The next Alpha course will start on January 19, 2021. 

For more information, contact: 

Pam Truxillo
Alpha Administrator
[email protected]
281-755-6667

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 revisit our most basic Christian beliefs and ren ew 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 will run 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.

Click HERE for more about Alpha.

Sign-up for Alpha Now!

Mat Baer 
Susanne Baber
Bob Barbier
Mary Sue Battle 
Gabrielle Richard Benoit
Travis Bonifacic
Ben and Mallory Bouslog
Colin and Jess Brunet
Ginger Burns
Kirk Buuck
Dan Centner
Darlene Cohen
Christine Corrigan
Tina D'Antoni
Mary Demarest
Pat Doherty
Mike Ellis
Victor Fernandez
Gene Ferniz
Vicky Gordy
Caroline Graham
Marcelle Gruezke
Brooks Hellmers
Donna Hummel
Jeff Hunter
Hannah Lanoux
Patricia Lawson
Jimmy Ledoux
Lynn Lightfoot
Jeff Lionnet
Nicole Masson
Scott Meunier
Stephanie Neumiller
Danny Poolson
Deborah Pope
Miranda Powell
Cindy Roth
Tanner Shaw
Brandon Smith
Erin Snow
Harry Spring
Kayne Stewart
Lance and Gayla Ranlett
Anne Bailey Theard
Jeanne Umbdenstock
Chris Wegmann
Audry Wild
Chad Wilken

Jimmy Ledoux

Alpha 13 (Spring 2024)

Susanne Baber

Alpha 13 (Spring 2024)

Lance and Gayla Ranlett 

Alpha 12 (Fall 2023)

When Gayla and I were asked to share our testimonial about the Alpha program, we were excited about the opportunity. Alpha was an awesome experience for us and a chance to get closer to God as a couple.

Gayla and I have been married for 24 years and have 3 boys: Beau, Brock, and Blake. We joined St. Catherine’s parish about 4 years ago and for the first 2 years, attended mass sparingly as a family. Not that we did not want to, but it was like we all were going in different directions each weekend - Gayla and I tending to work and being with friends, Beau was at LSU at the time, and Brock and Blake were involved in sports at Brother Martin. Parties, sleepovers, homework, and Sunday family lunches took
precedence over mass for half of the weekends each month. Gayla was the one that always tried to get us to mass every week, but “we boys” always had excuses.

It was not until I decided to get involved at St. Catherine that we started attending mass every weekend. It is amazing what happens when the man of the house gets involved! The “That Man Is You” program and Men’s ACTS Retreat were the perfect chances for me to meet so many unbelievable men. I think I am very fortunate to have a great group of friends that I would do anything for. It is easy though for all of us to stay in our friend circles which are safe and secure. It was not until I said “Yes” to some of the SCS church ministries that I realized how many great people we have in our parish - like-minded individuals looking to help others, have fun, and get closer to God.

I initially heard about Alpha from Mark Truxillo, and then repeatedly heard about it from other parishioners. I knew how much I was getting out of my involvement and wanted Gayla to experience the same. When I initially posed the idea of Alpha to her, Gayla was a little reluctant because of the unknown. What is Alpha? What happens at the meetings? Will I have time and still be able to do my job? I assured her we would love it, and it would be a great opportunity for us to do something together within the church other than mass.

The first few meetings started a little slow for us. After the awesome meal, which we had to begin every meeting, we watched a video. We learned at least one thing from every video and what we already knew was still a great reminder and review. The last
portion of each meeting was “discussion time” at our table. When you bring new people together, it is natural to have less discussion initially as everyone is getting to know each other. I was used to it because of similar programs I was a part of. I assured Gayla we all would start to open up soon.

As the weeks went on, Gayla and I found ourselves talking about Alpha at different times during the week and looking forward to the next meeting. Laughs that we had, stories we heard, and things we learned were all becoming part of our daily lives, and  we enjoyed it. By Week 10, a sadness set in when we realized that we only had a couple weeks left. The ending of the program was joyful, and Alpha was better than advertised. We met so many awesome people, were served unbelievable meals, got closer as a couple, and grew in our faith together. I highly encourage everyone to get out of your comfortable, familiar circle and get involved in our parish. Alpha is an awesome way for you to do just that!

Gabrielle Richard Benoit - Alpha 11 (Spring 2023)

My time spent in Alpha 11 was nothing short of transformational. My dental teammate,
Morgan, completed Alpha 10 and raved to me about her experience. Without giving me much detail, she felt that I would love the program and invited me to join. Prior to Alpha, my husband and I attended mass at St. Catherine regularly with the goal to join the parish if we felt empowered and connected to the community.

Alpha was the perfect venue to experience the incredible community here at St. Catherine over its twelve-week span. I was blown away by the support, kindness, and fellowship of my small group. Alpha is unique in that the programming really dissects the fundamental beliefs of Christianity. As a product of K-12 Catholic Education, I naively assumed that this program would be a “refresher” to what I had previously learned about Christianity. However, I was wrong! Each week, I found myself exploring my personal beliefs and was hungry for more information. The opportunity to learn and grow alongside others on all different faith journeys was eye opening and rewarding. I’m proud of the challenging conversations we had, and I am no longer hesitant to talk about my faith with others.

I had an incredibly profound physical experience over our weekend retreat. After watching a video entitled “What does the Holy Spirit Do?,” the narrator asked us to sit quietly in personal prayer time and to call upon the Holy Spirit. After five minutes of silently repeating to myself “Come Holy Spirit, set my heart and soul on fire,” my entire body became flush, causing my heart to race and the back of my neck and palms to sweat. Although I was initially scared and anxious of this intense physical response, I quickly realized in the moment that the Holy Spirit had taken over and, quite literally, set my heart and soul on fire. I will never take this moment for granted. It has strengthened my faith, solidified my prayer life and given me incredible peace.

My husband, Brent, and I are officially new parishioners of St. Catherine. We are grateful for this community and are looking forward to meeting more of you. Thank you, Alpha 11, for giving me the spiritual “push” that I needed.

For those of you unsure about joining Alpha, do it. You won’t regret it.

Mike Ellis - Alpha 11 (Spring 2023)

I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I walked in to the Barrett Complex for my first Alpha meeting earlier this year. I had heard about Alpha for the last few years from seeing the notices in the weekly bulletins and from hearing about it in the announcements at the end of Masses, but I didn’t really know any more about
Alpha and so never gave it any further thought or consideration. Then, at the end of the last year, after seeing another notice in the bulletin, and after realizing that my faith life needed (and craved) more attention, I registered for the next upcoming Alpha course.
A few minutes later reality hit me, and in a panic I quickly tried to reverse that registration. But after failing to figure out how to easily do that, I gave up trying
and succumbed to my wary and hasty decision, then immediately decided that my wife needed to share in this experience with me and registered her, too.

Arriving at that first meeting, I was surprised to see not only the number of people that were there, but also how many of them that I knew or recognized from around the parish. Even more surprising was how many had similar reservations about registering as I did. We socialized for a little bit and were treated to a surprisingly good meal before the start of the course. I knew from the initial information that I received after
registering that dinner was included and available before each course, but I assumed that it would be typical school cafeteria food; so much for my initial assumptions. There was also an impressive spread of desserts, as well as coffee, tea, and water.

