What American Bishops say about Alpha:
Archbishop Harry Flynn of Minneapolis, MN
“Over the past few years, I have been eagerly watching the impact of Alpha all over the world, and I believe now is the time for the Twin Cities parishes to seriously consider using Alpha in our outreach efforts.”
Bishop John-David M. Schofield Diocese of San Joaquin, Fresno, California
"A number of parishes of San Joaquin, including the Cathedral Church of St. James, Fresno have offered the Alpha Course. Where the full program has been followed -- including the weekend retreat -- the results have been spectacular ... Please know that I heartily endorse this program of evangelism and instruction for the parishes of this diocese and am grateful to Nicky Gumbel and all who have been obedient to the Holy Spirit in making this course so readily available."
William Cardinal Keeler
Archbishop of Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Dear Friends in Christ,
As we enter the third millennium since the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus, we are reminded of the urgent task of evangelization that faces the Church here in the United States. Our parishes need practical ways to participate in the essential mission of evangelization, "the reason for which the Church exists" (Evangelization in the Modern World #14).
In the Archdiocese of Baltimore we are committed to sharing the love of God with people who have no connection with the Church and with the large number of Catholics who are not practicing their faith, as well as deepening the faith of our parishioners. With this in mind, we believe that the Alpha course is one very effective way of beginning a process of evangelization in our parishes and ministries. Alpha is a very basic introduction to the Christian faith that presents the love and forgiveness of God revealed to us in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Parishes in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and over 300 Catholic parishes across the US are currently using the Alpha course and are finding it quite effective at evangelizing people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to the Church. It has also been helpful in re-evangelizing parishioners and mobilizing the laity to evangelize.
Alpha is only an introduction to the faith, and happily, is being supplemented by specifically Catholic materials. The majority of participants who complete the Alpha course express the desire to continue in small group communities. Many of the non-Catholics enroll in RCIA and become, in time, active members of the Church. Many Catholics completing Alpha experience a new vibrancy of faith that manifests itself in seeking additional spiritual growth, in service, and in actively sharing their faith.
A program of follow up to Alpha is essential to the successful use of Alpha as an evangelizing tool. ChristLife, an apostolate here in the Archdiocese, has developed some excellent Catholic teaching materials intended to continue the process of evangelization that Alpha begins. It is within the context of this process of evangelization that I encourage the use of Alpha in our parishes.
What International Catholic Church Leaders say about Alpha:
Canada:
The Most Rev'd Adam Exner, OMI
Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver, Canada
“Alpha is a tried and proven and effective method of reaching out to the fallen-away and those who do not yet believe. I really believe that Alpha is one way of responding to what the Holy Spirit is asking of us today.
I sincerely believe that the Alpha approach to evangelising can and will enhance our evangelising effort. It is a tried, proven and effective method of reaching out to the fallen away and to those who do not yet believe. Alpha is a way of responding to what the Holy Spirit is asking of us today. I believe that Alpha is one way and a very effective way of contributing to the new springtime of faith and Christian living in our world of today. Alpha is a real source of hope for the future."
Australia:
The Most Rev'd B.J. Hickey
Catholic Archbishop of Perth, Western Australia
"Reports I hear about Catholic Alpha are always enthusiastically positive. Catholics find that their faith really comes alive and that they want to share it with others, especially with those who have drifted away from the faith. I am happy to encourage Catholic Alpha as a modem and effective form of evangelization."
The Rt Rev’d. Pat Dunn
Catholic Bishop of Auckland
Alpha is one of the most exciting things that is happening in the life of our churches in our time.
New Zealand:
Cardinal Thomas Williams
Archdiocese of Wellington, New Zealand
"News of Alpha has been spreading fast and many churches are becoming eager to learn more of its content and method, and what it might do in energising the life and mission of our parishes. I already know Alpha to be a remarkably effective course."
England:
The Rt. Rev'd Ambrose Griffiths O.S.B
Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, England
"This is the first time ever that the very same course is being used by every Christian church in pretty well every country in the world. That is an incredible achievement. It's very hard to think that it is anything other than a work of the Spirit in which we should rejoice."
