LETTER OF THE AMERICAN BISHOPS TO THE HOLY FATHER AT THE CLOSE OF THE CONVIVENCE IN NEW YORK, 1997

The Bishops ask the Holy Father
that he confirm, by means of an ulterior juridical document,
that which the Way bas been up until be present day:
A post-baptismal Catechumenate at the service of their apostolic ministry 

New York, 5. April 1997 

Most Blessed Father

We Bishops, who have the Neocatechumenal Way in our dioceses, and the other 253 Bishops participating in the Meeting of New York on the theme: "The New Evangelization of America and the Neocatechumenal Way", thank your Holiness for your message relayed to us via your Secretary of State. We also thank you for the words you expressed to the initiators and itinerants of the Neocatechumenal Way on the 24th of January last year; they were enthusiastically called to mind by Cardinal O'Connor in his opening discourse.
As witnesses of the fruits of holiness which this Neocatechumenal Way produces in our dioceses, and convinced that a more adult faith in our faithful can respond to the challenges presented by the Third Millennium, we desire to express to you our gratitude for the recognition which, with the authority of the petrine ministry, you gave to this Way; a recognition which appears to us as fundamental for its insertion in our particular Churches.
We desire to manifest our support to your Holiness, that you confirm, by means of an ulterior juridical recognition, that which the Way has been up until the present day: not a particular group or association, nor a religious institute, but rather a post baptismal catechumenate, a work for the New Evangelization at the service of our apostolic ministry, with a universal missionary dimension, which brings to the dioceses and parishes the renewal of the Second Vatican Council, forming adult Christian communities in the image of the Holy Family of Nazareth, making visible in the world the signs which call contemporary man to faith.
We beseech the Virgin Mary, in order that the fruits of our Meeting may prove help for the forthcoming Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops, regarding the New Evangelization.
May the Lord fill your heart in this period of Easter with the joy of the Risen Lord.
We implore your apostolic blessing for ourselves and our Churches.