The meeting then started with our Table Hosts introducing themselves along with the other members of the table. Each table would be together throughout the remainder of the course, so it was good to get to know everyone from the outset. We then watched a short video about the Alpha topic of the week and followed with a table discussion about that topic amongst ourselves. This is really where Alpha came to life. The table discussions were the focal point of the course for me. I enjoyed the social aspects at the start of each meeting and the short videos that introduced the weekly topics of faith, but the deep and personal discussions with my table mates about the topics, and even some other topics that spun off from the initial ones, were what kept me coming back. Everyone was able to share as much or as little as they wanted or were comfortable doing; regardless, there wasn’t one meeting where I didn’t walk away with a stronger sense of my faith and a better understanding of where I was on my continual faith journey.

Alpha exceeded any expectations that I had and more than delivered on providing me with the extra boost that I needed to break out of the rut that I was frustratingly stuck in and to help move me further along in my faith. I am grateful that the Holy Spirit was with me that day that I registered to help me overcome my initial hesitations and follow through with it. I am also grateful to my wife who was a good sport about it all,
especially after the first meeting. And a big shoutout to Table 10 (GG, LL, JJ, KK, MM, JJ, SS, and DD) which made this Alpha a very memorable and impactful one for me. I hope that I was able to give a fraction of what I received from them.

Brandon Smith - Alpha 11 (Spring 2023)

Going into Alpha, I was not sure what to expect. What I found was a community of fellow Catholics on the same path as me seeking a deeper appreciation for the faith. When I converted to Catholicism, I was engulfed in the writings of the Church Fathers and traditions of the Church; but I felt I was still missing the beauty of living the faith with a community.

With Alpha I got reintroduced to core beliefs of the faith with easily discernible and weekly lessons and discussions. It is wonderful knowing that I was not alone on my faith journey and others were taking the same steps as me to
pursue the faith.

Stephanie Neumiller - Alpha 11 (Spring 2023)

I just completed my second Alpha. If you have questions about God or if you want your faith to be stronger, then you need to attend Alpha. Alpha will answer your questions and bring your relationship with God to a place that it has never been. After years of going through some difficult times, Alpha was exactly what I needed. My faith is stronger than it has ever been and it grows even stronger every day. I am a better person because of Alpha.

Ben and Mallory Bouslog - Alpha 10 (Fall 2022)

My husband and I moved really close to the SCS Parish, and we were excited to hear
that SCS was a very active parish with multiple opportunities to get involved. We had
attended Alpha in another parish at the start of 2022 and thought that signing up for
Alpha at SCS would be a great place to start in getting to know members. We also wanted to deepen our faith. Alpha was a great outlet to get us thinking about
the big picture, why we hold the beliefs we do, and how to apply our faith in daily life.

Our table leaders, Kristine Cerniglia and Jessica Baer, created the most welcoming and
safe space for all of us to open up. There was one week when Ben and I were the only
attendees able to make it, and we opened up about our difficulty getting pregnant and
anxiety around it. At the end of that session, we found a little strip of paper with a bible
verse on it on our table (maybe someone left it there hours ago), and the verse was
Jeremiah 29:11 - a God "wink"!

We weren't perfect students either, but when work travel prevented us from attending
class, they always welcomed us back with open arms the first week we could rejoin the
table.

Now on to the grand finale...we had received a positive pregnancy test the week before
our last Alpha class, and we had our first ultrasound performed on the last day of Alpha
- not planned! We were able to bring the ultrasound image to Alpha, and the whole table
burst into tears of happiness. This was a special moment to share with our new friends.

We are now members of the SCS parish and are looking forward to getting involved in
other ways. We can't thank Alpha 10, and Table 6, enough!

Anne Bailey Theard - Alpha 10 (Fall 2022)

If you have never heard of Alpha, I am here to tell you that being a part of this group has changed my life for the better in so many ways.

Over the past several years I had become increasingly disenchanted with the Catholic Church.  I seldom went to Mass on Sunday although I always felt guilty about it.  I wasn't praying and I wasn't interested in furthering my knowledge of the Bible.  I knew that something was missing in my life but I didn't know where to turn to find out what it was. One of my dear friends told me about the Alpha program to be held at St Catherine of Siena starting in a few months.  I wasn’t exactly sure what the program entailed but it seemed like something that could help me with my ambivalent feelings about my religion.

Well, I attended my last Alpha session last month and I am so sad that it has ended.  I looked forward to Tuesday night for those 12 weeks and will miss it terribly.  Each session started with a delicious meal prepared by the awesome kitchen team, followed by a video which explored different aspects of the Christian faith. Then our awesome team leader, Gene Ferniz, and our two assistant leaders, the upbeat and positive Debra Guidroz and the hilarious and caring Rick Truxillo, led a discussion whereby we talked about our thoughts and experiences without being criticized or judged.  Oh—I forgot one more thing.  We were treated to some hilarious jokes by our Alpha leader, Pam Truxillo. She is a gem!

The word "Alpha" comes from the first letter of the Greek alphabet and symbolizes a beginning or starting point of a journey.  How appropriate for this to be the name of the program.  After completing this course I have begun my journey back into the Catholic Church.  I am eager to be transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  My husband and I became parishioners of St. Catherine of Siena church and are attending Mass every Sunday.  I love the choir at the 9 am Mass, the singing group at the 11 am Mass and of course the relevant, relatable and powerful sermons delivered by the wonderful parish priests and deacons. I have started praying and have experienced the power of prayer at work in my daily life.  I started reading daily bible verses and am treating others with more compassion, which has enriched my relationships with my husband, family and friends.

So.... if ALPHA was an acronym I feel the letters should stand for the following:

A  is for ANYONE. Alpha is for anyone who wants to explore the Christian faith.

L is for Love.  The program is filled with love.  I began to love more, my life, myself, my family, my husband, and my friends, but mostly it taught me to love Jesus Christ with all my heart and soul.

P is for Powerful.  The messages in the videos are very powerful.  They answered many of the questions I had about Jesus and my faith.  

H is for Heartening.  The definition of heartening is "making you feel happier and more positive".  After each session I became happier and more positive about my life.  I realized that the more I learned about Jesus, my life was enriched by realizing that Jesus always has my back!  

A is for Amazing. All I can say is Alpha is Amazing!!! I would recommend that everyone sign up for Alpha, not only those who are struggling with their faith but also those who just want to grow in their faith.  I promise you won't regret it!!  

Bob Barbier - Alpha 10 (Fall 2022)

Me?

That’s the question I asked myself each time an Alpha session was announced.

Me?

Should I attend?
Do I need to attend?
Is Alpha for me and will I spiritually benefit from it?
After all, I rationalized, not so humbly, I go to Mass every Sunday and generally two or more times a week, go to a weekly prayer meeting and Bible studies.

Me?

Finally for Alpha 10, I responded to the call God had been placing on my heart. 
That call came not through the bulletin, but the enthusiastic recommendation of several people who had attended Alpha and with whom I attended Bible studies. They not only went, they returned to assist and were most positive about it.

I finally said “Yes!” and am glad I did. Alpha was a moving experience, which has allowed me to grow in my faith. As much as I needed CLE when I was actively practicing law, I needed not only this course, but more so, the input from those with whom I shared table #10.

