The next Alpha course will start
in the January 2020.  
For more information, contact: 

Joni Parent Maurer 
Director of Evangelization 
joni @ scschurch.com
(504) 835-9343 ext. 1509

Alpha is an opportunity to explore life and the Catholic Christian faith in a friendly, open and informal environment, and has borne great fruit over its more than 20 year history.  It provides the time and space to consider and discuss the “big questions” in life: What is the meaning of life? Why am I here?  For those who are already practicing Catholics, it offers an opportunity to consider what we believe, why we believe it, and what it has to do with how we live.  We revisit our most basic Christian beliefs and renew our openness to the Holy Spirit to be active in our daily lives.  Alpha is designed to meet everyone where they are and invite them to grow even closer to Jesus.
 
Alpha takes place over 11 weekly sessions and a “weekend away” (a Friday evening and Saturday).  Each session runs from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm and includes sharing a meal, watching a video, and discussing the video in a small group.  We believe that you will find the videos to be engaging and the format to be fun and interesting.  Take a look at the trailer below to get the “feel” of Alpha:

Session number	Date (Title of Talk)
1	January 14  (“Is There More to Life Than This?”)
2	January 21  (“Who is Jesus?”)
3	January 28  (“Why Did Jesus Die?”)
4	February 4  (“How Can We Have Faith?”)
5	February 11  (“Why and How Do I Pray?”)
6	February 18  (“Why and How Do I Read the Bible?”)
*	SKIP MARDI GRAS WEEK
7	March 3 (“How Does God Guide Us?”)
8	March 10 (“How Can I Resist Evil?”)
WEEKEND	March 13 (6:30-9pm) and March 14 (9am-3pm)  (“Who is the Holy Spirit?”, “What Does the Holy Spirit Do?”, “How Can I Be Filled With the Holy Spirit?”, “How Can I Make the Most of the Rest of My Life?”)
9 (*in Barrett Complex this week only)	March 17 (“Why and How Should I Tell Others?”)
10 (*meet on Thursday this week only)	March 26 (“Does God Heal Today?”)
11	March 31 (“What About the Church?”)

 

Do I have to talk and share my thoughts?
No. You may remain silent the entire time if you wish.

How long is an Alpha session?
Sessions last 1.5 hours. They go by quickly. We start on time and always end on time.

How much does Alpha cost?
If you are not a member of any church community,  Alpha is free! 
If you are a registered member of a church other than St. Catherine of Siena, there is a fee of $100 to cover meal costs.

I am coming and will not know anybody else. Is that normal?
Yes. Most people come to Alpha without knowing anybody else in the course. By the end of the course, most people become good friends. Alpha is a great way to meet new people.

Can I just "come and see" for the first week? 
Yes. Just register to let us know you’re coming (so we have enough food prepared for you).

What if I go for a week or two and don’t want to continue?
If you don’t want to continue after a week or two, no worries. We will not call you or bother you if you don’t come back.

Is childcare available?
Yes, and  it’s free. Just indicate that you need childcare and the ages of your children on the registration form. We will contact you about details.

I have more questions. How do I contact?
For more information on Alpha, contact Joni Parent Maurer, Director of Evangelization.