A week of surprises

A national magazine booked an interview last Monday then cancelled a day later. They wanted to talk about World Catholic Youth Day but got bored just thinking about it.

TV show, Big Brother, is dumped. Catholics in the raw, via all the media, is in. The Beijing Games comes next. Mustn’t leave too big a gap between main events. The natives might get restless.

Got a surprise this week. Phone call early morning – “Is your church available this afternoon for 100 pilgrims? They want to ‘do’ Mass at the end of a hectic day of touring.”

OK, says I. They were two hours late. Four very big buses arrived at 6pm. A hundred, including three priests, piled into our 150 year old church.

These were the “neo-cats”, a recent development in Catholicism, well disciplined and behaved, heavily dependent on worship and morale sustaining singing and dancing.

We wouldn’t have thought at the start of the week that our parish church would be sought out a safe place by THREE separate groups of one of the world’s most militant catholic associations – the “neo-cats” (short for Neo-Catechumenal Way).

Two lots of 100 were from U.S.A. The third from Austria. Their organisers were caught short, apparently, so rang around hoping. I fell for a begging story, as usual.

Bus loads turned up. The Austrians had been in the air for 2 days. This was their first experience of Australian hospitality. They liked it, especially since my offsider, Martin, spoke German!

I can see how this mob’s admired and feared. They’re charismatic, religiously well educated and always on the lookout for converts.

Not converts to wishy washy Catholicism as practised here and in most other parishes – wishy washy as far as these zealots are concerned, anyway – but converts to the NEOWAY.

It must be daunting for anyone born or recruited into the NEOWAY if that person wants to leave the community. That’s a story yet to be told by investigator Safran on Triple J.

I realise, now, after this week’s dose of the NeoWay, that the groups’ enthusiasm is seductive to a bunch of parishioners, but could be fatal to the bored and boring survival of a local church doing its best to be the heart and soul of the neighbourhood, not just an “Amway” or “Hillsong”, “in house” self-indulgence.

Ask a cabbie about a town. I asked the bus drivers about these tourists/pilgrims. “Good value” said they. Good enough, I say. Glad they’re gone, though. Could be catching!

Bit uneasy about showing off all the “goodies”, accumulated by catholics across all ages and cultures, in the Sydney Expo – giant cross, clerics in roman and germanic western European dressage, stations of the cross scattered around the CBD.

This is like “speaking in tongues” in public. “Don’t do it”, said our Paul, 2000 years ago, “unless you supply a skilled interpreter”. Otherwise the public will be perplexed, then afraid, even hostile. Practise your devotions in private. Go public with your good works for the outsider.

Congratulations to the organisers of the biggest show on earth – seriously. Now let’s flatten the model and give equal resources to the myriads of little churches carrying the torch for best practice Catholicism not only best believed.

By the way, I’ve solved the Pope’s “red shoes” puzzle. B16’s in Sydney, isn’t he? Sydney’s home of the Swans F.C. B16’s just gotta wear Swans colours – red and white!

R.J.M.

Comments

[Joe]

Abba, I have been praying to visit you and your South Melbourne Church. I probably wont be accompanied with bus loads of Neo-cats but I will bring my renewed faith. BTW, you got the best answer to the mystery of Papa Benne's red shoes. Just sad that Barry Hall cannot play and the they recently lost but glad to hear that Jared Crouch is a sponsor of one event in WYD08. I should say 'Go, the Swans!!!' but for now I'll say 'Go, the Holy Spirit'.

[Baldwin D'Silva (Scripture Teacher)]

I am very disappointed with Fr. Bob's criticism of WYD and the bad example he sets to our todays confused Youth. I would prefer Fr. Bob to be excommunitated for his comments as he is an example of a typical Aussie Bloke who shows his faith outwardly for his own glorification and not for the Glorification of God. I would wish if he sets an example by going to Dafur and getting himself shot by Muslim Ganjeri than by asking for the next WYD to be held there.

[Miss Eagle]

I saw the Polish (pretty sure they were Polish but may be they were your Austrians) neo-cats last Friday at Fed square when the NAIDOC concert was on. They were over on the Flinders St side with their banners in a little circle practising some dancing but they hadn't learned the words to the song it seemed because they were doing the dance with books in their hands. I thought what a pity they couldn't have moved just a couple of hundred yards to mix in with the rest of the crowd and listen to the concert. They might have learned something about Australia and its people and someone might have chatted to them. Otherwise, they just looked as if they were in a little world of their own.

