2010 Alpha in a Catholic Context Highlights of Activities

2010 is a blissful year!  God led us the way to establish the Alpha in a Catholic Context;  encourage more youth and adult volunteers; and also solicit sponsors for  our activities. It is indeed a good start for a very exciting year ahead. Truly God is with us and real in his promise to be with us until the end of this age. He is  very active and very part of us and who cares to worry?

• 8 couples completed the Marriage Course which was  held at Alpha Training Center. This was started last September and  run for 8 sessions, for almost two months.

•  Drafted the Parish Manual on how to start Alpha Course at the Parish. This was presented last July’s Presbyterial meeting and distributed to all clergy and religious present.

• 9 student leaders  from Capitol University completed the Alpha Campus at the Alpha Training Center from Feb to March. They form the core group to run the succeeding Alpha Campus at CU.

• 108 participated in the Alpha for the Clergy held at Pearlmont Inn, Cagayan de Oro City. They are from the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, Archdiocese of Cebu, Diocese of Malaybalay, Diocese of Iligan, Diocese of Tandag and the Diocese of Tagum. 

         Hosted by the Ad Intra Ministries, ACDO, Alpha Philippines, and Alpha Asia Pacific. This was facilitated by Rev.  Dr. John Gnanapiragasam  and Ms. Caroline Soon of Alpha Asia  Pacific Region and assisted by Benie Sy of Alpha Regional Office.

                  

Name of Diocese	No. of Participants
	Clergy	Religious	Lay	Total
Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro	72	5	3	80
Archdiocese of Cebu	1			1
Diocese of Malaybalay	9			9
Diocese of Iligan	4	2	9	15
Diocese of Tandag	1			1
Diocese of Tagum	2			2
(Total)	89	7	12	108

• 5 participants from the Philippines attended the Alpha Asia-Pacific Regional Youth & Student Alpha Trainers’ Training Workshop from 27 – 28 January 2010 at Singapore. They are John Borra (Manila), Ralph Lumo (Manila), Benie Sy and Shiela Saavedra(Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro), Nicole Fernandez (Archdiocese of Davao), and Arnold Sanico (Archdiocese of Davao).

 

• 25 graduating student leaders from different public high school completed the Alpha Course. This was sponsored by YMCA Misamis Oriental. 

• 150 parish youth from Holy Rosary Parish, Cugman, Cagayan de Oro completed the Alpha Youth  at  Moscat, Claveria, Misamis Oriental from May 27 to 28.

• 47  leaders from the different parishes and religious organizations attended the one day  Alpha in a Catholic Context Strategy Planning & Retreat with the theme, “...tana, manglakaw nata.” John 13:41. This was held at Lestonnac Youth Center on June 13. Fr. Roy Barros, Archdiocesan BEC Coordinator gave the BEC talk and Msgr. Boy Salvador, Jr., Alpha in a Catholic Context spiritual adviser presided the Eucharistic Celebration and gave his advice to the volunteers and the ministry.

 

• 6 Leaders from Mt Carmel Parish, Virgen dela Candelaria Parish and Xavier Heights Chapel completed the four day training for parish leaders on  how to run the course at the parish.

• 7 lay, clergy and bishops attended the  2 day Alpha Conference at Kutching Malaysia from  from April 16 to 17. They were: John Borra (Alpha National Director); Ralph Lumo (Alpha Executive Assistant); Bishop Jose Cabantan, DD (Diocese of Malaybalay);  Bishop Nitz Galido, DD and Fr. Raymund Iwayan (Diocese of Iligan); Fr. Bong Polinar and  Fr. Roy Barros (Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro).

“What inspire me so much are the testimonies of those people who had deep encounter with Jesus thru Alpha. I also enjoy the company of all people from different denominations. ‘That all maybe one’ as envisioned by Jesus is a reality in that conference.”   Bishop Jose Cabantan, DD

• 2 Youth Alpha  Courses run by  Santa Rita Parish Youth of Gingoog City.

•  Establish funds for the Alpha in a Catholic Context in order to give opportunities to those who wish to join the ministry through their contributions and also address the financial  needs of the volunteers’ training, transportation and meals while on ministry works.  And also organized a finance committee headed by Ms. Tess Rosete, to oversee the contributions to the Alpha in a Catholic Context Ministry.    Metrobank Lapasan was chosen as the depository bank.

• Presented the Alpha in a Catholic Context to work as a starting formation tool for BEC at the July Presbyterial meeting.

•  38 adults and youth from the parishes of Mt Carmel, San Isidro Labrador(Kauswagan)  and  Immaculate Conception (Bulua) completed the Alpha Course conducted at Mt. Carmel Parish from April 10 to July 10.

• Benie A. Sy was appointed  starting April as coordinator of Alpha Course in a Catholic Context for the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro while Msgr. Boy Salvador, Jr. was appointed as the  Spiritual Adviser.

• 150 completed last Nov the Campus Alpha at Cugman National High School. The  3^rd batch since this was started  3 years ago. The current course was run for almost 3 months starting August.