WELCOME TO THE APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF NORTHERN ARABIA
"In places of long-standing evangelization, where the Baptism of children is widespread, What is the Neo-Catechumenal Way?
young people and adults are presented with experiences of catechesis and spirituality
enabling them to rediscover their faith with maturity and awareness, so that they
can then take on a coherent commitment of witness to that faith."
---Benedict XVI, 29 OCT 2006
What is the Neo-Catechumenal Way? Is it a group? a private association? a religious institute? The Neo-Catechumenal Way or Neocatechumenate is a way of conversion, a Christian initiation within the Catholic Church that is dedicated to adult faith formation.
The Neo-Catechumenal Way does not lay claim to forming a movement in itself, but to helping parishes open a way of Christian initiation to Baptism, in order to discover what it means to truly be a Christian. The Neo-Catechumenal Way is essentially offered to those who have already been baptised, but who do not have an adequate Christian formation.
"The Way" was launched in response to Vatican II, and believes that the Church must react to social changes of the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly secularism, by becoming more of a community and returning to the teachings of the early Christians. Over the past thirty years it has built seminaries around the world and is today one of the fastest-growing ministries within the Church.
The Neo-Catechumenal Way began in 1964 in the slums of Palomeras Altas, Madrid, through the work of Mr Francisco (Kiko) Argüello and Ms Carmen Hernández who, at the request of the poor with whom they were living, began to proclaim to them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As time passed, this kerygma was embodied in a catechetical synthesis, founded on the tripod: "Word of God - Liturgy - Community", that seeks to lead people to fraternal communion and mature faith. [ Read more ... ]
The Neo-Catechumenal Community in Kuwait
The Adult Catechesis began on 26th November 2006 at 7.15 pm with three sessions a week. Every day was a new experience with Scripture-based teachings and interaction, coming face to face with the reality of our Catholic faith and also familiarizing ourselves with the teachings of the Old and New Testament. Finally, after almost a month of Catechesis, we had a Retreat for three days to sum up the Catechesis and seal our zeal to begin a new life in the Neo-Catechumenal Community. What we do in the Community is that we have the preparation of the Word and of the Eucharist by different teams for the celebration of the Word on every Tuesday and the celebration of the Eucharist every Saturday. We have had three “Convivences”. That is in simple terms, is a thanksgiving get together held on Sundays, once every month from morning to evening, dwelling on the Word of God and then sharing each one’s experiences in the Community. All in all we are on a journey to our promised land in Christ Jesus looking to Him with humility in order to draw strength and Grace for our conversion, which is necessary if we want to live a Christian life. --- Report by Sucorro Lawrence  His Lordship Bishop Camillo Ballin, MCCI, Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait initiates the Neo-Catechumenal Way in December 2006, at the Holy Family Cathedral Parish, Kuwait. |
The Neo-Catechumenal Community was initiated in Kuwait on the 1st of December 2006, after His Lordship Bishop Camillo Ballin had invited Catechists from Italy to come here. They were: Rev. Fr. Ermenio, Filippo, Margherita and Salem.
A Pictorial Overview of The Neo-Catechumenal Way
Parishioners at the service of the parish Catechesis: baptismal preparation, first communion, confirmation, marriage preparation... Eucharistic ministers.. Other services in the liturgy... Pastoral for the elderly, the sick, the grieving, the jailed. |
 The Parish : a network of small communities The Neo-Catechumenal Way is an instrument in the parishes to help parishioners discover what it means to be a Christian and to bring back to the faith those who have abandoned it. |
 A people in communion "It is necessary to create Christian communities like the Holy Family of Nazareth, which may live in humility, simplicity and praise, where the other is Christ." |
 Families open to life and able to transmit faith "In the bosom of the small community the family recovers the sense and joy of its mission : to transmit both natural and supernatural life. Marriages are rebuilt and become witnesses of Christ in the social urban life". (John Paul II) |
 Numerous vocations to the presbyterate Many vocations to the priesthood and religious life, both male and female, have arisen from this Way. A real answer to the shortage of vocations. |
 "Families in Mission : Trinity in Mission" Families in Mission : an answer to the sects and a sign of the Christian family in the most de-christianized areas of the world : "Reimplantatio Ecclesiae". |
The Neo-Catechumenal Way is an instrument in the parishes, in the service of the Bishops, to bring back to the faith all those who have abandoned it. Today many dioceses are trying to carry out catechesis for adults. This Way is a theological- catechetical synthesis, a catechism, a catechumenate for adults, an itinerary of Christian formation for modern man. |
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 Redemptoris Mater Seminaries More than thirty seminaries in the world preparing diocesan missionary priests for their own diocese and the New Evangelization anywhere there is need. All vocations coming from the Neo-Catechumenal Way. |
 Popular Missions The Gospels announced in the Streets. "This is not time to be ashamed of the Gospel. It is time to preach it from the rooftops." (John Paul II) |
 Itinerant Missionaries Parishioners who consecrate every physical and spiritual resource to the new evangelization. |
 Knocking on doors In search of the lost sheep, offering a road to "come back" for those who have abandoned the Christian way of life. |
 "This is the secret of your formula..." "...which provides religious assistance, a practical training in Christian faithfulness, and effectively integrates the baptized into the community of believers which is the Church." January 12, 1977 |
 "I recognize the Neo-Catechumenal Way as an itinerary of catholic formation, valid..." "The reflection upon the Word of God and the participation in the Eucharist make possible a gradual initiation into the sacred mysteries, form living cells in the Church and renew the vitality of the Parish..." April 12, 1993 |
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All above information/pictures are copyrighted by Rev. Fr. Pius Sammut, OCD
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