I grew in my faith by hearing their experiences, exploring with them their questions and
concerns and realizing more than ever that we are never alone. I experience  how the Holy Spirit was moving in my, indeed in all of our lives. It was comforting to know that not only is God always with you, but that others experience the same trials and temptations as you and to hear how they worked their way through them with the help of God and those He puts  in your path. It was encouraging to see how the three  table  mentors, who had earlier completed the course, had returned to assist others and  directed our discussions, giving us the benefit of theirexperiences and the input of those around the table. We were prayed with twice and each time Ineeded that prayer and left with a new sense of peace.

As I write this note, I’m also reading the second to last chapter in Matthew Kelley’s
Rediscovering the Saints. He ends the chapter with these questions: “Do you know more aboutyour faith than you did a year ago? How much have you learned about the spiritual life over the last twelve months?”

My answers are simple: Yes and a lot. Why? Alpha.

During the Alpha course, I grew in my faith, bonded with others in their walk and hopefully was able in a small way to assist them. After all, we are a community and each has a role to play in that community. So, if you are asking yourself the question I posed to myself, “Me?”, might I suggest that you
change it a bit to “Why not me?” and register for the next Alpha course.

Gene Ferniz - Alpha 9 (Spring 2022)

     My wife’s close friend, who was going to be an Alpha table host, invited her to attend the next Alpha session.  While she was deciding whether to attend, she asked me if I would also like to participate. Being a cradle Catholic, attending 13 years of Catholic school, altar boy, etc., I wondered what I would get out of attending an Alpha session.  I thought about it for a while and discussed it with her.  We decided to attend Alpha 9 together. The following Sunday at the 11 o’clock mass someone did a presentation on Alpha.  The person was very excited about the program and mentioned that with the upcoming Alpha session, she would be participating for the 4th time!  When we got home from church we discussed the presentation and I wondered if I was getting involved with a cult!

     Well, I can tell you is that Alpha is not a cult.  Alpha is a very special program that helps you on your spiritual journey of faith to learn more about Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Alpha does not focus on the Catholic Church or any specific religion.  The focus is on Christ and the Holy Spirit in our daily life. During the weekly sessions, you watch very informative and interesting videos, which are followed by discussion in small groups.  Everyone in the group is given a chance to explore their questions on life, faith and God.  You stay with your initial small group through the Alpha sessions.  I should also mention an excellent meal is served prior to the video each week.

     At our table it took a little while for everyone to get comfortable with this format.  Once we talked and got to know each other somewhat, the group became willing to open their hearts and minds on these various topics, and share their thoughts in our group. Within a few weeks our group started to develop strong relationships with each other.  We grew close as we sometimes talked, laughed or cried during these discussions.  It was like family.

     Weeks passed leading up to the retreat.  This was another special event as we were asked to come up with our own special prayer request.  As Father Tim, said, “be selfish and ask for something for yourself.”  This was hard for me, as I wanted to pray for everyone else.  During my prayer group, I informed the hosts of my intentions.  They began to pray for me and asked for the Holy Spirit to come and intercede on my behalf.  As they prayed, a strange feeling came over me, a feeling of relief and a certain fullness.  I really believe that I felt the Holy Spirit in me.

     During the last few weeks of Alpha, the subject matter gets deeper, or as Pam Truxillo, Alpha administrator, would say, “these topics get real.”  Our group continued our open discussion providing great insight and sharing personal stories on faith. By the end of Alpha, our group had formed a very special relationship.  We planned a reunion shortly after Alpha ended.  Our bonds were so strong that after our first reunion, we had another reunion and followed that up with a baby shower for one of our table mates!

     I asked from the beginning what would I get out of Alpha?  Well, I met, discussed and learned so much more about my faith from some pretty extraordinary people, with whom I have developed very strong bonds. I now consider them my Alpha family.  I got so much out of Alpha – probably more than I put into it.  This fact has prompted me to continue participating in Alpha as a table host.  I hope my participation can help others reap some of the Alpha “rewards” that have come to me. I would like to thank Fr. Tim, Fr. Andrew and Pam for allowing me take this amazing journey.  I would highly recommend Alpha to everyone.

Caroline Graham - Alpha 8 (Fall 2021)

     For me Alpha was an invitation away from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on what really matters. It was a time to sit with a community of people who welcomed me exactly as I was. It was a time to explore the big questions of life and reflect on how God’s love and mercy had impacted mine. It was a gentle, yet profound reminder of the beautiful roots of my Christian faith. Alpha provided an opportunity to know Jesus and the Holy Spirit in a more intimate way. Just thinking about Alpha makes me happy, and I hope everyone gets the opportunity to experience this.

Chris Wegmann - Alpha 8 (Fall 2021)

     Alpha definitely exceeded my expectations.      

     I really enjoyed going to the Alpha sessions and looked forward to the videos and the discussions to follow. I thought the videos were great! I learned from all of the different perspectives presented and the faith journeys of the people in the videos. I especially enjoyed the themes of the Alpha course videos and how each week built off of each other. Each week provided new discussions and thoughts that helped to understand future talks. It reminded me a lot about the faith journey. The more we learn and experience, the more we are able to understand God’s plan and how we can impact the world.      
   
     Our table was fantastic and really fostered a safe atmosphere that encouraged us to share our thoughts and challenged us to learn more. I found as Alpha progressed, I started forming unique bonds with the members of my table and even other tables! We started doing more events together and continuing the faith discussion. I started finding out about other St. Catherine events and seeing members of my table there! The experience of Alpha helped us to develop a unique friendship.      

     I also really enjoyed how the retreat weekend was laid out, especially the time for self-reflection! The videos and discussions definitely encouraged deep thought that required reflection. The retreat provided that opportunity. I also felt the introductions by Fr. Andrew really helped with the sessions. Fr. Andrew would introduce each session and provide 2 or 3 thoughts to reflect on, which I thought really helped.      

     I really enjoyed the whole Alpha experience.  From the fruitful conversations to the opportunities for reflection, I felt this experience drew me closer to God and encouraged me to explore my faith!

Mary Demarest - Alpha 8 (Fall 2021)

     I guess, like some of you, I double-dipped on my Alpha course.  I attended Alpha 2 with my late husband, but he was ill at the time, and we weren’t able to complete the full 11 weeks. Even with the incomplete course, I was still extremely moved by the fresh approach to encountering Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but I was naturally distracted by my husband’s advancing Parkinson’s Disease and by the fact that it was a struggle for him to move and sit comfortably at the sessions.  Nevertheless, God used this Alpha experience to help me meet and make new friends in my parish, and to share with them our stories about our lives and how they, too, have been touched by the loving and personal touch of Jesus and the Spirit, who remains with us today.  My faith had been constant throughout my life, but it was suddenly being renewed - in community - at a time when I needed it most.  I was amazed that even as a (quite) senior citizen, my heart was opening to a rebirth of a true relationship with God, an awakening to a curiosity and interest in my church and my faith that had been like a “lazy river” for a long time.  I had been drifting with the current, but I hadn’t been truly swimming.  Alpha took me to a new appreciation of my faith, and St. Catherine of Siena showed me how even someone who had already reached “Over the Hill” status could still find a way to serve as one of Christ’s disciples.
     
     Then came the whole Pandemic thing, the passing of my beloved husband, and so many horror stories shared by the media at the warp speed of technology. A dear friend suggested I sign up for Alpha 8.  I decided to return.  

