In February 2013 when Archbishop William Slattery responded to the challenge in Isaiah 61:1 (quoted at the end) and sent out an invitation for volunteers for the Archdiocese’s Prison Ministry, neither he, nor indeed the volunteers themselves, would have imagined what would unfold.
While considering the most appropriate way for those who volunteered to take the Gospel to prison inmates, Archbishop Slattery was introduced to Alpha and he knew it was what they needed.
It was magnificent to experience a joint weekend away with a group of over 400 people from 6 different parishes. The movement of the Holy Spirit was discernible. The testimonies given after both occasions left no doubt that God had been at work in a mighty way. With the teachings of the Word at hand and the Holy Spirit with these volunteers, we can rest assured that they are ready to once again help to free prisoners from spiritual bondage and are well prepared to ‘go out and make disciples of all nations’.
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD has anointed me; He has sent me to bring good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, release to the prisoners”