What Catholic Leaders Say

What do Catholic Leaders say about Alpha?

Bishop John Keenan | Bishop of Paisley | Vice President Scottish Bishops Conference

When I was Catholic Chaplain at the University of Glasgow we ran the Alpha Course for three seasons.  I was happy to take a lead role in each evening with its welcome, presentation, meals and discussions.  From beginning to end it was a lovely experience for everyone involved, whether Catholics wanting to understand the essentials of their faith as a whole, or those interested in the question about God, Jesus and the Christian community.  More than that, the warm and lively atmosphere it created spread to our chaplaincy as a whole and was yet one more initiative that helped build up the faith of our little parish.  I would have no fear and only enthusiasm about recommending Alpha to parish groups in our diocese.


Cardinal Ramiero Cantalamessa | Preacher to the Papal Household.
 

“One of the advantages of Alpha is that it focuses on the Kerygma.  In the ancient Church there was a clear distinction between the Kerygma and the Didache, the catechesis.  The kerygma was the starting point of faith and the catechesis had to form the faith.  But faith in itself blossoms only by hearing the Kerygma.”

Cardinal Christoph Schonborn | Archbishoop of Vienna, Austria.

“Alpha can do what has been, since the beginning, the most important job for a Christian – bringing people to Jesus.  The next step after building a first relationship with Jesus is of course what we call catechesis.  The Catechism is one tool to help with the formation.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet | Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops | Prefect of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

“ALPHA brings people closer and helps them to find that power which unites.  The ALPHA experience is not only a means through which one finds true life, but also a way to share the good news of the Living Christ.”



Archbishop Salvatore Fisichelle | President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelisation.


“ALPHA is without double a great experience of New Evangelisation.”


Cardinal Raymondo Damasceno | President of the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference and Archbishop of Aparecida.

“I recommend  ALPHA; an excellent method for the first proclamation of the gospel.”


Cardinal Gerald Lacroix | Archbishop of Quebec, Canada.

“I have had the privilege of participating in various ALPHA courses in Quebec and have witnessed how lives are changed and how the participant are touched by the teachings, witnessing and fellowship experienced during the course.  The method is simple yet very effective.  Small groups are definitely a key to the success of this tool of New Evangelisation.”

Archbishop John Ha | Archbishop of Kuching, Malaysia.

“The focus of ALPHA is Jesus Christ, Lord and Saviour. The goal of ALPHA is to lead people to Him so that they will relate with Him personally and with others in the community.”

Archbishop Octavio Ruiz | Secretary for the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelisation

“ALPHA, which I have had the opportunity to attend. . .  is a providential tool because it precisely tries to reach out to those who are far from the Church, who are indifferent to the faith.  By means of a very simple and humane tool based on fraternity and friendship, Christ is introduced to them, and enters little by little into their hearts….”