[Bill]

Good evening Bob
I met the neo cats in the street in Bendigo on Wednesday. Thanks for the explanation.I was trying to work out where they fitted in the scheme of things. Pretty sincere group. They seemed keen to know about our social problems with youth etc. They said they had trouble getting any sort of feel about it in Melbourne so I said they weren't on their own there. I said we are much more feeling in the bush and social problems like drinking tend to be in direct proportion to population, unemployment and other social issues. We just drink a little harder in the bush cause its hotter and Melbourne is pinching our water. Funny blokes these foreigners......somehow I think I lost him. T and K send regards from the UK.

[Mick]

Hi Fr. Bob
It seems that Joe, an earlier blog commenter, missed the gist of your Pope's (and his Pope's I'm confidently guessing) speech. In which he spoke of practising the fundamentalism of love rather than hate. As for the glorification of God, as a non-Christian I find that totally mind boggling. Why would God want or even need glorifying?

I thank you for your witty insights Fr. Bob and your willingness to question and criticise. If you ever need help making a case for why you should not be excommunicated don't hesitate to ask. :)

I admit that I was one of those perplexed members of the public when I saw the theatrical re-enactment of the last days of Jesus through the streets of Sydney on my TV screen for WYD. Especially when actor Jesus was hoist up on his beautifully crafted cross as the camera panned around to capture a picture postcard, panoramic shot of Sydney harbour, bridge and all. I thought I was watching some kind of bizarre advertisement for Australian Tourism.

As an outsider there did seem to be a morbid fixation on the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus and I ask, what kind of practical or genuinely spiritual benefit does this have for people?

Keep up the fine work,
Mick.

[Mick]

I apologise. The commenter I was referring to earlier was in fact Baldwin D'Silva (Scripture Teacher) and not Joe. Sorry Joe.

Mick.

[Pinkie Leftist]

Just stumbled on Fr Bob's blog. Any other pinko-leftist lay catholics out there who think this pseudo cultish Catholicism is just a tad overkill? Or are we all in the woodwork, living out our faith quietly, chuckling when there's someone in the uniformed services who dares speak out against the Rings and Red Shoes. Yup, let's have a What If Day. I'll make it a point to attend.

[RobP]

Joe, Bob has more chance of getting shot in South Melbourne where he has tried to do the good work for 40 odd years than any far away African country. No need to go too far from home for that!

If all speach is code then his 'Common Aussie' is a language that I understand and take profound meaning from.
Bob has set up and run about 3 or 4 foundations that help those that do and say things far worse than a shot in the dark on a blog. Love those said people according to Gods will so that he has done that for 40 or so years.
I'm sure others are better at Bob resume, but the point is, you can't do what he does on ego. 5 or so years maybe. But not a lifetime.

Context, Joe my mate. Pull your head in*.

*Common Aussie

Cheers
RobP

[Mark Shaw (the tall bloke from the UK)]

I think poor "Joe" is getting undeserved attention here. As "Mick" above said, it was Baldwin D'Silva who was suggesting that Father Bob be excommuniated.
Personally, I just ignore such extreme comments

[Mark Shaw (the tall bloke who visited from the UK)]

I did, of course, mean to type "excommunicated" in the post above (I hate spelling errors!)

[Fred]

Fr. Bob,
I know to a certain extent what you mean about the Neo-Cats. I was stuck behind a bunch of them on my way out of Randwick (heading to Sydney Central) after the closing mass. I did not get the chance to have any meaningful conversations with them but they sure did keep me on my feet after a very long day (and freezing night - did the camp out).Sure their very enthusiastic way of worship can be appealing to the younger members of the congregation but to say that it "could be fatal to the bored and boring survival of a local church doing its best to be the heart and soul of the neighbourhood" is a little off the mark.

Would/Could it not instead be seen as a supplement to the local parishes as opposed to a "competitor"? Similar to how St Vinnes, Caritas or even your foundations are complementary to the local area. I cannot speak for other young Catholics but I would not trade my "boring local church" for anything.

I can totally understand where you are coming from though. The reason I attended WYD was because I have often pondered about the context of the "over zealous worshipping through song/word for word bible quoting" congregant and what I understand to be the meaning of being a Catholic/Christian - ie trying to live the way Jesus lived (DOING deeds, SPEAKING up for the oppressed, preaching forgiveness, giving, love etc). I was really glad (and relieved) that so many forums about social justice and even interfaith relations (with a multifaith panel) were organised as a part of WYD. Even though there wasn't thousands of people at any one of these forums, I can assure you Bob, that we are not alone.