     Same story?  Not at all.  Although the format of fellowship and community bonding was the same, the videos and the messages seemed new again because my focus was on the message, and what it brought to my newly-lonely existence: a fresh burst of purpose and an expanding role with the inspiring congregation of St. Catherine of Siena parish. I'm growing again, and although I don’t yet feel like I serve as Christ’s hands and feet, if I can be just a fingernail or toenail at this point, I am content.  I love all of my sisters and brothers in this parish.  Alpha lit the fire that centered Christ in my life, and is fueling such a Blaze of Love.

Mat Baer - Alpha 7 (Spring 2021)

  As I grew older, I was attending Mass regularly but had several questions about my faith. I had not joined a particular parish since I left home for college and found myself going through the motions at Masses I attended at various parishes.  I began attending Lenten Missions and other programs presented by these parishes to learn more about the Church and its teachings.  I considered myself on a journey to get answers to the questions I had about my faith.  

     My grandchildren began attending SCS 5 years ago. I gained exposure to some of the religious aspects of the parish by attending the prayer services offered to the younger students.  I started attending the 7am Sunday mass in addition to Masses at other church parishes.  I got to meet Fr. Tim and later then-Deacon Andrew at these services and at school events my family attended.  I quickly understood why my grandchildren love these two men. I subsequently became a member of the parish over 2 years ago and started attending mass at SCS regularly.    

     One morning I saw a post in the bulletin about Alpha 5.  The post talked about the time and space the program provides to consider what we believe, why we believe it, and what it has to do with how we live.  It went on to say the program was designed to meet participants where they were in their respective faith journeys and invites all to grow closer to Jesus. I found this interesting but didn’t commit at the time.   One subsequent Sunday morning while again reading the bulletin about Alpha 6, I turned the page and saw a testimonial from my godchild who had attended Alpha 5. Marcelle’s enthusiasm for the program caused me sign up and I’ve been involved with the program ever since.  It has changed me in so many ways.

     I had some concerns before I attended our first meeting.  I was never comfortable discussing my faith or the questions I had about it with strangers.  I was worried that I had more questions than answers and that I’d look foolish in front of folks who had devout faith or who were further along in their faith journeys than I.  Those worries quickly dissipated over the first few meetings as our table host, table helpers and other guests quickly developed a friendship and openness in discussing our faith I had not experienced before.  

     I particularly liked the small table discussions I’ve participated in.  Some of these friends, like me, were looking for answers to their questions.  Others attending were strengthening what I thought was their already strong faith.  I felt awkward asking folks to pray over me.  I was petrified to be asked to pray over someone, but I have since learned that it is a great gift to be able to do so. I understand more today about the Holy Spirit and have a deeper understanding of my faith than I have ever had and have realized there’s so much more to learn.  

     During our discussions in Alpha 7 my friends shared their thoughts on the program and I jotted some of them down. “It enabled me to spend time with the Lord and I needed this.  I didn’t expect to develop so much fellowship and camaraderie with folks I had never met before.”  Another “welcomed the ability to pray with people who had like minds.”  Finally, “I developed a great deal of trust once I realized this was a safe environment to discuss my faith.” I have found Alpha to be an amazing experience and well worth my time. I look forwarded to participating as table host in Alpha 8.    I encourage you to join us.  

Hannah Lanoux - Alpha 7 (Spring 2021)

     I joined Alpha because I felt like I was a surface level Catholic. I would go to Mass every week and pray every night before bed, but I had a craving to build a deeper connection with God without knowing how to achieve it. Not long before I started my journey with Alpha, I joined the young adult group to strengthen my faith. My new friends in the young adult group eagerly encouraged me to join the upcoming session of Alpha and I knew I had to experience it for myself.

     The first week I met my table mates I did not know I would also build a connection with them. The strangers at table 4 became my friends and I grew more comfortable sharing my deepest thoughts with them as the weeks went on. The videos were inspiring, but the input of my table mates and how they experience God in their own lives heightened my journey even more. I quickly knew that Alpha was where I was supposed to be and I would need to sign up as a table host for the next session to help others along their journey.

     Alpha is not only for people just starting out their quest. This experience can truly be applied to anybody’s life as the questions and messages grow deeper every week. I wish you all could peer into my heart to see all the ways Alpha has touched my life because I cannot find the words to describe how much my Alpha journey has deepened my faith and changed my life for the better.

Harry Spring - Alpha 7 (Spring 2021)

     I learned about the Alpha Course for the first time while attending mass at St. Catherine of Siena. As a new member in the parish, I thought Alpha looked interesting and a way to meet others in the parish. I was intrigued by the testimony of several participants on the SCS website and took the chance and signed up online.  

     I did not research Alpha before attending the first session and just showed up with an open mind. What I can tell you is that Alpha, for me, was fantastic! I use the word fantastic because it was so much more than I was expecting.  What I thought would be a good way to meet others in the community turned out to be so much more.  My first impression, as I was being escorted to my table by a greeter, was, “wow, this is going to be nice; wow, somebody put a lot of work into this event; wow, the food looks really good; and wow, I forgot to pay!” What I learned after sitting down was that Alpha is free, the food is really good, and there is plenty of it!

     In the 2 ½ months of Alpha weekly meetings, you will not only form true friendships with your tablemates, but also you will grow in your Christian faith.  The genius behind Alpha is that it allows us “to meet Christ where we are in our faith” and grow from there.  One of my favorite parts of Alpha was sharing faith experiences with others at my table.  I was surprised how similar many of our experiences with Christ were. These table conversations deepened my faith in Christ and allowed me to envision the next part of my journey.  

     Like all of my tablemates, I was sad when Alpha ended.  I looked forward to my weekly Alpha meetings, learning and sharing the unique weekly topics and follow up table conversations.  We all agreed to stay in touch after Alpha and I am happy to report that we just had a wonderful dinner party with lots of fun banter.  I know it is cliche to say I am a changed person because of Alpha……….but I am.  I am closer to Christ and more comfortable with my journey.  I am so glad that I took the chance and signed up.  I would recommend Alpha for anyone looking to learn more about Christ.

Vicky Gordy - Alpha 7 (Spring 2021)

     The Alpha Course I participated in at St. Catherine was a wonderful experience! I’m in my mid-sixties and our family moved into the St. Catherine neighborhood when I was a child.  Many of my friends attended this school and church. I currently work for Catholic Charities and have been there for over twenty years.  Although I’m not Catholic, I became a Christian in my early 20’s.

     In recent years, I’ve heard people mention the Alpha Course.  It sounded interesting.  I like to know about helpful Christian resources that I can learn from and that I can recommend to others. So, I always thought that at some point I should check out Alpha.  

     In the fall of last year someone I know who attends St. Catherine (Maria Kay Chetta) invited me to attend  Alpha and I signed up. I enjoyed it from day one!  I was warmly welcomed by a greeter as I entered the room, and by my table leaders.  The others in our group were also very nice.  Within weeks the people at our table felt more like friends than just co-attendees, and every week I looked forward to our gatherings. (The food was amazing too!)  

     About the information that was shared … I loved it!  It is a very clear, simple, yet compelling presentation of basic Christian teachings.  For those of us who are already believers, you might say it is like a refresher-course, a reminder of why our beliefs are so special – why we can have confidence that they are true, why they are worth embracing, and why this Gospel message is worth sharing with others.  For the person who is not a Christian, Alpha gives a great and easy-to-understand explanation of the Christian faith in a way that is unpressured, yet inviting.

