Welcome to Saint Matthew Parish ALPHA information and registration site!

What is ALPHA?

Alpha is a Christian based program that encourages people to engage in honest and open conversation about faith and life. Alpha is an opportunity for people from various backgrounds and with different religious experiences to discover and develop their relationships with God and their fellow human beings. Alpha programs are run all around the world! Learn more by watching this short video: https://player.vimeo.com/video/204052948

Who can participate in ALPHA?

Alpha is for all those who are searching for meaning in their lives. Alpha is for people at all stages of their faith journey: life-long Catholics and believers (parishioners and non-parishioners), non-believers, and skeptics. Alpha is ideal for those wanting to explore the Christian faith, and for those who want to deepen their existing faith. Alpha is a powerful means of developing and becoming part of a supportive faith community. These short videos might help you get a better sense of why Alpha is for you and your friends. https://player.vimeo.com/video/455830970

What is the format for an ALPHA meeting?

Our in-person ALPHA meetings begin with a shared meal, followed by a video presentation (approximately 25 minutes), and then a discussion in small groups (usually 8 people). The videos are designed to be thought provoking and facilitate dialog. Each week focuses on a different question or issue to do with life, meaning, faith, religion, Jesus, and God.

Is there a cost to participate in ALPHA?

No, our ALPHA program is entirely free.

How long is the Alpha program?

Each Alpha session lasts approximately 2 hours (meal, video, and discussion), and there are 12 sessions (11 weekly meetings and one retreat). (See schedule below.)

When does SMP Alpha program start? End?

Each weekly Alpha session will start at 6:30pm and end at 8:30pm.  The Alpha program starts on  March 3rd and runs on consecutive Thursdays (excluding Holy Thursday) until May 19th.  Our Alpha program will also include a retreat to be held on Saturday , April 30th from 10:00am until 3:00pm.

Do I need to attend all sessions in an Alpha program?

It has been our experience that you will want to attend every Alpha session! You will be meeting and sharing with the same group of people over the 11 weeks and will become an important part of the group dynamics and community. However, understandably,

prior commitments or unexpected events may mean that on occasion, you have to miss an Alpha session.

What about COVID-19?

Although Alpha has been run online during COVID lockdowns, we are committed to running our Alpha in-person this winter as long as it is deemed to be reasonably safe. We encourage all participants to protect themselves and others through vaccination and by wearing a mask when not eating or drinking.

Do you have further questions?

Please contact our team leader, Joanna Crammond, by email: jgcrammond@verizon.net, or phone: 412 877-8133

Dates and locations of Alpha meetings:
March 3           Thursday         6:30-8:30PM   HS Cafeteria
March 10         Thursday         6:30-8:30PM   SA Admin. Bldg.
March 17         Thursday         6:30-8:30PM   SB Newmeyer Hall
March 24         Thursday         6:30-8:30PM   SA Admin. Bldg.
March 31         Thursday         6:30-8:30PM   HS Cafeteria
April 7             Thursday         6:30-8:30PM   SB Newmeyer Hall
April 21           Thursday         6:30-8:30PM   HS Cafeteria
April 28           Thursday         6:30-8:30PM   SA Admin. Bldg.
April 30           Saturday          10AM-3PM     AS Act. Bldg.
May 5              Thursday         6:30-8:30PM   SB Newmeyer Hall
May 12            Thursday         6:30-8:30PM   HS Cafeteria
May 19            Thursday         6:30-8:30PM   SA Admin. Bldg.
 

To register, please fill out the form below.