http://neocatechemunal.blogspot.com/2015/02/lenten-announcement.html
This news was given to us at the Lenten Announcement. During Kiko's interview with Zenit, he mentioned that the Jews has asked to meet with him. According to the Interview with Zenit:
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Like his predecessors, Blessed Paul VI, St. John Paul II, and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Pope Francis has given the Church's blessing to the work of evangelization that the Way has brought forward for almost half a century across the globe, above all through the families.
In an interview with ZENIT, Argüello says that the Holy Father's meeting today showed how "God is so good to us."
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ZENIT: Kiko, what were your thoughts on the Pope's words at today's audience with the Neocatechumenal Way.
Argüello: We are amazed by the love he has shown us! I already met with the Holy Father in a private audience before today's [meeting] and I showed him the work that the Way has done up until now, especially with the families: the missio ad gentes, the vocational meetings, Family Day…He was very impressed. And today, he wished to show the love he has for the Neocatechumenal Way. Maybe someone thought that after all those beautiful and positive things he said, there would be a "but"…Instead there was no "but"…We are very happy, also because the Pope's address is a program for the whole [Neocatechumenal] Way. It is also a way to help the Church understand what is a missio ad gentes and how it can act today. Because maybe, in the end, there might have remained an idea of the first missionaries who went to Africa, to America to evangelize. Instead, today there is a need for something new and I can say that the Way fulfills this mission with great creativity, showing an original form of presence of the Church in the world.
ZENIT: On a personal level, after almost 50 years since the Way began, remembering the first evangelization in the shanty towns of Madrid, and seeing now the fruits have spread throughout the world, how do you feel?
Argüello: It is beautiful! (Laughs) Today, especially, I feel consoled by God. Above all, I feel consoled by the words of the Holy Father. I admire this Pope very much. Also in the last convivence of itinerants from around the world, I expressed my sadness at the criticisms that have been addressed towards him. I hear many say that the Pope is a "populist", a "communist", too concentrated on the social…I think they are all mistaken because this Pope is 'declericalizing' the Church. And it is providential in today's times.
ZENIT: Returning to the families: in a time in which –as Pope Francis has noted that the family is struck from all sides - what do these mothers, fathers and children who leave everything to evangelize mean for the Church and for the world?
Argüello: The Christian family, open to life, is a salvation for the world…These families – those already in mission in all the continents, as well as those who leave today, who are 'formed' to evangelize after so many years in the Way – are a salvation for the Church but above all, for society. Because their children will be the future architects, lawyers, doctors…They will be, in short, the society of the future. And today's world needs Christian people who do not rob, who do not lie, who are not corrupt! Moreover, from these families come many vocations. It is also thanks to them that we have 103 seminaries around the world…
ZENIT: After this audience with the Pope, what lies ahead for the Neocatechumenal Way?
Argüello: In the next few months, we will be going around the world for the vocational meetings. I will be in Italy, in Genova, Palermo and maybe Macerata, and also in Spain. The novelty is that we will also go to Africa. Because there are so many brothers and sisters who ask me: "Kiko, when are you coming to Africa?" They are poor people, humble, very drawn to the words of Christ: "Come and follow me!" So they are also waiting to personally live through a meeting where someone asks them: "Are there families for the mission?"; to stand up and go. Now we are organizing a great meeting with almost 25,000 people. We will see…
ZENIT: Another historic event for the Neocatechumenal Way was the concert in Auschwitz, in the presence of many rabbis. Does this dialogue with the Jewish people continue?
Argüello: Yes! After the concert, the Jewish people were so amazed by our spirit of love towards them that they asked for a meeting of all the rabbis with me and the other representatives of the Way. We might do it in May, but it is not confirmed.
ZENIT: One last question: Thinking of what lies ahead for the Way and the words of encouragement from the Pope today, what is your hope today?
Argüello: (Laughs) That the devil does not get so angry that he tries to entrap me!
[Translation by Junno Arocho Esteves]
The Pope is so clear : "I confirm your call, I support your mission and I bless your charism." He said this to the neocatechumenal way last Friday March 6th. How is it possible that some 'Catholics' in Guam doubt its authenticity? How can some people here in Guam still say 'the neocatechumenal way is not catholic'?! Do these so called Catholics believe in the Pope?
ReplyDeleteFollow your statutes and stop attacking non Neos, and then we wouldn't have a problem. Actually, just tell your leaders to stop cheating us out of what we built here on Guam, and to stop forcing their movement on us...do that and we really don't care how you choose to worship. Just stop telling us we have to do it your way.
ReplyDeleteBut we know that won't happen because recruitment = money.
Dear Anonymous at 7:13 am,
DeleteThe people in the Way chose to be there. If they wish to leave, they may leave if they want. They have that free will. Also, we are not cheating you. We do not even ask you for a single penny. All money that we use comes from the brothers in the Way.
Dear Diana @11:27am--So, the Archbishop will not place a Neo priest in all the churches on Guam and eventually force Neo Catholicism on all? If he just says so, it might appease many non-neos who just want to co-exist.
DeleteAs for not asking for a single penny: Well, the Archbishop is Neo and he does ask for our money. I thought the Appeals donations go to the RMS--which is very much a Neo. There are many in my family who have donated thousands to the Appeal for years and are not in the Way. If I am wrong, then where exactly does this money go? There's nothing wrong with donating, your statement "All the money that we use comes from the brothers in the Way" just startled me when I know for a fact that non-Neos also donate. Unless, of course, the money given in the churches don't support any Neo activities at all?
Dear Anonymous at 11:48 am,
DeleteFirst of all, there is no such thing as "neo Catholicism" or "Neo priest." There is only Catholicism and all priests including those in the RMS are all Catholic. Even if the Archbishop places an RMS priest in your parish, he is still going to celebrate the Eucharist the way you have always been celebrating, so the Mass is not being taken away from you.
How can non-neos donate when we do not make any collections in our Eucharistic celebrations??
Following the recent endorsement by the Pope of the Neocatechumenal Way, I did some research and found out that in the primitive church, when the world was pagan, those that wanted to become Christian had to undertake a "catechumenate”, an itinerary of formation in preparation for Baptism. Today the process of secularization had brought many people to abandon the faith and the church. We are all very conscious of the problems that beset our youth (loss of meaning of life, drugs, alcohol abuse, children out of wedlock, suicide) and our families (number of separation and divorce is constantly increasing, the excessive number of cohabiting couples, so many dysfunctional families, violence within marriage). Because of this, there is a necessity today for an itinerary of Christian formation.
ReplyDeleteThe Neo-catechumenal Way is an instrument in the parishes at the service of the bishop specifically for this – a. to return to faith those who have drifted away from the Church, b. to help those who have not been sufficiently catechized and c. to help those who simply want to mature their faith. It is the only approved model of post-baptismal catechumenate under the direction of the respective diocesan bishops and under direct dependence from the persons delegated by the Holy See, namely the initiators of the Way. It is not an entity apart from the diocese but a diocesan reality in full service to the diocese.
to Anon 9:10am.....or you can support the current Youth Ministries in your parish. They have dedicated ministers that serves our youths on Guam....under the guidance of the Archdiocese of Agana.....CCD / Confirmation, LifeTeen, Youth for Christ, etc.....they need your help, prayer and support as well........
ReplyDeleteAlex
Dear Alex,
DeleteThere are actually many NCW members who are doing what you are asking. There are some NCW members singing in the Church choir as well as being cantors in the NCW. Others NCW members are also Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, alter servers, and even parish council members. Some of them have volunteered as CCD instructors and even assist in maintaining the Church grounds. Communities have even volunteered to clean the parish once a month.