     Through this Alpha experience I now feel more of a kinship with St. Catherine, my neighborhood Catholic Church.  I plan to keep in touch with my new friends, and now that I am on the mailing list for St. Catherine I am sure there will be some future special events I would enjoy attending.   To all the people at St. Catherine who were a part of hosting this course that was a blessing to me and to so many others, thank you and God bless you.

Scott Meunier - Alpha 6 (Fall 2020)

Lynn Lightfoot - Alpha 6 (Fall 2020)

     I have always felt called to a close relationship with the Jesus and his church.  For many years, I served the church primarily as a singer: as a choir member, cantor, and soloist.  I was blessed to work closely with wonderful priests celebrating the mass, and to sing the word of God in the hymns and responsorial psalms during mass.  But like Martha, who was preoccupied with many things, I was also preoccupied with the busyness of life, raising a family and working as a lawyer. My preoccupation continued after my children were long grown, and I entered retirement last year.  I filled my days with exercise, volunteering, and other activities, all of which came to a complete halt with the coronavirus. My neatly arranged schedule became blank.  I felt lost, without direction.  I started visiting the Adoration Chapel as a committed adorer each week, which I am sure, led me to participate in Alpha 6.
     I was totally unprepared for the depth of the Alpha videos and my reaction to them.  Watching them, I re-experienced the same call to closeness with Jesus I had as a young girl.  Instead of watching the videos as an objective spectator, I found myself totally drawn into the subject of each video, often watching them again at home.  I found that Alpha was meant for ME, and I embraced it.  I became like Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, taking to heart each element of faith the video addressed each week.  
     Another reason for attending Alpha 6 was that I was looking for a greater sense of community in the St. Catherine family.  I found a table filled with new friends.  Hopefully we will be able to stay in touch long after Alpha 6 is over.  I discovered through our individual sharing, that much like the diversity found within the church, each of us at our table is at a different spiritual stage.  Pam and Mark Truxillo were exceptional leaders and table hosts.  Their selfless dedication to serving the church through their involvement in Alpha and other ministries is inspirational.  They live the call to bring Christ into ALL aspects of our lives.  Pam invited me to serve as a table host for Alpha 7, so my involvement in Alpha will continue.   I know that Alpha 7 will continue to guide me on the journey I began so long ago.

Pat Doherty - Alpha 6 (Fall 2020)

     Alpha 6 was the beginning of a continuing spiritual journey. Appropriately named, Alpha  was the start of a new relationship with the Holy Spirit. Truthfully,  it was the origin of a relationship previously unknown to me.
     I had memorized the Catechism as a child and attend Pre Cana as an adult.That was the end of my Catholic education. I envied my Protestant friends with their continual growth through Sunday School. I raised my children Catholic, set good examples, I think, for them and  lived my religion via rote. Oh I prayed often, but always asking for something. Unbeknownst to me I was cheating myself out of the true joy of relating to The Holy Spirit.
     I went into Alpha with no expectations and not knowing anyone. ( I don't even belong to SCS parish.) I was assigned to a group of random people who seemed pleasant enough at first meeting. Our 2 leaders did a fabulous job of keeping everyone engaged. We met weekly, watched a video  and discussed the topic du jour. It sounds a tad unbelievable but these honest, vulnerable and questioning strangers brought me to a place of peace and of enlightenment. Our paths may never cross again but I will pray for them daily. Family obligations prevented my Retreat attendance and I am truly sorry that happened.
     The framework of the program was perfect. The time period was adhered to and oh those delicious dinners!! I have talked about Alpha to my friends. It is a welcoming and thoughtful program that gives you a sense of enlightenment and purpose resulting in true serenity. I will definitely take more steps on my spiritual journey, just not sure of which direction. I have learned the joy of prayer without it being a request.

Danny Poolson - Alpha 6 (Fall 2020)

     I grew up in the Catholic Church, attended St. Catherine with my three (3) younger sisters, then went on to Jesuit, earned a law degree at Loyola Law School, and was married to my wonderful bride, Amy Davis, in the Catholic Church.  I have been inundated with Catholicism most of my life.  Although I am Catholic, my spiritual relationship with God seemed dissipate as I got older.  As a husband and now a father of Davis and Amelia (the “Twinkies”), I knew I wanted to lead by example and put my family first.  I felt as if I was searching for something more….
     During a men’s club meeting Fr. Tim mentioned Alpha (and that dinner and childcare were included). I am the first to admit that I struggle in my faith.  I was curious to learn more, so I could be the best husband to Amy and the best dad to Davis and Amelia.  My thought was to bring the “Twinkies” (Davis and Amelia) to interact with other children in the community, while Amy and I enjoyed a quiet meal in the company of strangers.  I had no idea what to expect.  
     When we arrived, the atmosphere was something we have not experienced in a very long time -- no judgment.  It was very welcoming and open.  We were assigned a table number with two fantastic hosts.  We received our meal and sat with our fellow table-mates to eat.  Following dinner was a short video on a topic dealing with faith.  After the video, we discussed the topic and faith.  The video topic changes each week.  There was no pushy discussion about “needing” to do anything.  It was an opportunity to listen and observe others on their journeys with God.  When I spoke, I was met with smiles and encouragement.  It was unlike any other organization.  I felt no pressure – only reassurance.
     If you are questioning your faith, considering learning more about Christ, or do not have a relationship with Christ, I would recommend signing up for an Alpha course.  It is a wonderful organization that shares much more than information.  It has been a life-changing experience, and I recommend anyone sign up and attend, regardless of your current relationship with God.

Erin Snow - Alpha 5 (Spring 2020)

