As many already know, there are a few junglefolks against having an RMS in Macau. These are basically the same people who opposed Guam RMS. However, do not be discouraged, brothers. The NCW have the support of four popes including Pope Francis. According to a letter by Pope Francis sent to the Neocatechumenal Way dated March 5, 2015:
And today I confirm your call, I support your mission and I bless your charism.Any bishop who opposes the Neocatechumenal Way and the Redemptoris Mater Seminary should bear this in mind: If one is truly in communion with Pope Francis, then one should support what the Pope endorses rather than oppose it. The same goes for the laity. Pope Francis has already expressed his support and given his blessings to the Neocatechumenal Way. Those who do not support what the Pope has blessed and endorsed have placed themselves outside God and His Church. The following article can be found here.
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Macau to host new seminary for Asian evangelization
HONG KONG - A new seminary to train priests for all of Asia will open in the Chinese territory of Macau in September.
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples has entrusted management of the Redemptoris Mater College for Evangelization in Asia to the Neocatechumenal Way, ucanews.com reported.
The seminary was established by a decree signed June 29 by Cardinal Fernando Filoni, congregation prefect, after an audience with Pope Francis.
Filoni told Agenzia Fides, information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies, the college is “the fruit of apostolic creativity that looks to evangelization in that continent and expresses a will of decentralization of the congregation.”
The Neocatechumenal Way has long-standing experience of forming priests for the mission in Asia, he said.
The new college’s “specific nature is to take care of the formation for missionary priests who will have the evangelization in the territories of Asia at heart,” he continued.
The choice of Macau, a former Portuguese colony returned to China in December 1999, is linked to its history as a gateway for Jesuit missionaries such as Matteo Ricci, Francis Xavier and Alessandro Valignano who passed through it before going to China or Japan.
The seminary is being opened in response to St. John Paul II’s 1990 encyclical Redemptoris Mission (“Mission of the Redeemer”), which identifies the Asian continent as a territory where “the Church’s mission ad gentes (to the nations) ought to be chiefly directed.”
It is also a response to the call of Pope Francis, who in his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (“The Joy of the Gospel”) invited the church to “go forth” to always proclaim the Gospel.
Filoni said Macau “has historically represented the door or a bridge for the mission of the Church in the East and as a promoting center for evangelization in the Far East.”
Bishop Stephen Lee Bun-sang of Macau accepted the congregation’s request to host the new college. However, appointments and authority over it will remain the direct prerogative of the congregation.
The Neocatechumenal Way was founded in Madrid, Spain, in 1964. It is estimated there are more than 100 Redemptoris Mater seminaries, 40,000 communities and 1 million members worldwide.
RE YOUR "If one is truly in communion with Pope Francis, then one should support what the Pope endorses rather than oppose it."
ReplyDeleteWe must as Catholics examine just how loyal we are to Peter who has the power to loose and bind.
The Popes have all been generous in praising the NCW for their evangelization, mission, vocation, etc. efforts. However, NONE have given permission for the NCW's Mass alterations. The approved Statutes, in their section on Liturgy, does not give permission for the additions and deletions. In fact, Footnote 49 refers to the corrections Pope Benedict XVI expected the NCW to make. He said that these changes would make the evangelization "more effective." Just being able to receive Communion immediately and on the tongue would allow "others" to celebrate Mass together with them. As it stands throughout the world, Communion is denied to those who are supposed to be part of the SAME BODY if they wish Communion on the tongue. Even Pope Francis in his recent Catechesis on the Mass said that each one of us can choose how we receive - option for either in the hand or on the tongue.
Pope Francis had spoken to many bishops who supported the NCW and although highly commending the group for various things, he ended with direction for the bishops to correct the NCW where needed using the Statutes in hand. I applaud Archbishop Byrnes and others for doing just that.
YES...."If one is truly in communion with Pope Francis, then one should support what the Pope endorses rather than oppose it."
Signed (with absolutely no hostility towards the NCW)
Praying for a "new catechumenal way"
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous at 8:32 am,
And how do YOU know that the NCW did not obtain approval from the pope? Did you PERSONALLY spoke to the pope and heard him say that he never gave the NCW approval? Or is it just your own prejudice and speculation? Kiko PERSONALLY spoke to the pope himself and approval was given otherwise Pope Francis would not confirm our call, support our mission and bless our charism.
