Neocatechumenal Way

The Neocatechumenal Way, also known as the Neocatechumenate, or NCW is an itinerary/process in the Catholic Church for faith formation. It is inspired by the catechumenate of the early Catholic Church where converts from paganism were prepared for baptism through a process of faith formation. This post-baptismal formation helps deepen the faith for adults that have already been baptized, and provides basic instruction to those that are far from the Church. This itinerary of formation adapts the rites of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for those that have already been baptized, without repeating the sacrament of baptism.

It began in Madrid in 1964 by its initiators Kiko Argüello and Carmen Hernández. The Neocatechumenate is implemented in small, parish-based communities of up to 50 people. In 2007 there were around 20,000 such communities throughout the World, with an estimated million Catholics following the itinerary. The Neocatechumenal Way has always placed a strong emphasis on New Evangelization, administering over 100 missionary diocesan seminaries, as well as sending families in mission around the world, to be a Catholic presence in secularized places.