Equipping your parish in its mission to help people discover Jesus
Over 4,000 Catholic
parishes and organisations
around the world ran over
7,000 Alphas, reaching
an estimated 122,000
participants.
Alpha continues to see significant growth in the Catholic Context in Canada and around the world. In 2019, over 120,000 people experienced Alpha, including more than 11,000 people who went on Alpha through Catholic parishes across the country. In 2021, 650 Alpha courses were run in a Catholic Context in Canada!
Watch Fr. Mike’s story of parish renewal.
What is Alpha?
Alpha is a parish tool for evangelization based on hospitality, sharing and open conversation. The same Alpha content is run all over the world, by Christians of all traditions, sharing the good news of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Everyone is welcome.
Over 1 million people in Canada have experienced Alpha, and millions more have taken Alpha in over 100 countries and over 100 languages around the globe.
What does an Alpha Session look like?
Connection
At each 2-2.5 hour session, there is a time of connection over refreshments and/or drinks, where possible.
Content
The time of connection is followed by a talk on a subject central to the Christian faith. They explore the big issues of life and faith and unpack the basics of Christian belief, addressing questions like “Who is Jesus?”, “Why and how do I pray?” and “How does God guide us?”
Conversation
After the talk, participants divide into pre-arranged small groups, in which they remain for the duration of the Alpha course. The groups provide participants with opportunity to discuss the talk in an environment where each person is free to ask or say whatever they wish.
Alpha equips people to be missionary disciples, not simply to just be consumers of their faith. It brings people into these much deeper relationships, and makes people comfortable sharing their faith with others.
The Archdiocese of Vancouver first welcomed Alpha here in 1994 and we have been experiencing its benefits ever since. Alpha has not only helped us introduce unchurched people to Christ but also provided an excellent way for Catholics to live out their baptismal call to evangelize.
A good number of our parishes in our diocese have hosted adult Alphas and we also use Alpha for Youth as the first component in our Confirmation process. Alpha helps draw people into an initial and ongoing encounter and rich relationship with Jesus and his Church. Alpha lays the foundation to go deeper and, in the power of the Holy Spirit become the missionary disciples the Lord calls each one of us to be.
How do I get started?
After you sign up online, we’ll show you how to create a space where people who wouldn’t normally come to church feel comfortable having a discussion about God.
We’ll provide you with tools and training to equip your team to run Alpha and inspire the church to invite their friends.
Then you’ll get access to everything you need to run Alpha.