     Since moving here from Arkansas in 2016, my husband Bruce, a New Orleans native, and I have casually searched for a church to attend regularly. In summer 2019, that became more consistent when my work friend Shari and I, both Catholic, began visiting a different church each week. Alpha caught my attention when I read Jeff Hunter's testimonial in the bulletin during a visit to St. Catherine of Siena.
     The following week brought a second Alpha mention. Pam and Mark Truxillo attend a yoga class I teach, and, from previous conversations, I knew they were Catholic. Eager to plan my weekly church visit, I asked them where they attend Mass, and they were quick to share how they also searched a bit before finding St. Catherine of Siena. They raved about Fr. Tim and Fr. Andrew—both "great homilists"—and told me about Alpha and that registration was open for the upcoming August-October session. Later that day, I asked Shari if she wanted to sign up for Alpha together. She agreed and, before long, another friend, Sherri, said she wanted to join us.  
     On a Tuesday in early August 2019, my friends Shari, Sherri and I reported to the Melancon Center for the first meeting of Alpha 4 and were warmly welcomed by Jeff and Yvette Lionnet, our table hosts. Week after week, I enjoyed the fellowship, videos, insightful discussion, and next-level food (thanks, Chef Glenn!).
    About four sessions in, Charley, my daughter's father, passed away unexpectedly. My personal grief, coupled with worry about Sofia, a college senior in Memphis, and trying to help her navigate her new normal from a distance, made for a stressful, emotionally trying time.  I remember sitting at my Alpha table unable to control my tears. I remember my fellow table participants sweetly holding space for me as I muddled through mixed emotions and embarrassment over breaking down in a roomful of relative strangers. And I remember feeling grateful for the weekly routine of Alpha in my life.
     Due to an already scheduled trip to Corpus Christi with my mom and daughter, followed by Charley's memorial service in Arkansas, I was away almost all October and missed retreat Saturday and sessions 9, 10 and 11. I tried to watch the videos on my own, but it just wasn't the same. Fortunately, I had already answered Joni Maurer's call for Alpha 5 participants. Having missed so much of Alpha 4, I knew I wanted another shot at the full experience. That shot came when the Truxillos asked me to host a table with Mark, as Pam would be leading Alpha 5 with Joni.
     I delighted in welcoming Alpha 5 participants to Table 5, and getting to know them better each week. I'm certain our table's connections were divinely appointed. The most meaningful part for me was the ability to participate in both days of the retreat. On Friday night, we were asked to prayerfully think about and, if we felt comfortable, share what we wanted out of the weekend. I prayed for discernment and told my table I was ready to commit to a new church home, but wanted to feel certain about my choice. The church of my youth never felt healthy or supportive. This time around, I wasn't going to settle, and I knew my husband would follow my lead on this important decision. From words spoken by others to moments of simple, deep knowing, I received so many affirmations that I had found my church home that weekend.  
     COVID-19 brought a collective devastation when Alpha 5's final three sessions were canceled. But the Holy Spirit had different plans. The amazing Truxillos (have I mentioned how much I love this couple?) proposed finishing the video/discussion series via Zoom, and we answered with a resounding "Yes!"
     This year has hit us all in dizzying ways. From minor inconvenience to great suffering and terrifying loss, 2020 is a different sort of year, for sure. But, for me, this year also gave me a deeper relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit. This year brought meaningful connections with others through Alpha. This year, I received the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time in two decades (drive-thru style, no less). And, this year, I found my healthy, supportive, spiritual home.
     Thank you, Mark and Pam Truxillo, for telling me about Alpha and sharing your own "church shopping" story. Thank you, Jeff and Yvette Lionnet, for kind patience as I grieved. Thank you, Alpha 5 / Table 5 for unconditional acceptance, openness and friendship. Thank you, Brooks Hellmers, for being such an earnest, soulful prayer team partner. Thank you, Fr. Tim and Fr. Andrew, for inspired and heartful guidance. And thank you, St. Catherine of Siena, for the warm welcome home.

Marcelle Gruezke - Alpha 5 (Spring 2020)

     Since my grandmother’s passing, I have been looking to get more involved in the church and strengthen my faith. She kept us connected with God and constantly challenged us to make him a part of our daily lives. She was my best friend and I now found that it was up to me to continue to grow in my faith.  I knew that I wanted to be like her and develop a stronger relationship with God.  During that search I was introduced to Alpha and was told it was a perfect place to start.
     The moment I walked in the door I felt so welcomed and at home. My table leaders, Mark Truxillo and Erin Snow, were wonderful and asked great questions, which allowed our entire group to think on a deeper level and grow in faith. Everyone in my group was so honest and open and I have learned so much from them as well. I developed so many friendships and I will forever be grateful for that.
     Alpha really was the perfect place to start in my journey to strengthen my faith. I encourage everyone to join Alpha. You will not regret it! I cannot wait to bring my husband with me to one of the upcoming courses in the future!

Jeanne Umbdenstock - Alpha 4 (Fall 2019)

     This past fall, at the last minute, I signed my husband and me up for the Alpha Series. A dear friend who had just moved back to Metairie after a long hiatus had signed up for it and I was curious as to what it was all about. And happily my husband was in agreement.
     Upon the very first evening, I was quite taken back by it all. What a nice welcome we got ! All staff were especially friendly and helpful and we were introduced to our table members, complete with name tags and a name game. I was blown away by the film series. It took a back seat approach to talking about Jesus, interviewing people from all over the world about the beliefs (or unbeliefs) about Jesus. It helped me draw back from my own life, like a bird perched on a high tree, viewing this life below on the low perches and on the ground, helping me get a better perspective of the bigger picture of my life.
     I was most blown away when we had a couple of opportunities to be prayed over in person for something that was pressing in on us. There's something very humbling about going to other believers that you don't know to ask for prayers for a particular difficulty you're going through. But in those humble moments of being prayed over, it's like “you can reach out and touch God”. You sense God's love for you and it fills you with hope and peace.
     This Alpha experience has not only given me a chance to know Jesus better, but has helped me to treat others I meet day to day as prospective new friends in Christ, and also to make new friends here at SCS. Yes, I have along way to go, but I am so happy I signed us up at the last minute. God has a way !  I am also grateful my husband said “Yes”. I asked, and he said “Yes”!

Christine Corrigan - Alpha 4 (Fall 2019)

   I was lucky enough to be raised in a very religious family. My father is a Deacon here at St. Catherine and my mother a devout Catholic. Faith was always a part of my life. I never questioned if I believed in God or why I believed in God, it was just what we did.
   I feel like Alpha strengthened the faith I already had. It helped me realize why I believe and how important faith is to a family. I was struggling in how to put God first in my life. As a working mother I felt pulled in so many ways but something kept telling me to just put God first and the rest will fall into place. One of the first steps I took to strengthen my faith was Alpha. The hardest part is committing, the rest is easy! We all think we have too much going on to commit to something else, but trust me you will be thankful you did this. It was a wonderful experience for my husband and me, and our children also enjoyed it! We were blessed to be at a table with good friends and we enjoyed the sense of community Alpha gave us.

Jeff Lionnet - Alpha 4 (Fall 2019)

     Being born and raised in St. Catherine of Siena parish, I was always around the church; whether it was school, weekly mass or community service. Raised in a faith-based household, my parents provided me with the lessons that taught me how much God truly loves us. As I grew older, my relationship with God faded and I started to drift further away from the church. Eventually, I started a family of my own and knew that I wanted my children to have the same family environment that I had. I quickly discovered that raising children to understand God’s love provided more questions than answers.
     The talk of Alpha was spreading throughout St. Catherine parish and I started hearing stories about how powerful Alpha is. Friends were telling me about their experiences in Alpha and how it really opened their eyes to how awesome God’s love is and how the scriptures of God’s life helped them understand what it means to be a devoted Catholic. The more I heard about Alpha, the more I realized that it is exactly what I need in my life to help me get closer to God and to get the answers to those questions that I’ve been searching for.
     My wife and I decided to sign up for Alpha 3 and I can’t tell you how much joy it has brought into my life. Not only do I feel closer to God but it has also brought my relationship with my wife and family to new levels. Not a day goes by that I am not thankful for what Alpha has done for me. My only regret is not joining up sooner. The discussions that took place convinced me that I’m not the only one with these questions. The videos and testimonies that we watched reassured that me that there is no greater love than God’s love.
      If you are on the fence about signing up for Alpha, take the leap. You are not alone. God’s love is far greater than any fear you have.

