Alpha in a Catholic Context

The Call to a New Evangelisation
 

“Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you.” Matthew 28:19-20

“There is no true evangelisation if the name, the teaching, the life, the promises, the kingdom and the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God are not proclaimed.” Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi (On Evangelization in the Modern World), 1975

"For the disciple of Christ to evangelise is an obligation of love." Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia in America, Mexico City, 1999

Pope John Paul II first used the expression ‘the New Evangelisation’ in Poland in 1979. Four years later, speaking to Bishops in Latin America in 1983, he called for "commitment to a New Evangelization, one that is new in its ardour, new in its methods, and new in its means of expression."

In 1990, in Mission of the Redeemer, Pope John Paul II wrote:

“I sense the moment has come to commit all of the Church's energies to a new evangelisation and to the mission ad gentes. No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all the peoples.”

In Novo Millenio Ineunte in 2001, he wrote: “This passion will not fail to stir in the Church a new sense of mission, which cannot be left to a group of ‘specialists’ but must involve the responsibility of all the members of the People of God.”

In June 2010, Pope Benedict XVI established the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation and in October 2012 he announced the 13th Synod of Bishops, to be held in October 2012, which will be devoted to the topic 'The new evangelization for the transmission of the Christian faith.'

On his Papal Visit to the UK, also in 2010, Pope Benedict said:

"The Church cannot withdraw from the task of proclaiming Christ and his Gospel as saving truth, the source of our ultimate happiness and as the foundation of a just and humane society."

The Lineamenta, the draft working document for the synod, was presented on 4 March 2011. Within the document it is stated that:

"Despite the fact that the expression [the New Evangelisation] is widely known in the Church, it has failed to be accepted fully and totally."

"People are able to evangelise only when they have been evangelised and allow themselves to be evangelised, that is, renewed spiritually through a personal encounter and lived communion with Jesus Christ." Lineamenta, #22

“The new evangelisation is the opposite of self sufficiency, a withdrawal into oneself, a status quo mentality and an idea that pastoral programmes are simply to proceed as they did in the past. Today, a “business as usual” attitude can no longer be the case.” Lineamenta, #10

“Evangelisation openly proclaims the Gospel, through an initial proclamation which calls persons to conversion; then, through catechesis and the Sacraments of Initiation...” Lineamenta, #12

Alpha and the call to New Evangelisation

Across the world, the Alpha course is being used as a parish tool to respond to call to a new evangelisation.

Archbishop Octavio Ruiz, Secretary to the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation, attended Alpha International Week 2011 in London and praised the way that the Alpha course responds to the call to a new evangelisation. He said:

"Certainly, in the area of new evangelisation there is also the task of looking for new methods, new expressions to make Christ known and to fall in love with him. We should not be afraid of listening to many voices, among which there is, for example, the Alpha course. This may be something unknown to many, something completely new. But in the Church, we have to use those providential instruments that the Lord gives us to move forward in our search of Christ. Alpha is a simple way, an easy method in the context of an ecumenical experience.

"The Alpha course, which I have had the opportunity to attend during this week here in London, 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. We know that in the Catholic Church we can provide a follow-up, a catechesis, a deeper teaching that will lead to a sacramental life. This is just a first step; a step we need to take without fear, with great enthusiasm as we look at the fruits yielded."

On 15-16 October 2011, the new council hosted its first event, the ‘New Evangelisers for the New Evangelisation - the Word of God grows and spreads event’ at the Vatican, which several Alpha representatives attended.  At this event, the Pope addressed over 8000 people from all over the world, saying: “Modern man is often confused and cannot find answers to the many questions which trouble his mind in reference to the meaning of life...”  He also announced that 2012 would be a 'Year of Faith', describing it as "a new impetus to the mission of the whole Church to lead men out of the desert in which they often find themselves, to the place of life, of friendship with Christ." Click here to find out more about Alpha’s involvement at this event.

In response to these recent developments in the Catholic Church, we have produced a document entitled Alpha in the Context of the New Evangelisation, linking the Alpha course to the New Evangelisation and addressing specifically the points raised in the lineamenta document.  To read this document, click here.

Father James Mallon, a parish priest from the Archdiocese of Halifax, Canada, presented a seminar at Alpha International Week, demonstrating how Alpha responds to the New Evangelisation.  Father James has been running the Alpha course for 10 years, has spoken at Alpha conferences throughout Canada, Latin America and the USA.