Charles Whitehead
Former President of the International Council of Catholic Charismatic Renewal
Alpha is an excellent introductory course for those who do not go to church or for whom an inherited Christianity has little meaning. I have no hesitation in recommending it to any church or group wishing to present the basic Gospel message clearly and effectively.
Austria:
The Rt. Rev’d Alois Kothgasser
Bishop of Salzburg, Austria
'Evangelisation means to take the Good News into all areas of life and through its influence to change mankind from the inside out. Mankind cannot be changed until men are changed and are renewed through baptism and life according to the Gospel'. These words from the encyclical 'Evangelii Nuntiandi' by Pope Paul VI have not lost their topicality. The experience with Alpha courses show the need to find new forms of proclaiming the gospel to the people of our time. I appreciate the increasing number of Alpha courses in the Catholic Church in Austria enabling people to become firm believers in Jesus Christ.”
Brazil:
Father Philippe Berger
Chemin Neuf Roman Catholic Fellowship
“I have run the Alpha course in my former parish in France, and now in Brazil, always with the same joy. The course is an outcry, an intense and happy outcry of the kerygma! Jesus is alive and resurrected! With its adapted formula to our modern times, it offers a dense formation that combines theological thinking, community living and experience of God. Besides, the course works for the reconciliation between Christians, since the kerygma [preached message] is common for all of us. When we all reconvert, each one re-centering back on Jesus, we shall walk for the unity so necessary among Christians.”
Ireland:
Gerard Gallagher
Catholic Youth Council
As we approach a new millennium and on the basis of all the changes that have taken place in Ireland recently, I think that Alpha offers a unique chance of presenting the message of Jesus Christ to another generation of young Irish people.
Japan:
Cardinal Peter Sei-ichi Shirayanagi
Emeritus Archbishop of Tokyo
In all its current confusion, the world is seeking the light of hope in Christ. The church’s mission to proclaim the gospel has become more urgent than ever. Now, at the dawn of the third millennium, we all-bishops priests and believers of the church in Japan--want to find some way to respond to His Holiness Pope John Paul II’s call to the Catholic churches of the world to launch out into the deep, thinking, praying and working together in serious commitment to the work of mission.
This is the time at which we heard that the Alpha course, first developed within the Anglican (Episcopal) Church of England, had come to Japan and been introduced to a number of Catholic churches. This course uses video cassettes to introduce the basic teachings of Christianity. As the pamphlet explains, the Alpha course has spread throughout the world, and is being used not only in schools and universities where those who do not know Christ gather together but also in PTA meetings at Catholic schools, in the workplace and the home. It has brought new life to the faith of those who, for one reason or another, have strayed from the Church after being baptized into it as infants. It has also brought joy to believers. In the United Kingdom there are reports that it has produced astonishing results in prisons and other institutions. We think of it as a new missionary tool that can be used by anyone, anywhere.
A Japanese edition of the video cassettes that contain talks given by the Rev. Nicky Gumbel, a priest of the Church of England, is now being prepared by NHK Educational Corporation, and will soon be available. We rejoice to hear that those who have learned the basic teachings of Christianity through this course have been welcomed into the Church and are being instructed in the Catholic sacramental teachings.
We pronounce God’s blessing upon the Alpha course in the Catholic Church, that their believers may be blessed and become messengers sharing the joy of the gospel with those who visit the church not knowing Jesus Christ.
Hungary:
Dr Tamas Szabo
Roman Catholic Bishop for the Armed Forces, Hungary
Alpha is a method of evangelism which respects the 'personal liberty' emphasized so much in today's society. Why does it do this? Because God does the same. He has invited everyone to salvation , but leaves the decision to each person. It is one of the merits of the method. Another, not less important one, is that in all Christian denominations it has proved to be a successful way towards God for those people who have previously related to the world of faith and religion, ignorantly, indiffernetly or even with hostility.