Travis Bonifacic - Alpha 4 (Fall 2019)

     If you are anything like me the strength of your faith has ebbs and flows.  I have periods where I am confident in my beliefs, have great prayer time, and feel very close to God.  However, there are other times when I feel distant, not good enough, or not worthy of the Church.  Typically the catalyst to renew my faith and practice in the church has been a personal struggle or need.  I tend to pray more, go to church more regularly, and might even go to confession.  Thankfully we have a welcoming and forgiving God and I have always been able to get back to a good spot with my faith.  However, I also feel guilty that the catalyst to reengage with my faith has been my needs, problems, and desires.
     I am currently at about the halfway point of life and the father of three beautiful children.  I had been thinking about how to limit or eliminate those periods of diminished faith.  Going to church on Sunday and sending my kids to Catholic schools just weren’t enough.  My wife and I had been on the verge of doing something more and even discussed Alpha a couple of times.  However, we never really took the time to dig in to the details and always felt we were too busy raising a family to commit.  This fall we decided it was time to intentionally address our faith.    We made a snap decision to register and told ourselves we would “figure out” the schedule later.  After initially being told it was full (and maybe feeling some relief that we were spared) there was a late opening and we jumped on board.
     Alpha was an amazing experience for my wife, Noreen, and me.  We recently finished the course and are already missing our “Alpha Nights” as our family called it (the kids enjoyed it as much as we did).  An Alpha class is comprised of normal people living regular lives who come from all different perspectives.  Alpha is full of “regular” Catholics and Christians and is not just for the “very religious,” as I admittedly feared.  Some came looking for something that was missing in their life, some came with a strong faith but still desired more, and others were probably told or “forced” to go.  Alpha is for individuals and couple alike.  It truly is open to all and that, in part, is what makes it special.  Each night begins with a meal and a prayer at “your table.”  There are typically 10 people at each table that you will remain with for the entirety of the program.  These people will become like extended family by the end of the program.  The core of each evening is a video which runs about 30 minutes.  The videos are wonderfully done and focus us on a specific topic such as: Who is Jesus and why did he die, How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit, or How can I make the most of the rest of my life?  After the video we have a discussion led by our “table leaders”.  Each person shares as much or as little as little as they like.  There is no pressure but by the end of the program even the most timid were opening up.  These conversations were a great source of perspective, stirred up empathy for others, and created meaningful connections.  
     If I had one word to describe what I got out of Alpha it would be peace.  Peace that I am not perfect and that it is okay.  Peace that Jesus is in fact real.  Peace that Jesus did die for us and loves us immensely.  Peace that the Holy Spirit lives within us and is a gift from God.  Peace that prayer does work.  Peace that having a strong faith doesn’t make you weird.  Peace that I will fall and Jesus will be there to pick me up.  And lastly I find peace in the fact that my wife and I took a leap of faith by registering for Alpha and were rewarded with a stronger faith and meaningful new relationships.  Every person I have spoken with has said it was a great experience.  Some experiences are different than others but you can see and feel the growth occurring throughout the program.  I can’t tell you exactly what you will get out of Alpha.  All I can tell you is that it will be positive and worthwhile.  If you are thinking about Alpha just take the leap! 

Ginger Burns - Alpha 4 (Fall 2019)

     We took the Alpha course because my husband, Bob, knew one of the table hosts.  We had no idea how much closer we would grow as a Catholic couple.  We met a lot of “Alpha Buddies,” as I called our group.  At our table, two amazing women had a profound effect on my growth in my faith. They showed me that Jesus was truly in them.  They knew and accepted Jesus with a strong belief, is all I can say.  I saw a change in myself and others.  Alpha helps lead you to a personal relationship with Jesus.  I was brought to tears (good tears) when I spoke to the prayer team.  I felt a new joy and found I can speak to God through my prayers.
     At the next Alpha course, we became table hosts.  We had a very young group of people who moved me so much.  Everyone participated and grew in faith weekly.  They stuck with the weekly topics and I felt blessed to experience their journeys to Jesus through the Holy Spirit.  I found that they realized many things about what road they wanted from the Alpha videos and talks afterward. The best conversations were about the Holy Spirit.  I experienced many unexplainable things happen to people in our group over time, which let me see their faith as they were touched by God.  The Holy Spirit moves in unexplainable ways.
     If you are thinking about joining Alpha, come and give it a chance.  Take it from me: it will change your relationship with Jesus.  I would love to see Alpha become a part of Confirmation preparation for our high school students.  I feel blessed to be a part of Alpha at St. Catherine.

Chad Wilken - Alpha 4 (Fall 2019)

    I’ve been going to church my whole life and I came to Alpha with the expectation that I would know a lot of the answers already, but I was amazed at how much I learned. The course content is really interesting and has helped me grow in my faith. I really enjoyed the course and the challenges that it brought. The group discussions gave our table an opportunity for an open and honest discussion; ideas could be challenged without a sense of pressure or judgement.
     Alpha really gets to the heart of Christian faith, emphasizing the unconditional love of Jesus, something which is sadly and too often overlooked.   I would, without doubt, recommend Alpha  to anyone who wants to explore the Christian faith and I would urge anyone considering life’s questions to take the opportunity to do so through this course. Even if you think you know the answers already, whatever they may be, Alpha is a good course to really see where you are in your journey.

Cindy Roth - Alpha 4 (Fall 2019)

     As a 62 year old cradle Catholic woman, I had no idea what to expect when my husband and I signed up for Alpha in Spring of 2019.  I do know that God has seen fit to bless us with an incredible blended family.  We have 6 good, faith-filled children, a loving daughter and son in law and 4 beautiful grandchildren that fill our lives with joy.  Therefore, it just made sense to take time to give back to the Lord for all he has given us. I longed for a deeper, fuller relationship with Our Lord  and I hoped that Alpha would provide that.
      There are so many things in life that we put in the back of our minds and don't take the time to truly reflect on, i.e., Why was I born?  What's the real purpose of my life?  How do I best serve The Lord the rest of my life?  While I don't have all those answers after attending Alpha, I do know that The Lord is calling me and my husband to a richer, spiritual life and to being open to what He has planned for our future.  Subsequently,  Steve & I decided to serve as Table Host for the Fall session 2019 and are both amazed at the impact of sharing our faith and gratitude to the Lord with others. That's the blessing I received from attending Alpha and I pray that the Holy Spirit will inspire others to attend this amazing course.  

Colin and Jess Brunet - Alpha 3 (Spring 2019)

     We were not expecting to do Alpha and we surely have never heard of it before but one of our friends, Graham Thomas, was a table host for the course and asked us if we would like to participate and we said why not! We had no expections and were just super excited about getting to have a date night once a week for a few months (we have a little one at home and the grandparents helped us make this happen)!
     It was such an amazing experience to get to have a date night with Jesus and each other and also get to know great people who were  wanting to learn more about how to have a true relationship with God or just to even know God at all. We learned so much about ourselves, each other, and the people in our group. We also became super close with our group and found awesome fellowship that we would’ve never known had we not done Alpha. Also, the weekend retreat was so peaceful and prayerful and we truly got so much out of the entire course! We have been recommending it to people ever since it ended. If you are looking to grow in your relationship with God, or even just have a lot of questions about who He is we highly recommend taking this course, you will not regret it!!

