 1997 Pope John Paul II "encouraged [Argüello and Hernández] to examine their thirty-year experience of the Way, and to formalize it with a written statute,"
The Statutes describe the nature of the Way and regulate its charism and specific tasks within the Church.[36] Through them the Neocatechumenal Way was endowed with "public juridical personality" status.[37] The Way is thus closely governed by an ecclesiastical authority, performs entrusted functions "in the name of the church," and has no material goods of its own.[38]
After thorough examination by various Vatican dicasteries, on December 26, 2010, the Pontifical Council for the Laity approved the text of the catecheses which are handed on to neo-
Liturgy
The Neocatechumenal Way regards liturgy as one of its three fundamental elements (tripod), along with the Word of God (scripture), and Christian community.[43] The Paschal Mystery, celebrated in the Sacred Triduum, is seen as a liturgical axis and source of Christian life and a fulcrum of the Neocatechumenate which leads to "rediscovery" of Christian initiation.[44] The Eucharist is essential to the Neocatechumenate, since this is a post-baptismal catechumenate lived in small communities. In fact, the Eucharist completes Christian initiation.[45]
The
In an interview with the Spanish newspaper La Razón,
- "There are no liturgical anomalies [in the Eucharist]; everything is in full compliance with the guidelines of the ‘Ordo Missae.’ What I have really seen there are Eucharists celebrated without any hurry, with a great faith, and where you can perceive the joy and the thanksgiving for the gift which is being bestowed in the Eucharist.”[50]
The Statutes also mention the sacrament of Penance celebrated according to the rite of reconciliation for multiple penitents, with individual confession and absolution.[51]
In April 2012, journalist Sandro Magister reported that Pope Benedict XVI asked the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to review whether Masses celebrated by the Neocatechumenate are “in keeping with the liturgical teaching and practice of the Catholic church”.[52]
Criticism and opposition
The Neocatechumenal Way has encountered resistance and criticism from both heterodox and traditionalist opponents. These including writers and journalists such as Gordon Urquhart who, known for his cooperation with
In 1985, then-Cardinal
There have been allegations that the Way has a divisive impact on parishes. In 1996, Mervyn Alexander, Bishop of Clifton, in England, established a panel of inquiry to explore claims made by parishioners in three parishes (St Nicholas of Tolentino in Bristol, St Peter in Gloucester and Sacred Heart at Charlton Kings in Cheltenham) that had been harmed and experienced ‘considerable stress’ as well as ‘spiritual, personal and mental anguish’ by activities of the Neocatechumenal Way. The report stated that "it understands, from this presentation paper and the submitted evidence, that the Neocatechumenal Way over a long time (20 years) seeks to lead people towards salvation," but it is a cause of 'considerable stress', and 'spiritual, personal and mental anguish' for some individual members. The report recognized at the same time that "there is undoubtedly a 'conversion experience,'" and that it is drawing people in different conditions towards God.[58]
In some places such as China and the Middle East, local Catholics have complained that missionaries of the Way have forced European songs, rituals and prayers on them, without inculturation. Archbishop Peter Takeo Okada, president of the Japanese Bishops' Conference, described the Way's presence in Japan’s small Catholic community as "a serious problem" and "divisive and confrontational".[59] Staff and students of the Takamatsu Redemptoris Mater seminary relocated to Rome in 2009,[60] and in 2010 the Japanese episcopal conference asked the Way to suspend its activities in Japan for five years.[61] Local Catholic bishops suspended the Way's activities in the northern part of the Philippines in 2010, and in Nepal in 2011.[62][63]
Papal statements
Pope Paul VI stated in 1974: "What great joy and what great hope your presence and activity give us!... Living and promoting this reawakening is what you call a form of 'follow-up to Baptism', which will renew in today's Christian communities those effects of maturity and deepening which in the early Church were achieved by the period of preparation for Baptism."[64]
In February 2014, Pope Francis told the members of the Neocatechumenal Way that "[t]he Church is grateful for your generosity! I thank you for all that you do in the Church and in the world."[67][68] Francis added that "[t]he freedom of the individual must not be forced, and you must respect even the eventual choice of those who should decide to look outside of the Way, for other forms of Christian life".[69]
On March 6, 2015, Pope Francis again addressed the Neocatechumenal Way in Vatican City: "I confirm your call, I support your mission and I bless your charism. I do not do so because he [pointing at Kiko] paid me, no! I do so because I want to do it. You will go in Christ's name to the whole world to bring his Gospel: Christ precedes you, Christ accompanies you, Christ will bring to fulfilment the salvation of which you are bearers!"[67][70]
Dialogue with Judaism
Since its beginnings it has been a matter of concern of the Neocatechumenal Way to emphasize the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. With reference to the Second Vatican Council and its emphasis on the
During his visit to Israel in 2000, Pope John Paul II consecrated the international centre of the Neocatechumenal Way Domus Galilaeae at the Sea of Galilee, which serves as a site of Christian-Jewish dialogue. In 2015[72] and 2017, meetings were held between high-ranking representatives of the Catholic Church and Judaism, where Jewish rabbis David Rosen from the American Jewish Committee and Ronald Lauder from the World Jewish Congress participated.[73]
One of the important components of the dialogue with Judaism on the part of the Neocathechumenal Way is also Kiko Argüello's symphony The Suffering of the Innocent, a symphony in memory of the victims of the
See also
References
- ^ "The Way shows signs of a cult or sect".
