Episcopal program attracts Catholics

The Alpha Course, originally developed by an Episcopalian parish in London, "propounds the fundamental tenets and basic principles of Christianity in a non-threatening environment," explained Karen Perka, Alpha coordinator. "Alpha is meant to educate the unchurched so that they have the Good News of Jesus Christ,"

Alpha, which has been used in Episcopal churches for nearly 20 years, employs videos to tackle such questions as "Who is Jesus?" "Why did Jesus die?" "How can I be sure of my faith?" and "Does God still heal today?" Participants gather weekly for a common meal, view the videos or listen to a talk, and participate in small-group discussions.

Sheila Fridholm, a graduate of the Alpha program and parishioner at Our Lady of Grace Church in Ballston Lake, said that the core message of Alpha accentuates "the story of conversion. It is the evidence that Jesus is who He says He is, and how the Holy Spirit changes the life of the apostles and the Church they formed."

Rev. Martin Fisher, pastor of Corpus Christi parish in Round Lake, noted that "Alpha is consistent with what we believe." He has participated in the program and was involved with developing it at his previous assignment, St. Ambrose in Latham.

"Alpha is a very practical proclamation of the Gospel in a way the average person can understand and respond to," he said.

Community feeling

"No one runs the program as a teacher," she said. "We come as the children of God, learning from the videos and sharing insights. There's a real collaborative effort, a sharing and sense of community. Alpha covers everything that are the basic elements of our faith."

Mary Salm, pastoral assistant for faith formation at Our Lady of Grace parish, believes that the program could be used as an introductory program for Catholics interested in reaffirming or learning more about their own faith.

"There are many families in Catholic parishes who have gone through a period without a solid foundation in the faith," she said. "This would be something for families and couples to do together."

Ecumenical slant

"One of the couples was dating," she recalled. "Although they were Christian, they found that they didn't have a common spiritual base. Because of Alpha, they found a church they could both be comfortable with and now are married. That was a beautiful sense of what it's about: bringing Christians together with a common faith."

In a letter sent to pastors, Bishop Hubbard Howard J. Hubbard said that "the Alpha course can be used effectively with young adults and adults, new or inactive Catholics, persons who wish an updating in their faith, college students, and as a tool for those working in prison ministries."

(The Episcopal Diocese of Albany has invited members of the Roman Catholic Diocese to an Alpha conference at St. George Episcopal Church in Clifton Park, Oct. 11-12. Participants will learn how to present Alpha in a Catholic milieu. To register, call the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis at 453-6630.)

(09-26-02) [[In-content Ad]]