Alpha in a Catholic Context Conference at Gingoog

The Alpha in a Catholic Context Team, Alpha Course Philippine foundation Inc and Santa Rita de Cascia is now finalizing the plan to hold the 2^nd Alpha Conference in Mindanao.

The first conference was made way back in 2004 where Catholics from Singapore and Malaysia came  to Mindanao. This was held at San Jose de Mindanao Seminary where close to 200 attended from the different parishes of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.

Unlike the first conference, this year’s conference is for all Catholics of Mindanao who wish to discover the

potentials of Alpha in evangelization and for those who are currently running and wish to refresh and train new leaders on running effectively the Alpha Course in the parish.

Its theme, “Evangelized Becomes the Evangelizer” (Pope Paul IV) responds to the thrust of the Archdiocese to establish and refresh the current BEC  ministry.

The diocese of Malaybalay which is running currently the courses in the entire diocese signified to join in this conference.

Quarterly Tukod

Every year end, all Alpha volunteers gather not only for Christmas celebration but in thanksgiving to the Lord’s goodness and generosity.

 

Thru the ministry, we recognized Him  and giving Him due for allowing all of us to partake and follow up specially those nominal Catholics on the basics of their faith and give them the opportunity to sustain and grow in the BEC or parish communities.

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God.” (Thes. 5:18).

 We need to be thankful because we become sons and daughters of God at the Sacrament of Baptism. As His children, He expects us to live in our own family and to His bigger family, our neighborhood at the parish. This is His will and His plan to be in His family and His kingdom.

Tukod  in its maiden issue would like to support the mission of Alpha in a Catholic Team and the Archdiocese on evangelization and community building. It will act as a voice to continuously  inspire the clergy, lay leaders, workers  and parishioners from the experiences and testimonies of the Alpha graduates, those living in the community, those parish handling their own Alpha Courses, and to those volunteers serving the Alpha  ministry.     

Tukod means brace (n.) and pillar (n) as support to the existing BEC or parish renewal and help construct (v.); establish (v.); and build (v.) BECs or communities for parishes which has not started yet. Thus, this shows the vision  and  commitment of Alpha in a  Catholic Context Team as stated:

“Renew the Person, Sustain thru BEC and  Transform the Church & Society.”

Renewing the Person on the meaning of his baptism by going back to the ”kerygma” of his faith. Unless a person is conscious to this, he will never appreciate and feel the necessity to live and involve in the parish community or BEC.  

Parish communities needs to be cared, sustain and nurtured on the simple and effective formation. The test of which is when  evangelized or renewed parishioners living in a parish community start evangelizing or sharing their community  experiences with others.

Alpha in a Catholic Context Team envisioned a renewed community of communities, a transformed Church and society.

We  are only part of the whole mission of the Archdiocese. The idea we are promoting is not new. We collectively do this from the volunteers coming from the different parishes and organizations inspired by the Holy Spirit to initiate,  help and contribute to the parish renewal  using the approach of the Alpha Course.

So far, despite the challenges of working on this, we thank the opportunity to serve and encouragement of  Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, DD and the advice of Msgr.  Boy Salvador, Jr. to go on. Needless to say, for 6 years now since we started Alpha at Nazareno,  we continued to hold on to what He inspired us and  to His promise, “I will be with you always” (Matt. 28:20) and “do not fear for I myself will help you.” (Isa. 41:10).  

Volunteer's Yearly Christmas Thanksgiving

Alpha Course at KSD

One of the districts of Kahayag sa Diyos Community, a covenanted community,  utilized the Alpha Course for its evangelization in the recently concluded Empowered Christian Living Seminar (ECLS).

They selected the course because it is simple for the guests to understand and relate with as well as  easy for the speakers to share each talk. These are some of the testimonies of the servants and graduates:

“After the pray over I feel so at peace.” – Juanita –

“I asked forgiveness from  my sinfulness and I have a close encounter with Him personally when I was slain in the Spirit. It was indeed a wonderful experience I have and I won’t forget this day for the rest of my life.” – Gail Casino-

“Over the years I have buried pains, anger and hatred to my deceased father and never have a chance to be able to tell him all of these when he was still alive. My experienced tonight brought grace, peace, forgiveness and healing and I was broken free from all  those negative feelings that I carried all  over all these years. And it was an overwhelming feeling to be released from such burden and now, I’m so at peace and with a light heart in everything.”   - Marvie Galos

“There’s this promptings inside me that there’s an urgency that God wants me to do for Him and I’m willing to respond with His grace and entrust to Him everything. After the pray over I felt so light and at peace.”                  – Roger Dailo –

 

2nd CU Campus Alpha

With the theme, “Life is More Than a Heartbeat”, the second batch   Campus Alpha at  Capitol University was given to the student security force.  Not exclusive to Catholics, this was run for more than a month every Sunday at 7:45 to 10 in the morning.  Significantly, some of those participants that completed the previous Alpha Course batches are involved as facilitators and speakers. After the course, the graduates will continue the Alpha small group meeting and support with one another. This serves as their Campus like BEC.    

 

Msgr. Tex Legitimas, University Chaplain, with the Alpha graduates & volunteers.   

“The whole course of Alpha changes everything in my life. I thought that living a life in the dark world would define happiness but I failed only to realize that there is life more meaningful, joyful, enjoyable, fruitful and full of hope and happiness found only in the Lord and I am grateful that Alpha Course came here in Capitol University, a tool that helps us define our core value as a person and helping us know our God in a very simple and practical way.”  Joshua –

“I felt God is really present to me and showed His love, mercy and compassion that moves me in tears of the forgiveness He has given me and I have never been forgiven until this day and very much grateful to Jesus. My whole body is shaking and it’s uncontrollable and the next thing I knew was I’m already at the floor. I’m so at peace and feel so light.”  Manny –

“During the pray over I see Jesus face to face with me and He extended His arms to me. I know that I am forgiven and loved by the Lord.” Jovel –

“I have indescribable feeling and mixed emotions and I don’t even know why I am crying. My whole body is shaking that weakens my both knees and the next thing I knew was I’m already at the floor. I am so at peace.”  Errol –

“All this time I hate my father and I couldn’t forgive him but going through the Alpha Course, God enlightened me and today I asked for the grace and gift of forgiveness to be able to forgive my father and Jesus showed me His divine mercy to be able to do it because in the first place He has forgiven me now. My whole body weakens and I didn’t know that I’m already at the floor. I felt so at peace.”  Kris –