The call of Christ to his followers is to " Go and make disciples of all nations..." This divine mandate from our Lord Jesus has been re-emphasized in the Catholic Church since the second Vatican Council in the 1960's. Pope John Paul II, has constantly called all Christians to join in what he calls, a new evangelization and mission to the nations. Indeed, this is to be our first priority. (Mission of the Redeemer, 3)

Evangelization is that essential mission of the church in which the Good News of God’s love for all  humankind is proclaimed in words and witnessed by action and example.
 (From Our Call to Evangelization, Ft. Worth Diocesan Synod Document on Evangelization, 2001.)

While the call to evangelize can be heard loudly and clearly throughout the Church, what has not  been so clear is how we as Catholics can answer that call in a practical, yet comfortable way.  The Alpha course offers an excellent first step for parishes that are looking for a way to respond and may be the most effective form of direct evangelization in common use today.

Alpha is a basic introductory course to the Christian faith which works well in groups of any size.

    • It provides a clear and non-threatening way to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people from all walks of life.

    • It helps lead people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, within the context of the parish.

    • It is ecumenical in that it covers the basic Christian truths shared by all traditions.

    • It is compatible with Catholic teaching, but it does not present wholly Catholic issues.    It assumes  that follow-up teachings will be offered to Catholics and those wishing to become Catholic.

The Alpha Course features 10 weekly meetings consisting of a supper, simple talk, and small group sharing. The course

  •      is user friendly and can be run by the laity.
  •      is supported by comprehensive resources, including talks on video tape.
  •      includes a Friday evening and Saturday retreat, during which participants experience the person and work of the Holy Spirit.
  •      begins with an opening dinner and concludes with a closing celebration dinner where invited friends and family of those who have just finished the course come to learn about Alpha.

The Alpha course has been developed by Rev. Nicky Gumbel and other staff at Holy Trinity Brompton, an Anglican Church in Central London, England over the past twenty years. It is now running in Christian churches (including hundreds of Catholic parishes) in more than 72 countries and has been translated into two dozen languages. Alpha is also rapidly spreading through youth groups, schools, colleges, and prisons.

The national Catholic Alpha office in Ellicott City, Maryland, entitled Christlife, Catholic Evangelization Services (see www.christlife.org ) has offered several Catholic Conferences on Alpha since 1999, and presents a workshop for Catholics who want to offer Alpha in their parishes at each National Alpha Conference offered all over the United States several times a year by Alpha North  America (see www.alphana.org ). Christlife also provides resources to help parishes and other organizations supplement Alpha with Catholic teachings.

 

WHAT DOES ALPHA STAND FOR?

    The acronym for Alpha helps set the scene for the program

    A -Alpha is for anyone.

ADULT ALPHA is for:

Youth Alpha is for:

L-- Learning and Laughter

                     It is possible to learn about the Christian faith and have a lot of fun at the same time. Laughter and fun are a key part of the course, breaking down barriers and enabling everyone to relax together.

P--    People meeting together and Pasta.

                    Each session begins with a simple meal and conversation. It is important that the course is held in a  welcoming environment. Eating together gives people the chance to get to know each other and to develop Christian relationships.

H--   Helping one another.

                The small groups give each person a chance to participate and help each other along the way as they discuss, study the Bible, and pray for each other.

A--   Ask anything.

                Alpha is a place where no question is regarded as too simple or too hostile.  People are  given a chance to raise their questions and discuss relevant topics in small groups after the talk.

 

 

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