Is the Neocatechumenal Way a gift for the Church or is it still an enigma? Even within Christ the King Parish, where it was first announced on 8 September 8 1991, this question seems to persist.
A clue to the answer to this debate was given by Pope Saint John Paul II in the letter “Ogniqualvolta” of 30th August 1990, published in Acta Apostolicae Sedis (82 [1990] 1515) and also reported in the definitive Statute of the Neocatechumenal Way published on 11 May 2008. The Pope defined the NCW thus: «I recognize the Neocatechumenal Way as an itinerary of Catholic formation, valid for our society and for our times». Art. 1 §1
In our society with more concerns for money and how to survive many live as if God does not exist. Even those who have been baptized and go to mass, rarely know the meaning of their life, the meaning of the Church and baptism, having only received preparation for the sacraments, when they were little, through catechism. The preparation received in youth has today become insufficient for the majority of the faithful to resist the ideologies, choices and attractions of this anti-Christian society. New technologies are, together with money, the new idol that enslaves people.
The Neocatechumenal Way, commonly known as the Way, helps to rediscover the sacraments of Christian initiation in small communities of the parish. This happens through formation in post-baptismal catechesis especially for those who have been away from the Church.
The NCW comes to the aid of this situation with the announcement of the good news: that Christ died and rose again for everyone and to rediscover the meaning of the Christian life.
This Christian formation itinerary adapts the catechesis and rites of the Ordo Initiationis Christianae Adultorum (RCIA) for those who have already been baptized (without repeating the sacrament of baptism) and prepares those who have not been baptized.
It is an itinerary of a catechumenate-type hoped for by the Second Vatican Council which follows all those phases which the catechumens in the early Church followed before receiving the sacrament of Baptism (Statute, note to art. 1§3).
The Neocatechumenal Way guides people through stages to fully practice and nurture the faith received in baptism.
The actual practice of the Way follows the lines proposed by its initiators (Kiko Arguello and the Servant of God, Carmen Hernandez), contained in the Statute and the Directory for the Teams of Catechists (see Statute, art. 2, §2). At this time, the international team in charge of the Neocatechumenal Way is made up of Kiko Arguello, Father Mario Pezzi and Maria Ascension Romero).
Currently, the national team of Catechists in charge of Uganda is made up of a married couple Giovanni Ercolini and Maria Teresa, Fr. Andrea Ciglia and Manuel Gomez Ruiz.
In Christ the King Parish the first Community was born with 65 brothers on 3 November 1991 with a National Catechists team of the Way comprising Fr. Ezechiele Pasotti, Giuliana & Thomas and then the Parish Priest Fr. Paul Ssemwogerere.
Over time, many communities were born, then many merged and from them, local catechists were formed as they go through various stages of formation.
The Way has spread to almost every part of the world, operating in small Christian communities in Parishes like the Holy Family of Nazareth that live in humility, simplicity and praise. Globally, the Neocatechumenal Way has spread to 1,366 dioceses in 135 nations and over 21,000 communities have been formed in 6,233 Catholic parishes, with approximately one million Catholics following the itinerary.
The Way was introduced to the Archdiocese of Kampala in the late 1980s and has since spread to the Dioceses of Masaka, Arua and Nebbi. It is found in the parishes of Our Lady of Africa Mbuya, St Peter Nsambya, Lubaga Cathedral Parish and Christ the King Kampala in the Archdiocese of Kampala.
It assists Christians to experience the graces given in baptism in different or difficult lives as a couple, single or other Christian vocations callings. Here they learn to live a life of faith, build trust in God in all things, and realise that God loves them just as they are.
The neocatechumenal itinerary is based on the three fundamental elements (“tripod”) of the Christian life, underlined by the Second Vatican Council: Word of God, Liturgy and Community (Statute art. 8, § 4)
How does one enter the Way? At certain times during the year, special announcements are made in the church at the Parish. In these announcements, people are invited to attend catechesis for young people and adults. On particular days in a week, you can join to attend catechesis sessions, and after a period conclude with a retreat, and join the Christian community to continue on formation.
Thus began a long journey of faith in a community of the Parish. In our society where many people start living a solitary life and many married couples are in difficulty; children, young people and parents are inspired in this Way by interactions in sharing the Word of God, celebrating liturgies and community gatherings to gradually reach adult faith.
There are numerous spiritual fruits in communities of the Way all over the world. In many countries, families go out to participate in evangelization, and many boys and girls have found gifts of the Lord discovering their vocation to the priesthood, consecrated life and marriage.
Also in Uganda, the spiritual fruits are growing: two priests have already been ordained and many young men and women are discerning what the Lord is calling them to. We thank God for the gift of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Ggaba, which has a significant number of seminarians from all over the world, as well as other brothers discerning their vocations. Three girls from another parish in Kampala have been in a cloistered monastery. Two families (one with 6 young children) from Argentina and Ecuador left their homes and their countries to come on a mission to Uganda and started living in Masaka, looking for work and joining the Neocatechumenal communities of that diocese.
In 2023, 46 young people and adults from the Way in Uganda, including those from Christ the King Parish, joined the World Youth Day celebrations in Lisbon with Pope Francis.
“Let us all repeat this phrase in our hearts: ‘Don’t be afraid,’” he told the hushed crowd. “Jesus knows the heart of each one of you, the successes and the failures, he knows your hearts,” Pope Francis said. “And today he tells you, here in Lisbon for this World Youth Day: ‘Do not be afraid’.”
The Way, helping to rediscover, grow and nurture Christian faith in our parish, is also repeating this same message of Pope Francis to all Christians of Christ the King, our Parish Priest Msgr. Gerald Kalumba and His Grace Paul Ssemogerere: “Don’t be afraid” as we stride forward taking on new challenges and opportunities with a new outlook of Christ the King Parish growing in faith.
Compiled by Pius Mwinganisa,
Main Responsible 1st Community Christ the King ParishWith Contributions from 1st and 2nd Community Christ the King Parish.
