Renewing faith across the Archdiocese
Kate and Tim Watson
Tim Watson and wife Kate have been on an ecumenical journey together for many years.
Tim is Anglican Rector at Holy Cross Hackett and Kate is a parishioner at Holy Rosary Parish Watson.
“We worship together as much as we can,” Tim said.
Kate’s parish at Holy Rosary has implemented the Alpha course as a means of helping renew the parish.
Tim is implementing Youth Alpha at Holy Cross, with Adult Alpha to follow later in 2021.
Alpha originated in the UK over 40 years ago and has spread globally across Christian Churches and communities.
This week key leaders from Alpha Australia visited the Archdiocese and co-hosted events targeted at youth, university chaplaincies, leaders and parishes.
Leaders from Alpha Australia and the Canberra Goulburn Anglican Diocese gather together in prayer with Archbishop Christopher at the recent Archdiocesan event “Eden’
The ecumenical gatherings were held in partnership with the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn and the ACT Churches Council.
“It is a really good tool within a parish for building up community and introducing people to what the Church and Christianity is about,” Kate said.
“The Rosary Renewal Team decided a good way of starting renewal was to run Alpha and so we decide to advertise for the alpha program and ran a pilot program,” Kate said.
From left: Ben Higgins, Alice Staines and Tess Brennan from Alpha Australia join
Christian Nobleza in a discussion panel at the recent ‘Eden’ event
“We were halfway through running it when Covid struck so we ran Alpha online and it has been a really good experience.”
Tim wants to explore how to start Alpha at parish level, reach out to the wider community, and make ecumenical connections.
“Alpha has grown and changed a lot as it has found ways of working with a much broader range of Churches which is really exciting.”
Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that aims to create a safe and honest space, online or in person, where people can explore life, faith and meaning.