In fact in one of the cathecesis sessions, a Bishop from Canada was asked "should Catholics actively go out and recruit members, bring them to mass etc" and he replied that the best way to evangelise is to do it through your deeds. In one of the forums a speaker said something similar but in the context of helping less developed countries and that we must go there to first and foremost genuinely help them without the agenda of conversion. Then there is the Pope's several mentions of "preserving the dignity of each person", mutual respect and speaking out against exploitation. I could go on and on but I think you catch my drift.

Baldwin,
You are way way off your mark. I do not believe anyone can have a deeper understanding of any situation without first questioning it. Questions keep us all honest.

With regards to all things bling - its a human flaw - I will be the first to admit that I buy things I don't really need instead of putting the money to better use. In fact in Sydney I bought a 300 dollar jacket (which was on 50% sale though). Lets face it, you do it, I do it so lets not let money and ownership of property get in the way of good works.

Also, how is feeding the poor and helping the local society considered self glorification?

Once again, keep up the good work Fr Bob.

[~]

I always thought Neo-Kats were the ones who said *meow* a lot.

Also, meow.

[Gilly]

RENEWAL

It is great to see the signs of renewal in the church,such movements as the charismatic renewal and neo-chatechemanal ways brings back a gospel centred and strictly Jesus centred life into churches Of Australia

Out of the 100s of 1000s of pilgrims that sailed the seven seas to arrive on the shores of sydney 40 thousand of them are said to have been members of the neo-chatecheminal way and a great and uncounted number of them are said to be from the charismatic Renewel according to Arch Bishop Pell

Now im not impressed by your blog bob I will address your error

A national magazine booked an interview last Monday then cancelled a day later. They wanted to talk about World Youth Day but got bored just thinking about it.

which one? and why would you put this negative remark in the blog?

I realise, now, after this week’s dose of the NeoWay, that the groups’ enthusiasm is seductive to a bunch of parishioners, but could be fatal to the bored and boring survival of a local church doing its best to be the heart and soul of the neighbourhood, not just an “Amway” or “Hillsong”, “in house” self-indulgence.

Jesus said I will my church of the confession of faith in Him as st Peter was a stone built upon the Rock Jesus so we must to be built upon Him Alone this true church Hell will not prevail...we see a lot of churches in melbourne and throughout Australia that are being turned into night clubs the survival of the local church rest on christ if it isnt born-again in Him it is not part of the church and would be cut off and die according to Jesus the true catholic church which is not an instituition or building but a communion of believers will not perish if it does we know that it truly is void of Christ Jesus..the local churches need renewal a renewal that can only happen when its members are saved and born-again good works in itself void of christ will not save the church or the world but when we are re-born in christ Jesus we then out of love will walk in Good deeds our love and Good deeds for others stems from the love of God in us then we can tryly be witnesses of Love about your negative view on Hillsong and other catholic or even charismatic/pentecostal churches there not perfect but they are preaching the gospel and renewing the youth and converting people to christ not on the movement like you said but on christ the reason these charismatic groups are doing so well is not because of amm-way but is because of the plan of evangelisation set out in the gospel where did you think ammway got there plan from they stole it from the christians not vice versa which is found in Holy Scripture alone.

This is like “speaking in tongues” in public. “Don’t do it”, said our Paul, 2000 years ago, “unless you supply a skilled interpreter”. Otherwise the public will be perplexed, then afraid, even hostile. Practise your devotions in private. Go public with your good works for the outsider.

The Bible says that Tongues is a sign for the unbelievers ....it also says that we are to go out and preach the gospel to all men thats what wydo8 was about now good works are good but with out christ its nothing you cant truly do anything without out christ your good works amouts to nothing if it isnt connected with Jesus works is a fruit of faith

Now bob I have seen you on tv at first I thought it was a payout to christ and christianity and just an actor then sombody at work told me your were an actual Priest you have been the laughthing stock of the nation i am deeply upset by you and your german side kick a pair of heretics bringing harm to the church and about the neo cats I dont think they would have been safe in your care I think they would have been poluted by your falshoods and doctrines you really need to repent you dont need to repent about your humour thats not bad but your opposition and blaphemy towards God the Youth and the Holy church

regards warnings from the heart of God

your in faith O'Gilly an Irish man