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The Neocatechumenal Way is a family faith formation process to help baptized adults and youth deepen their faith and rediscover their Baptismal roots. The group generally forms in the Spring after offering a series of talks – given by current members of the “Way” who share their experience from the program – to encourage new people to join the community. Once formed, the group meets mid-week (generally on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. in the Sacred Heart Room) for a Liturgy of the Word, where participants share reflections of how the Word “echoes” in their lives.
The group also has a Mass on Saturday evenings at 7:00 p.m. at which brief reflections (or “echoes”) are offered by members of the congregation after the Gospel (before the priest’s homily). Participants are also invited to sit around the altar where they can closely follow along. The parish priests oversee the program, and often celebrate their Masses. The group also has several potluck meals throughout the year to help build community and offer opportunities for socialization.
Who can join the Neocatechumenal Way?
All parishioners are welcome to join the Way, plus people from other parishes. For more information, contact Clark or Gayle Johnson at (309) 692-5832.
Neocatechumenal History
The first Neocatechumenal community was founded in 1964 by Francisco “Kiko” Arguello and Carmen Hernandez in Madrid, Spain as a way to evangelize and re-awaken people’s baptismal promises. In 2002, the Way’s statutes were approved by the Vatican for a five-year assessment period. Just this past February, the Holy See approved the Way’s final statutes. The Way has more than 1 million participants in over 120 countries.
The Way is based on the catechumenate of the early Christians who taught and instructed people regarding the faith. The movement was acknowledged by Pope John Paul II in 1990 who referred to it as an “effective means of Catholic formation for society and for the present time.”
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