You stated: “Even Pope Francis in his recent Catechesis on the Mass said that each one of us can choose how we receive - option for either in the hand or on the tongue.”
Oh really.....and you think this applies to EVERY Catholic Mass including the Traditional Latin Mass. 🙄
Yes, the NCW in Guam have obeyed Archbishop Byrnes instructions. We are currently having the Eucharist inside the church building and consuming the Body of Christ after receiving it. Those were the only instructions Archbishop Byrnes gave.......and here you are still praying for a “new Neocatechumenal Way.” This only goes to show that even the instructions given by Archbishop Byrnes is not good enough for you and therefore you are NOT in communion with Archbishop Byrnes.
Communion on the tongue is the NORM which NO priest or bishop can deny any Roman Catholic. Communion in the hand is an indult which can be REVOKED. This is why we only have Communion on the tongue in the Traditional Latin Mass - there was never an Indult issued for Communion in the hand.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why you accuse me of NOT being in communion with Archbishop Byrnes - I wholeheartedly support and agree with him in his decision to curtail the NCW's alterations to the Mass.
However, I am praying for a "new catechumenal way" in dioceses WORLDWIDE that do not realize that the permission for the deletions and additions to the NCW Mass do not exist. Again, the NCW's approved Statutes in Footnote 49 refer to the changes needed WORLDWIDE (not just Guam) for the NCW's evangelization to be "MORE EFFECTIVE."
This is not my idea, I'm just one trying to pass on the info from the Popes to those who are willing to listen. Peace. (I have no hostility towards the NCW)
Anonymous - praying for a "new catechumenal way."
Yeah right you do have a hostility towards the way
DeleteDear Anonymous at 2:52 pm,
DeleteDo not backtrack on your story. You ALREADY stated in your previous comment: “Even Pope Francis in his recent Catechesis on the Mass said that each one of us can choose how we receive - option for either in the hand or on the tongue.”
This ALREADY indicate that you believe that what the Pope said applies to ALL Catholic Masses including the Traditional Latin Mass. So, do not change your story.
Since this is what you believe in, why on earth are you praying for a "new Neocatechumenal Way" in diocese WORLDWIDE. Why not also pray for a "NEW Traditonal Latin Mass" WORLDWIDE? Do not make excuses. You already interpreted Pope Francis' statements to mean EVERY Catholic Mass including the Traditional Latin Mass, so do not change your story. Perhaps....maybe you should PERSONALLY speak to the Pope and PERSONALLY ask him what he means when he stated, "EACH ONE OF US can choose how we receive - option for either in the hand or on the tongue.”
I think Anonymous 2:52 pm wants the NCW worldwide to follow Byrnes’ instructions, and he forgets that Byrnes is not the Bishop of the world. The NCW in every country has to follow their own Diocesan Bishop.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous at 6:03 pm,
DeleteI agree. However, the fact that he/she brought up the Pope’s catechesis on the Mass is evidence that he/she is not Satisfied with the instructions given by Archbishop Byrnes to the NCW. He/she is not in communion with Guam’s Archbishop.
Hi Diana, here's what Pope Francis actually said:
ReplyDelete"According to ecclesiastical norms, the faithful normally approach the Eucharist in a processional manner, as we have said, and receive Communion standing with devotion, or on their knees as established by the Episcopal Conference, receiving the Sacrament either on the tongue or in the hand, if allowed, as preferred (cf. girm 160-161).
Note "in the hand, if allowed" definitely speaks of the Indult required to receive Communion in the hand. Here is USA, and elsewhere but not everywhere, we have that Indult, but individual Bishops may rescind this option if they see the need.
I still see no reason why you state I am not "satisfied" with Archbishop Byrnes; I am very satisfied.
Anonymous "praying for a "new catechumenal way"
Dear Anonymous at 12:35 am,
DeleteDo not change your story. You already stated in your comment since the beginning that each of us have an OPTION when receiving the Body of Christ. Therefore, I suggest that you also start praying for a “new Traditional Latin Mass” worldwide.
