there’s a seat for you at the table
Alpha
In 2024 alone, over 2,200 Alpha courses were estimated to be held across the U.S., engaging approximately 73,429 participants.
What is Alpha?
Alpha is a series of group conversations that explore the basics of the Christian faith in a friendly environment. It’s a place to connect with people, where you can say anything you like or nothing at all. Everyone’s welcome, no matter their background or beliefs. No two Alphas look the same, but they all have three key elements: CONNECT | WATCH | DISCUSS
The Culture of Alpha
If you run Alpha like a program that’s all it will be – but parishes that have committed to running Alpha regularly, making it an essential part of their plan for evangelization, have seen their parish move from maintenance to mission. Alpha embodies certain cultures that are essential to the pastoral renewal of parishes in our time:
- Culture of Invitation & Hospitality
- Culture of Encounter
- Culture of Missionary Discipleship
- Culture of Leadership
The door is always open.
Come when you can.
No obligations.
No pre-registering.
Alpha Sessions:
2025 Dates:
Central Niagara Catholic Family: September 13 through November 22
Saturday mornings from 9:30 to 11:00 am at St. Brendan on the Lake Church Hall (3455 Ewings Rd., Newfane, NY)
Alpha Online with St. Patrick’s Family of Churches: September 16 through November 17
Every Tuesday at 6:30 pm via Zoom. For information about joining please contact Rose Fleming at flemingchurchemail@yahoo.com
Bread of Life Catholic Community: September 16 through November 18
Tuesdays from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm in the Parish Center at St. Leo the Great. If you would like to attend or volunteer please contact Marcy at mmsteiner1@gmail.com
Greater East Buffalo Family of Parishes
Starting Tuesday, September 23 at 6:00 pm in the Pitass Center at St. Stanislaus Church
The Four Cultures
Invitation & Hospitality
Alpha helps the parish to become an evangelizing community. Those who have experienced Alpha naturally want to invite their friends to the next Alpha. The Alpha small groups help the parish remember the importance of hospitality, and in particular the importance of the synodal practice of listening to those who come to explore life and faith.
Encounter
Alpha intentionally creates space for the Holy Spirit to lead people to a personal encounter and relationship with Jesus. People are invited into a personal experience of God’s love through the working of the Holy Spirit through a simple model of prayer ministry. Over time, people learn how to pray for one another, which then becomes an integral part of life in the parish.
Missionary Discipleship
Alpha empowers lay people to play their part in the mission of the Church by releasing them to share the impact that their encounter and relationship with Jesus has had on their lives. Sharing their story becomes normal, demonstrating to others that evangelization isn’t just for “experts” but for everyone.
Leadership
Alpha can help a parish establish a “leadership pipeline” where Alpha guests are invited to return to Alpha as helpers and then as hosts.
Eventually they might run Alpha on behalf of the parish or move on to serve in other parish ministries. The desire for co-responsibility for the mission of the Church then becomes grounded in service and ministry.