- ^ "Bishop: Vatican-approved group caused 'problems', 'chaos'". 13 January 2011.
- ^ Statute of the Neocatechumenal Way Archived 2019-06-18 at the Wayback Machine, Title I, Art. 1.
- ^ The term post-baptismal catechumenate is used in the §1231 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, related to the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church itself, “By its very nature infant Baptism requires a post-baptismal catechumenate.”
- ^ Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (PDF). p. 37.
- primary source)
- ^ Kiko Argüello meets with Benedict XVI Archived 2008-01-25 at the Wayback Machine (27 May 2007).
- ^ Anuth, B. S. (2006). Der Neokatechumenale Weg. Geschichte, Erscheinungsbild, Rechtscharakter. Echter, Würzburg.
- ^ Michael Hayes, New Religious Movements in the Catholic Church 12 (2006)
- primary source).
- ^ Statute of the Neocatechumenal Way, Title VI, Art. 34-35.
- ^ ReL (2018-02-13). "Ascensión Romero, sustituta de Carmen en el Camino Neocatecumenal: "La elección me dejó perpleja"". www.religionenlibertad.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-13. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
- ^ L'Osservatore Romano, 11 December 1985 (Italian edition)
- ^ Statute of the Neocatechumenal Way, Title I, Art. 1, § 2.
- ^ Congregation For the Clergy, General Directory for Catechesis, 223: see c. 755 §1 CIC; c. 617 CCEO
- ^ Statute of the Neocatechumenal Way, Title I, Art. 2, citing John Paul II, letter Ogniqualvolta, 30 August 1990, in Acta Apostolicae Sedis (AAS), nr. 82 (1990), page 1515.
- ^ Statute of the Neocatechumenal Way, Title II, Art. 19, § 1, 1st.
- ^ Statute of the Neocatechumenal Way, Title V, Art. 26, 4th; see e.g. "Advent Masses and Gatherings". "Remembering Cardinal Ortega of Cuba".
- ^ Homily of Pope John Paul II recorded in the Italian edition of L'Osservatore Romano, 31 December 1988
- ^ Benedict XVI (12 January 2006). "Address of his holiness Benedict XVI to members of the Neocatechumenal Way – Paul VI Audience Hall". Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Archived from the original on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ Neocatechumenal Way Saying "Yes" to Europe Archived 2008-04-08 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Benedict XVI (10 January 2009). "To members of the Neocatechumenal Way of the Rome Diocese – St Peter's Basilica". Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
- ^ "Neocatechumenate Cult Grabs Mount of Olives For Judaizing Project". March 14, 2019. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
- ^ Morroni, Carlo (March 18, 2019). "Il Monte degli Ulivi ai Neocatecumenali per 5 milioni di euro". Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). Archived from the original on March 21, 2021.
- ^ "Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney - Cardinal George Pell". 2008-12-04. Archived from the original on 2008-12-04. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
- ^ Neocatechumenal Meeting Attracts 90,000 Archived 2007-08-23 at the Wayback Machine (Zenit News Agency).
- ^ "Cardinal O'Malley: Domus Galilaea in Israel". Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2013-12-08.
- ^ "Letter from the catholic Bishops of the Holy land and the Neocatechumenal Way". internetica.it. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
- ^ Melkite Leader Invites Neocatechumenal Way Archived 2007-07-01 at the Wayback Machine (Zenit).
- ^ (cfr. chapter 10 of Presbyterorum Ordinis Archived 2020-03-26 at the Wayback Machine)
- ^ Michael Mullaney, Incardination and the universal dimension of the priestly ministry 216 n.259 (2002).
- ^ Brendan Leahy, Ecclesial Movements and Communities 68 (2011).
- primary source) [dead link]
- ^ Decree of the Pontifical Council for the Laity: Approval of the Statutes of the Neocatechumenal "ad experimentum" Archived 2020-02-22 at the Wayback Machine, 2002. Note: During the process, Card. Ratzinger was elected Pope, and at a Q&A section in February 2007, responded to a question of how pastors should integrate movements in order to develop a real ministry of unity in the universal Church by talking about the Way:
Lenten meeting with the clergy of Rome: Address of his Holiness Benedict XVI Archived 2014-09-22 at the Wayback Machine"For example, we ask ourselves whether, after five years of experience, it is possible to confirm definitively the Statutes for the Neocatechumenal Way, whether a trial period is necessary or whether, perhaps, certain elements of this structure need perfecting. In any case, I knew the Neocatechumenals from the very outset. It was a long Way, with many complications that still exist today, but we have found an ecclesial form that has already vastly improved the relationship between the Pastor and the Way. We are going ahead like this! The same can be said for other Movements."
- ^ Multiple sources report this:
"Neocatechumenate Gets Final Approval". Zenit. 2008-06-12. Archived from the original on 2008-06-15.