Leaving out questions of liturgy or sacrament, what Popes have with difficulty "approved" - after a process of attrition and enforced fudging - is the slim book containing the alleged "statute", which does not detail any of the oaths members find themselves expected to take without prior preparation or informed choice.
ReplyDeleteSurely it would be unreasonable of you to expect His Holiness to micromanage, and trouble shoot, everything that goes wrong with the dynamics and boundaries in and around the NCW - as has indeed also been the case since time immemorial with so many other offgrowths of the Church?
Fortunately, laity and bishops alike, have far more liberty in real doctrine, canon law, and Scripture, than you describe.
Dear Morris I,
ReplyDeleteThe members of the NCW does not take any oaths. We have the free will to obey or disobey. We are also free to leave the Way, if we choose. I disagree with your last sentence regarding bishops. Unlike the laity, Bishops and priests are the ones who take a vow of obedience. The members of the Way do not take any vow of obedience.
One of the failures in governance, was that we were asked to swear oaths every third Wednesday. It is a good thing this has been stopped.
ReplyDeleteWhile one group were easy with me dropping in and out, another group, who hadn't grasped the principle, weren't.
You are still misrepresenting the obedience question, as far as the generalised Roman Catholic church, as distinct from any movement not freely joined and left, at individual discretion, is concerned.
DeleteDear Morris I,
I have no idea what you are talking about. I have been walking in the Way before the Statutes were approved by the Holy See, and I was never asked to swear an oath of obedience to the Way. The fact that you were able to drop out is already an indication that you had the freedom to leave regardless of what anyone says or feels about it. After all, each individual is entitled to his/her own opinions.
I agreed with the ideal the operatives of the "way" continued to appeal to, but bad governance meant we couldn't get our input accepted (e.g asking for money accountability).
ReplyDeleteMeantime the members of one of the "communities" I belonged to were accepting of my part time attendance and for several years almost complete absence. One I joined subsequently weren't.
Your accounts of your observations probably aren't sufficiently representative.
Dear Morris I,
DeleteDid you contribute any money to the NCW? If not, then why does it bother you? I can understand if a brother in the Way would question where the money is going due to the fact that the brother contributes his money, but an outsider who never contribute his money??? As far as I know, the brothers have never questioned where the money because they already know. But an outsider who never contributes any money? As I said, it’s always about the money.
Didn't we all contribute? And didn't we notice our fellow member also contributing something? And didn't we share in their middle-of-the-road and just, concerns, about a rather wider range of issues than money? And weren't we wholesomely concerned with the integrity of our dioceses' relationship with outside charitable or non-charitable bodies? Our superiors in fact forgot to put our "responsibles" in the picture and our "responsibles" gave up trying to make them do so. Whilst your own "community", fortunately, manifested above average governance, does your brush-off justify the inferior standard we observed outside your range of view? It's about a lot more than money as you have already read. A few bungles, and a bit of eccentricity, fair enough. Over nearly three decades more and more "incompetence" makes itself shown, that's all. It would be easy for your superiors to end all the problems by finishing the "way" after 4 years (the length of a "catechumenate"). It's no use you, with your limited experience, complaining about the members and leadership and governance of other "communities".
ReplyDeleteDear Morris I.
DeleteWere you a participant in the retreat? We always hold our retreat in a hotel. A black bag is passed around and those at the retreat put in their money to pay for their hotel room, food, and other accommodations. And this is what people like you complain about. It is about the money. You suggest that the money go to the Archdiocese. If we did that, you would still complain. You would fuss about why the Archdiocese is paying for the retreat of the NCW. Again, it is about the money, and the complaints are endless because nothing would satisfy you.
Also, I am not complaining about the members, leadership, and governance of the Way. Do you honestly think that it only takes four years to become a Christian......to be able to walk like Christ......to be a martyr like the Apostles? This is what the Way is preparing us.....to be a Christian who carries the light of Christ so that even the pagans and atheists can see Him and believe.
