Southern Nebraska Register
St. Mary Parish in Lincoln will host a parish mission with the Neocatechumenal Way this spring, March 17 through May 4.
Missionaries from the Neocatechumenal Way will lead catechesis Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. The events are open to anyone age 13 and up. Free babysitting is available.
Last fall, Bishop James Conley invited missionaries from the Neocatechumenal Way to come to St. Mary Parish for similar events. In a letter to parishioners about the spring session, pastor Father Joseph Walsh explained “the beauty of this mission is that you don’t have to be a Christian, or a Catholic, or in sacramental communion with the Church. You certainly don’t need to be without sin, or to come with someone you know. You only need to listen to the voice within, who I am certain is saying: ‘Come Listen’!”
The Neocatechumenal Way is a charism which draws inspiration from the practices of the early Church, providing post-baptismal Christian formation. It was founded by Francisco “Kiko” Gomez-Argüello and Carmen Hernández in Spain in 1964. Argüello was inspired by the Virgin Mary to “make Christian communities like the Holy Family of Nazareth, who live in humility, simplicity and praise.” Over time, the Neocatechumenal Way was invited to parishes throughout Spain and Italy, and then all over the world. The Neocatechumenal Way was recognized by Pope Saint Paul VI as a fruit of the Second Vatican Council.
“Most of us have come to the faith through doctrinal instruction,” Father Walsh explained. “We’ve learned the basic components of the belief system of the Catholic Church and even many of its practices.”
But, he asked, “have we encountered Christ in the process? We’ve learned about Him and about some of our duties and responsibilities as Catholics. Have we met Him personally? Have we experienced what He has accomplished for me and what He offers me in my journey to the Father?”
The mission, Father Walsh said, will help participants experience a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.
“I’m coming because I know I am called, not simply to monitor and provide support as the pastor, but to encounter the Lord in this new way and allow Him to help me,” he said. “I know, from the testimonies I have heard that God has something for everyone and a way for everyone to be helped by Him. Perhaps you are in a second marriage without an annulment, or a job that requires you to violate the teachings of the Church in order to maintain your employment and support your life. Maybe your family would reject you if you showed interest in Christ and a Catholic project. Maybe you are plagued by habitual sin….
“Maybe you are afraid of your past or fearful of the future judgment that awaits you,” he continued. “Jesus Christ takes us where we are at, and with special gifts and grace that is accessible to us in our circumstances, shows us the way to draw closer to Him. That’s why I am coming. I want to be a good priest and I believe He will show me the way. Come and listen is the invitation of the Neocatechumenal Way. I can do that. I can come and listen how Christ is calling me.”
The parish mission will conclude with a gathering the weekend of May 2-4, with the opportunity for a faith-sharing community to continue to meet weekly beyond the end date. Participants are encouraged to encounter one another through the bonds of Christian friendship.
For more information, please call 720-525-6856. There is no need to RSVP for babysitting.
