Neophyte Mass Celebrates the “Newly Planted”

On Sunday, May 17, nearly 300 neophytes from across the archdiocese gathered to celebrate the annual Neophyte Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica. His Eminence Frank Cardinal Leo presided at the Mass, joined by clergy, parish initiation team members, and guests of the neophytes. The celebration was a joyous event for the archdiocesan family.

Neophyte is a Greek word meaning ‘newly planted.’ The early Christian community adopted that word and applied it to catechumens who had been baptized. It signaled to the Christian community that these people, who had gone through several years of apprenticeship in the Christian way of life, needed specific nurturing, like a new plant that needs particular attention so that it can grow and mature into the beautiful plant God intended it to be.

In the Church’s renewed vision of Christian Initiation, this same name is given to those who have been baptized at the Easter Vigil, as well as to those who have been received into the Church, and to those who have completed their sacraments of initiation. The whole Easter Season is devoted to nurturing the faith of Neophytes, helping them to understand the Sacramental Mysteries of our faith that we celebrate each Sunday and encouraging them to witness to their faith in the world through the activities of their daily life.