Dear Diana, I believe you misconstrue Morris' intention here. You accuse him that "nothing would satisfy you", although he has never said anything that would justify your accusation. Your experience is sadly reduced to a dissection of the staunchest critics of NCW and therefore you only notice two colors: the white of those who are in the NCW and the black of those who want to abolish NCW from Guam. It seems to be a world torn apart into two, being nothing between.
DeleteBut how about all the other colors? You should make disctinction of the comments of Morris or my comments from those anonymous people's charges who attack you. Both Morris and I are asking questions from you out of curiosity that you take as hostile and treat as black. However, there are plenty colors out there... Your eager desire to repel the anonymous black comments makes you to erase the other colors, as well.
As Morris said, we thought you could be interested, because these are interesting questions. But you just brush it aside, shoot at or shut down. This is your choice just as this is your blog. Why don't you feel like to make it more colorful?
Dear Grow up in faith,
DeleteMany people bring up the same old arguments. Just look at Father William's comment under this blog. He stated:
"The WAY has their own Easter Vigil Mass without the other people of the parish."
This is false, and Father William did not bother to check his facts. I have already shown that the Holy See has given the Way permission to have an Easter Vigil. Also, people who are not walking in the Way are invited to the Easter Vigil. At the Easter Vigil, we would have baptisms; therefore, there would be non-members at the Easter Vigil despite that it is about six hours long.
Father William also stated: "I believe they don't like to pray the Rosary like Protestants."
That is what he believes, and again he did not bother to find out whether what he believed is true or not. He simply wrote everything negative about the Way without checking any facts. Since Father William did not bother to check his facts, but chose to swallow everything from the anti-neo propaganda, then it is useless to even address his comments.
Dear Diana, thank you, but neither Morris nor I are Fr William. We tried to ask our questions in a more docile manner. You seem to favor warfare over docility and honor hostile attacks by responding to the attacker, rather than elborating on the more interesting questions we ask. Again, this is fine. It is your blog and you make your blog to be what you wish.
Delete
DeleteDear Grow up in faith,
On the contrary, you have attacked the NCW. You accused the NCW of not giving the Directory to Archbishop Byrnes, which is why I did not publish your previous comment. Like Father William, you did not check your facts. You simply swallowed what the jungle says without bothering to ask the NCW. There is no reason for the NCW to withhold the Directory from Archbishop Byrnes. After all, the Directory was approved by the Holy See. Archbishop Byrnes can review it all he wants. What do we have to fear? And after Archbishop Byrnes reviews it, what did you expect him to say?
We had a great many of those over the years, nice food, often pretty scenery (not often enough time to get out in it). The hotel bill was always OK. I've never stated I had complained about a hotel bill, and I'm sure no-one else did.
ReplyDeleteAs you can read in all my comments to which I refer you, I have complained about a lot of bad boundaries, as well as monetary matters you haven't described, and so have others.
Diana, it is not for you to claim to make excuses for what went wrong outside your purview. I merely thought you'd be interested that's all!
There are too many conflicting versions of "becoming a Christian", inside and outside the "way", none particularly authoritative, but I do know it doesn't involve the bad dynamics, unclear thinking and ambiguous speech (resembling politicians and commerce). I don't in fact know what the many, many multiples of 4 years has turned me into! Perhaps it has made me rush to become a christian on the rebound!
I don't think pagans or atheists are going to be interested, where the Holy Spirit isn't, despite all our blasphemous invocations. If he was there, the relationships would reflect it. Some people joining the "way", who were Christians already, softened the blow in our early years.
However, I AM genuinely glad it worked out better in your neighbourhood!
I have succeeded in my intention, of merely bringing these matters to your interested glance, that's all.
Best wishes!
Dear Morris I,
DeleteYou stated: “There are too many conflicting versions of “becoming a Christian”, inside and outside the “way”, none particularly authoritative.......
A Christian is a person who follows the teachings of Christ. He is a person who does not judge anyone, who loves and prayers for the enemy, who forgives his persecutors despite the fact that the persecutor never apologized. He is a person who turns the other cheek when someone slaps him and who does not retaliate in anger or revenge. He is a person who readily asks for forgiveness when he committed a wrong and tries to make amends or make up for his wrongdoing. He is a person who leads a prayerful life and walk with humility. For many people, it takes a lifetime to become a Christian.