Firsthand information on Alpha (Catholic version)?

[phil19034]

I think that’s a fair criticism about what they are lacking, but I don’t really buy Catholic Culture’s point that “Logically the faith needs to be taught before you can evangelize.” Evangelization comes before catechesis in the RCIA. If someone doesn’t encounter Christ, they’ll be less inclined to want to learn much about him.

Not that it’s rigidly sequential. Both evangelization and catechesis are needed at all stages. But I can understand their approach of putting the evangelization first.

I suppose, just as you can add the community, relational components to one’s use of Symbolon, so too could a parish add the catechetical, doctrinal components to their use of Alpha or Christlife. No program is the be-all and end-all.

I don’t think that’s what Catholic Culture means. I agree 100% that a person needs to be truly evangelized before they are properly catechized.

However, I THINK Catholic Culture was making the point that the evangelist needs to be catechized before he/she goes out evangelizing the unchurched.

 

[Joe_5859]

I don’t think that’s what Catholic Culture means. I agree 100% that a person needs to be truly evangelized before they are properly catechized.

However, I THINK Catholic Culture was making the point that the evangelist needs to be catechized before he/she goes out evangelizing the unchurched.

That is another way to read it. I would agree with that.

 

[Maxirad]

No offense, but why ALPHA and not the Baltimore Catechism?

 

[felsguy]

No offense, but why ALPHA and not the Baltimore Catechism?

See post #19 for my understanding of what ALPHA is intended to accomplish. As you can see, this would be quite different from the purpose of the Baltimore Catechism.

 

[phil19034]

No offense, but why ALPHA and not the Baltimore Catechism?

The Baltimore Catechism is great for Catholics who are already evangelized and love Jesus.

ALPHA / Christ Life is for people who are not evangelized and really don’t know Christ at all. For example, people who were never baptized or were baptized but never attended CCD, Sunday School, Catholic School, etc… no Christian faith formation at all.