Lay Mission Families ...

Don't know much about the Neocatechumenal Way. I have vaguely heard of them in the past; recently they have been in the news because they have been told apparently to get their liturgical practices in line with the rest of the Roman rite. ZENIT had a article about their audience with Pope Benedict XVI yesterday. I found this interesting:

In his first audience granted to communities of the Neocatechumenal Way, Benedict XVI sent more than 200 families on mission to dioceses around the world.

Addressing the families -- parents and children -- who leave their countries to evangelize abroad, the Holy Father said: "They are families that leave without many human supports, but who count above all on the support of Divine Providence."

The idea of "mission families" was born in 1986, in response to Pope John Paul II's appeal to undertake a new evangelization. Their members, who belong to Neocatechumenal communities, offer themselves as volunteers to go to nations where the Church needs help.

The fate of each one of them is designated by the leaders of the Way, taking into account the specific needs of each area and in response to the requests of bishops who ask for families to be sent to their dioceses.