Welcome to the first Alpha Enews for the Archdiocese of Brisbane. We want to share the Alpha experience with all parishes in the Archdiocese.
Over the last 3 years in the Archdiocese of Brisbane, over 30 parishes have taken people on this journey.
Evangelisation Brisbane can support your Alpha efforts by:
Providing information about Alpha
Linking you to Alpha opportunities
Sharing Alpha stories from parishes
Developing a network of parishes – You are not alone!
Please pass this Enews on to your parish Alpha Team or any member of your parish with a passion for evangelisation!
For more information on Alpha, Alpha Youth series or The Alpha Marriage course, please get in touch.
Lisa McKerr
Adult Formation – Evangelisation Brisbane
Please contact me on:
P: 07 3324 3458
E: mckerrl@bne.catholic.net.au
What is Alpha?
Alpha is a parish tool for evangelisation based on hospitality, sharing and open conversation. The same Alpha content is run all over the world, by Christians of all traditions, and provides a common expression of proclamation, service and witness.
Alpha takes people on a journey often leading to an encounter with Jesus Christ. It enables people to ask their questions, share ideas, build friendships and experience the love of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is an effective tool of evangelisation. As Pope Francis says, ‘Nothing is more solid, profound, secure, meaningful and wisdom-filled than that initial proclamation.’ (The Joy of the Gospel, EG165) Alpha’s mission is to serve and equip the Church in its mission to see people discover and develop a relationship with Jesus.
Archbishop Mark on Alpha
Alpha Stories …
North Lakes
One parish that has had amazing success with Alpha in a Catholic Context is St Benedict’s Catholic Parish North Lakes, Queensland. They have had 95 guests attend Alpha in the last 12 months.
Some of the comments from their guests include:
‘The experience of Alpha came as a surprise gift to me. Above all my heart was touched and my faith was rekindled and Jesus has come alive for me. I would recommend everyone to come with an open mind and heart to Alpha – be prepared to be just as surprised by Jesus as I have.’
David
‘It was absolutely an amazing, educational and soul searching experience and I am so glad I took part in this course. I got to meet some great, friendly and kind people who shared their experiences, beliefs and knowledge, and they listened to me when I shared. But the highlight of the course is that I got to find a way to connect to God and feel His presence in my day to day life.’
Isabella
‘When I started Alpha, my faith was so low as I had fallen on some hard times in my life and had lost two people who were so close to me. By the end of Alpha, I had found my faith again to the extent that I felt a strength with me all the time, and the pain had eased. I felt that I was a new person after experiencing Alpha.’
Chris
Sunnybank
Alpha Coordinator says …
I have found Alpha to be a wonderful way for people at all levels of their faith journey to grow and deepen their connection with God and the Christian community. I have witnessed the effectiveness of Alpha in bringing renewed hope and joy to Mass-going Catholics who are struggling to find meaning and purpose in their current circumstances.
The experience of the Alpha weekend has brought great healing to them, reigniting their joy and bringing about a deepening of their lived faith experience. For others who are on the journey to a real encounter with Jesus (both in the case of baptised Catholics and others of non-Christian backgrounds) Alpha has given them the opportunity to encounter Christ in a life-changing way and grow into the community of faith. Alpha also gives them the ‘space’ to ask the questions that they would not feel comfortable to ask in a more formal setting.
Christopher Voigt
Alpha Online
Hundreds of Catholics have already attended Alpha training for Alpha Online in the Catholic Context and continue to use Alpha as a tool for evangelisation either in an online forum or face to face.
Some Alpha teams in Catholic parishes have done creative initiatives like running online week to week but then coming together face to face for the Alpha Retreat day. Depending on restrictions in your state, you may have the option to combine Alpha face to face with Alpha Online.
The one thing to take away from this short report is that Alpha works during the pandemic!
Alpha Australia Training
The year began with saying goodbye in February to Lorraine McCarthy from Alpha Australia, as she embraced a new role with Proclaim: Office for Mission Renewal in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. She continues in her new role to be of great support to Alpha in the Catholic Context with all Parishes within the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
Donna Brennan is the Alpha in a Catholic Context Coordinator for Brisbane.
Donna is married with 7 children. As a Pastoral Outreach Worker in South Australia, (then after relocating) in Brisbane, her preferred tool for Evangelisation was to introduce Alpha to the Parish. In 2018, she was appointed as the Alpha in a Catholic Context Coordinator for the Brisbane Archdiocese by Alpha Australia and now has the joy of training and supporting Catholics all over Australia. She has coordinated Alpha for Parishes in many different contexts, from Alpha Youth Series for youth groups, Alpha Film Series in parishes and piloted an Alpha in a homeless shelter.
Parish of the Future
In this article by Fr Michael White, states that the parish of the future:
Will not be limited to geography
Will look much different
Will require strong leadership
Fr Michael is the Pastor of the Church of the Nativity in Maryland USA and co-author of Rebuilt.
For more information, to read the article in full – click here.
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Welcome to the first Alpha Enews for the Archdiocese of Brisbane. We want to share the Alpha experience with all parishes in the Archdiocese.
What is Alpha?
Alpha Coordinator says …
Donna is married with 7 children. As a Pastoral Outreach Worker in South Australia, (then after relocating) in Brisbane, her preferred tool for Evangelisation was to introduce Alpha to the Parish. In 2018, she was appointed as the Alpha in a Catholic Context Coordinator for the Brisbane Archdiocese by Alpha Australia and now has the joy of training and supporting Catholics all over Australia. She has coordinated Alpha for Parishes in many different contexts, from Alpha Youth Series for youth groups, Alpha Film Series in parishes and piloted an Alpha in a homeless shelter.
