Mary The Queen Parish--Philippines

HOW THE WAY BEGAN

This way began in Madrid in 1962 among the slum dwellers in Palomeras, Spain with Kiko Arguello and Carmen Hernandez. After that, The Way spread to 105 countries : in the continents of South America , North America, Central America, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Asia. The Statutes of the Neo Catechumenal Way was approved last June 2008, by the Pontifical Council for the Laity. The approval is the fruit of the combined work of five dicasteries. In addition to the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of Sacraments, the Congregation for Clergy and the Congregation for Catholic Education collaborated for the approval. A communiqué says that the Neo Catechumenal Way has not been approved as an association or a movement or religious congregation but as an itinerary of Christian formation to discover once again our baptism, respecting and confirming the intention of those who began it. The Way is at the service of the parish in terms of Christian initiation without being an autonomous entity.

HOW IT REACHED MARY THE QUEEN PARISH

In 1975, a Spanish team came to the Philippines composed of Fr. Miguel Suarez S.J., Gregorio Sacristan and Virginia Bacyens. And the very first parish that accepted the way in the Philippines was our very own parish, Mary the Queen Parish. The way was opened by Fr. Juan Andechaga S.J. , parish priest at that time. At present 2009, there are 6 communities in Mary the Queen Parish.

WHAT IT THE AIM OF THE NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY

The Neocatechumenal way is a help to the parishes to open a way of Christian initiation to baptism, rediscovering what it means to be Christian. It is an instrument at the service of the bishops in the parishes to help all those who have abandoned the faith to return. The Neo-Catechumenate is a theological catechetical synthesis, a catechism, a post-baptismal catechumenate for adults, an itinerary of Christian formation for contemporary man. It is proposed to everybody but in particular to people already baptized, but who do not have a sufficient Christian formation

Every year, an evangelization is held and all parishioners are invited to listen to an adult catechesis for 7 weeks. After that they will form a community that walks in the parish, for their weekly celebration of the word, weekly eucharist and monthly convivence.

WHAT ARE THE FRUITS?

Mary the Queen produced the pioneer itinerants and catechists that evangelized and started the neo catechumenal way in Cebu, Ilocos Norte, Bacolod, Iloilio, and Mindanao areas. The way has produced several itinerants and catechists and is currently evangelizing in the diocese of Metro Manila, Albay, Samar, Imus, Davao, Cagayan and Zamboanga, Basilan and Marawi to form new communities. There are actively 42 members that also help the parish in giving :

- baptismal instruction twice a week
- catechesis for first communion
- catechesis for confirmation
- individual catechesis for adult baptisms
- pre cana seminars monthly
- youth immersion program weekly
- Weekly visitation of the sick
- Weekly visitation of the parishioners at large

The Neo Catechumenal Communities have participated regularly to the World Youth Day. All theses fruits and commitments arise from the community life in the parishes, immersed in their weekly celebrations of the Word of God and the Eucharist.

On the worldwide level, after more than 30 years of the work of evangelisation, this complex reality of the Neocatechumenal Way has spread to 105 countries and 5 continents. About 2,500 seminarians are preparing to become presbyters for the new evangelisation in 70 "Redemptoris Mater" missionary diocesan seminaries that the Neocatechumenal Way has helped open. The Redemptoris Mater Missionary of Manila was also opened by the late Jaime Cardinal Sin in the year 1998.

For more information about the Neocatechumenal Way contact:
Mr. Gilbert Son at gilbert8son@gmail.com
Updated July 14, 2009