Archbishop Sipuka celebrates 40 years of the Neocatechumenal Way in Cape Town

The joyful Eucharistic celebration marking 40 years of the Neocatechumenal Way took place this week in Cape Town.

40 Years of Neo-Catechumenal Way celebrated in Cape Town (Archdiocese of Cape Town)

“Today we celebrate all the saints of Africa and thank God for 40 years of the Neocatechumenal Way in this archdiocese,” Archbishop Sipuka said in his homily. “By the providence of God, these celebrations belong together. The Saints of Africa show us what happens when faith takes root and transforms a person's life. The anniversary of the Neo Catechumenal Way invites us to ask how the gift we have received is helping us achieve the same transformation the saints have,' he said. 

The Way, in Cape Town

The celebration was held at St Michael's in Rondebosch and was attended by Neo Catechumenal members of the Archdiocese, clergy, the religious and the Catholic faithful.

The Way, as it is called, is an itinerary of Catholic formation and ongoing Christian initiation which is nurtured in small communities in parishes. It was inspired by a vision of the Virgin Mary to renowned Spanish artist and musician Kiko Arguello and Servant of God Carmen Hernandez. They met in Madrid's shanty towns, where they formed the first community in 1964. The charism then spread through missionaries to dioceses all over the world.

The Gospel must fully touch our lives

Archbishop Sipuka, speaking on the inspiration African Saints give, encouraged the faithful to live out their faith in every area of their lives, as the saint did.

“We cannot faithfully observe religious practices while allowing parts of our lives to remain untouched by the Gospel. There is also the question of where we place our deepest trust. As Africans, we honour our ancestors and remember them with gratitude for the life we have received from them, but when loyalty to ancestors conflicts with loyalty to Christ, then our faith still needs to mature,” he said. “Our ancestors as Africans have their place in our memory and gratitude, but they cannot take the place of Christ,' the Cape Town prelate said. 

The Archbishop also encouraged the faithful to live out their baptisms in maturity.

Our wounded society

Responsible for The Way in Southern Africa, Dino Furgione recounted how the charism was born in Cape Town during his address at the Holy Mass.

“The Neocatechumenal Way is neither a movement nor an association; rather, it is an instrument within parishes—at the service of the bishop—designed to lead back to the faith those who have abandoned it, or who are experiencing a crisis for which Sunday Mass alone does not provide answers. Today’s wounded society has led many people to turn away from the faith and the Church; for this reason, a journey of Christian formation is urgent, as is the rediscovery of the beauty of belonging to a Christian community,” Furgione said.

Lauren O’Connor-May - Cape Town
Source: vaticannews.va/en