20,000 Attend Mass Celebrating 50th Anniversary of Neocatechumenal Way in the U.S.
By Walter Sánchez Silva
On Sunday, July 7, more than 20,000 people gathered at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Neocatechumenal Way in the United States. The Mass was officiated by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the U.S.
According to a news brief from the Neocatechumenal Way shared with ACI Prensa, EWTN Norway’s Spanish-language news partner, this Mass commemorated the 1974 visit to New York by the founders of the Neocatechumenal Way, Kiko Argüello and Carmen Hernández.
Thousands of young people from across the United States, who had undertaken pilgrimages to various shrines and holy sites, participated in the Mass. The event culminated with approximately 1,000 young men announcing their intention to enter the seminary to prepare for the priesthood, and 1,500 young women expressing their desire to dedicate their lives to Christ as nuns or missionaries.
Though Kiko Argüello could not attend in person, he participated via video call from Madrid, Spain. He reminisced about his 1974 visit to New York, where he met several parish priests based on a list provided by Cardinal Terence Cooke. It was only the last priest he visited who agreed to start a Neocatechumenal community.
Cardinal Pierre’s Homily
In his homily, Cardinal Pierre conveyed greetings from Pope Francis, affirming the Pope’s support and appreciation for the Neocatechumenal Way’s contributions to evangelization. He referenced Pope Francis’s 2018 address to the apostolate in Italy, emphasizing the importance of their charism as a divine gift for the contemporary Church.
The cardinal highlighted the necessity of reaching out to “the lost sheep” and reiterated Pope Francis’s message about the Church’s role in welcoming back those living in moral poverty and estrangement from God. He emphasized that the Church must provide a path back for those suffering from addiction, violence, and despair, asserting that God can create a way where it seems impossible.
Cardinal Pierre also stressed the Church’s mission to open doors for sinners to return, noting that secularization cannot quench the innate thirst for God. He added that experiencing the power of grace equips individuals to guide others back to God.
Notable Attendees and Communities
Joining Cardinal Pierre at the Mass were Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, Auxiliary Bishops Michael Saporito and Elias Lorenzo, Bishop Robert Brennan of Brooklyn, Auxiliary Bishop James Massa, Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, and other American bishops. Approximately 300 priests also participated in the celebration.
The Neocatechumenal Way has a significant presence in the United States, with 1,100 communities and hundreds of missionary families. Additionally, there are nine Redemptoris Mater diocesan seminaries in Newark, Washington, D.C., Boston, Denver, Dallas, Brooklyn, Bridgeport, Miami, and Philadelphia, preparing 300 seminarians for the priesthood, with 270 priests having already completed their formation.
About the Neocatechumenal Way
Officially approved by the Holy See in 2008, the Neocatechumenal Way is not an association or movement but a post-baptismal catechumenate designed to assist parishes and dioceses in evangelization efforts. It is present in 135 countries, encompassing approximately 25,000 communities and over 1 million members.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, EWTN Norway`s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN Norway.