"Pope Gives Neocatechumenal Way Final Statutes". Vatican Radio. 13 June 2008. Archived from the original on 2011-08-12.
"Church Gives Final OK to Neocatechumenate". CBCP News. June 13, 2008. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2020.{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - primary source)
- ^ "Juridical recognition and approval of statutes". News. Pontifical Council for the Laity. Archived from the original on 2018-05-02. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
- primary source).
- primary source)
- ^ Neocatechumenal Way receives Vatican approval for its teachings, instructions from Pope (EWTN)
- ^ Church Gives Final OK to Neocatechumenate Archived 2008-06-15 at the Wayback Machine (Zenit)
- ^ "Benedict XVI's Address to Neocatechumenal Way". Zenit. The world Seen from Rome. January 17, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-11-29. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
- ^ Cf. Statutes Art. 8 § 2.
- ^ Cf. Statutes Art. 12 § 1.
- ^ Cf. Statutes Art. 13 § 1.
- ^ Cf. Notice of the Congregation for the Divine Worship on the celebrations in the groups of the Neocatechumenal Way, in L’Oss. Rom. (Italian), 24 December 1988
- ^ On Liturgical Norms for the Neocatechumenal Way Archived 2017-12-07 at the Wayback Machine, Zenit, February 16, 2006.
- ^ Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Letter of December 1, 2005 in Notitiae 41 (2005), 563–565. [2] Archived 2017-03-17 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Final Statute of the Neocatechumenal Way, Art. 13, § 3.
- ^ Interview with Cardinal Antonio Cañizares, Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship, December 14, 2008.
- ^ Statutes of the Neocatechumenal Way, Title II, Art. 14 § 1
- ^ John L. Allen Jr. (June 4, 2012). "Leaks confirm ambivalence about Neocatechumenal Way". National Catholic Reporter. Archived from the original on May 26, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
- ^ Urquhart, Gordon (1995). The Pope's Armada: Unlocking the Secrets of Mysterious and Powerful New Sects in the Catholic Church. Bantam.
- ^ Urquhart (1995), p. 109.
- ^ Michael McGrade, "The Last Trojan Horse", Christian Order, October 2002
- ISBN 8893181509.
- ^ Ratzinger, Joseph; Messori, Vittorio (1985). The Ratzinger Report: An Exclusive Interview on the State of the Church. San Francisco: Ignatius Press. [3].
- ^ Report into the presence and activities of the NeoCatechumenal Way in the Diocese of Clifton. 1 November 1996 (‘Clifton Report’). Commissioned by the Bishop of the Diocese, Mervyn Alexander
- ^ ""Commitment, controversy from evangelical Catholic movement", Crux, February 10, 2018". Archived from the original on May 6, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
- ^ Neo-cats go off on their own way Archived 2012-04-07 at the Wayback Machine UCA News
- ^ Japan's bishops want Neocatechumenal Way to leave for five years Archived 2011-01-15 at the Wayback Machine (CNA).
- ^ "UCA News". Archived from the original on 2012-09-19. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
- ^ Neocatechumenal Way in Lingayen-Dagupan Archived 2011-07-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Paolo VI (8 May 1974). "Udienza generale" (in Latin). Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ Giovanni Paolo II (8 November 1980). "Discorso di Giovanni Paolo II ai gruppi neo-catecumenali della Parrocchia di Nostra Signora del SS. Sacramento" (in Latin). Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "OGNI QUALVOLTA". www.ewtn.com. Archived from the original on 2017-01-06. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
- ^ a b Pope Francis (1 February 2014). "Address of Pope Francis to representatives of the Neocatechumenal Way – Paul VI Audience Hall". Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Pope Francis' Address to Members of the Neocatechumenal Way". ZENIT. February 2, 2014. Archived from the original on 2015-07-21. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
- ^ Robert Mickens (10 February 2014). "Pope to Neo-Cats: respect local cultures and churches". The Tablet. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
- ^ "Pope Francis' Address to the Neocatechumenal Way". ZENIT. March 6, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-10-23. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
- ^ Raphael Weichlein: Katholische Achtundsechziger. Neokatechumenaler Weg und Gemeindepastoral heute. In: Herder Korrespondenz. Band 72, Nr. 11, 2018, S. 50 f.
- ^ Amanda Borschel-Dan. "Where cardinals and rabbis go to forgive, and pray". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 2019-11-05. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
- ^ a b c Walter Homolka: Aus Differenz zum Dialog. In: Herder Korrespondenz. Band 72, Nr. 6, 2018, S. 6.
- ^ "Papst: Erinnerung an Holocaust darf nie verstummen – Franziskus-Grußwort zur Symphonie "Das Leiden der Unschuldigen"". Katholisch.de. Archived from the original on 2019-11-05. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
- ^ Urs Unkauf (6 July 2018). "Symphonie im Zeichen des christlich-jüdischen Dialogs". Jüdische Rundschau. Archived from the original on 2019-11-05. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
External links
- Official website
- Statute of the Neocatechumenal Way (in English)