Jeff Hunter - Alpha 3 (Spring 2019)

      On December 3, 2018, I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. My ejection fraction was less than 10% (meaning that my heart was not squeezing and pumping properly).  I would like to share my story on how Alpha and reconnecting with God have helped me physically, emotionally, and spiritually during my recovery.
     Prior to my diagnosis, I lived an average life. My wife, Jolie, and I were raising our beautiful little girl, Harper, who was 1 at the time.  During the week, my wife and I would work during the day and come home to cook and spend time with Harper in the evenings. Our weekends would consist of going to parties, hanging out with family and friends, and woodworking when possible. Prayer, God, and church were not a part of my life at all.  I was raised Catholic and attended St. Rita in Harahan for grammar school and Archbishop Rummel for high school -- where I served as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. During college, however, I lost all connection to God. I wouldn’t reconnect with God until my friend, Cliff, told me about Alpha and asked me to join him for a course at St. Catherine.  His invitation came at the perfect time...two weeks after I was diagnosed with heart failure.
     After receiving the news of heart failure, I was not able to work, cook the same or drink alcohol. I was put on a crazy low sodium diet with fluid restrictions. I had to take several medications and wear a life vest to monitor my heart. I was told it was more than likely I would need a heart transplant due to the condition of my heart. Less than two months after diagnosis my life vest started going off, having detected that my heart was going into ventricular fibrillation. I was back in the hospital having an ICD surgically implanted in me.  
     I started Alpha with an open heart and an open mind. Immediately I could feel a difference with my health and state of mind. I felt comfort with my condition. The little bit of depression I had left me. I started praying every night before bed. I asked Jesus to help me with the temptation to use alcohol. That prayer was answered overnight. I’m not sure how the temptation left my body, but it did. Halfway through the course we had a retreat. It wasn’t until then that I realized I wasn’t praying for my heart or my health. All of my prayers were directed at other people with struggles in life.  I started reading a book given to me by an Alpha team member, “The Power of a Praying Husband.”  My relationship with my wife grew stronger every day. (This is a great book to teach you how to pray for your wife. It really helps you identify what your wife is sensitive to.) My priorities in life started changing.
     I now understand that you need to have faith in God to create your path in life. I know in my heart that God is truly healing my heart. I value the small things now. I cherish every minute spent with family and friends. I received great results in May that my heart function has jumped from 10% to 25%. I was cleared to start working in June.  I’m now a proud parishioner of St. Catherine of Siena. I continue to pray every night and I don’t plan on stopping. I’m taking the next steps to go to church every Sunday to continue my relationship with God. I understand that medication helps my heart function. There is only one explanation for staying positive, strengthening my marriage, understanding my new path in life, temptations losing their appeal, and cherishing the small things: that’s God and prayer. I have a long road of recovery before me. I know in my heart, that with God by my side, I can beat this and live a long, healthy life.
     As of now, my heart function has jumped up to 47%. I’m back at work full time with my next doctor's appointment six months away. I still pray every single night of my life. My two girls are healthy and doing great! These are truly the happiest days of my life.
     The last thing I would like to share is how I finish my prayers: "God...I will walk by your side, help spread your word, and lead by example."
     I hope my testimony will help others find comfort and happiness during difficult times.

Brooks Hellmers - Alpha 3 (Spring 2019)

  If you’ve ever questioned why you’re here or what your life is all about, I would strongly encourage you to consider Alpha. I had the privilege of participating in Alpha with my husband this Spring and it was amazing! I am a wife to a loving and hardworking husband (Scott) as well as a mother to four wonderful children, but the truth is I needed this. I needed time to reestablish my faith and remember why I am here. I was able to express my feelings, concerns and questions to a table of strangers that I would now call family. The knowledge that I acquired, both tangible and intangible, was life changing. I had the opportunity to be witness to some very beautiful moments where God was truly present. If you’re searching for something more, an explanation, the truth....you have to be a part of this!  It will change you!  

Patricia Lawson - Alpha 3 (Spring 2019)

       When I enrolled in Alpha this past January, I felt as if I was at a crossroads in my life. Over the past several years, my life had drastically changed. Shortly after my retirement from a satisfying 38+ year career in education, I lost both my husband, Patrick, and mother, Ora Gilly, within 10 months of each other. Two years later, I sold my home in Glastonbury, CT. and relocated to New Orleans, primarily to provide support and care for my elderly father who suffered with serious medical issues as well as dementia. After he passed in April of 2018, I felt really alone, lost and confused. In addition, I had many questions about my uncertain future and about my Catholic faith. What is my purpose in life? How can I discover what my purpose is? How can I do God’s will if I am not sure what His will is? Do I really matter in the world? Where does my life journey go from here? How can I develop a more personal, loving and intimate relationship with God?
     
 Although several people told me how beneficial Alpha had been for them, I remained skeptical. After all, these were deeply personal questions. How could a group activity such as Alpha provide me with the guidance that I needed, the answers that I sought? How would others who really did not know me help me to find answers to these life questions? Despite these reservations, I decided to give it a try.
   
  I attended the first session of Alpha not really knowing what to expect. I discovered
participants were divided into several smaller groups. We first were treated to a delicious meal and some fellowship with other participants. I can remember thinking that I really did not have anything in common with most of the people in my group as they were young couples who were parents of small children. While they seemed to be nice people, what did I have in common with them? How could they understand the issues with which I was struggling? Following the meal, we watched a film and engaged in group discussion on a central theme. The theme for this first session was “Is there more to life than this?” Perfect! Exactly what I was seeking. Some of the themes for the following weeks included “How can we have faith?”, “Why did Jesus die?,” Who is the Holy Spirit?” and “How can I make the most of my life?” Again, these topics seemed really to resonate for me in my present state of mind.
 
    I must admit that the first couple of sessions were personally disappointing for me and I seriously considered quietly quitting. As a person of faith, the film and the discussions initially seemed to be so self-evident and rudimentary. I was searching for something more profound, something deeper. I had real doubts that I would find any answers to the questions with which I struggled. I articulated this concern to one of the table leaders whom I knew. After listening patiently, she encouraged me to stick  with it. I took her advice and I am so glad that I did.
 
   First and foremost, Alpha reaffirmed for me that I did indeed matter in the world. In all the noise and chaos of life, I had somehow forgotten that I was a beloved child of God who loves me and remains with me and will guide me. Even though I knew this, it had somehow gotten lost in my confusion.
   
  My participation in Alpha profoundly affected my Christian faith as well. I learned that it is natural to have questions to which we seek meaningful answers. This is, in fact, how we seek God in our lives. I also learned that all of us have an area(s) of our lives which needs healing. Even though we were quite different in age, stage in life, and state of mind, I learned that all of us in the group shared one significant common bond; we were all pilgrims on a journey of faith. We walk this journey of faith because we seek to have a more personal relationship with God who loves us. By sharing our life stories, through the films and group discussions, through the music played, through praying for and with each other, and through the quiet time to reflect, I learned that all of us have burning questions to which we seek realistic answers to guide our lives. When the answers to these questions somehow elude us, we must seek the help of our fellow pilgrims. Faith is not a finite destination, but rather a work in progress, constantly evolving as we seek God present in our lives.
 
     I did not encounter any “burning bush” moments while participating in Alpha. It did not provide answers to all of my burning questions. But I did experience a few personal epiphanies thanks to fellow pilgrims who have become my friends. And while I may not have absolute answers to all of my life’s burning questions, my faith has been renewed and I am facing the future with the confidence that God remains near to me and will gently guide me along the way.

Deborah Pope - Alpha 3 (Spring 2019)

      I first heard about Alpha from an evangelical friend of mine whose sister and niece had found Christ through an Alpha course at her church. I would not have acted on this, but months later my sister told me about the Alpha course at St. Catherine that she was taking. I heard God’s message that time. Spiritually, the course has meant an expansion of my knowledge, my faith, my feelings about the Holy Trinity. I had not felt the Holy Spirit as a person who could live in me before. To me, the Holy Spirit was a white dove, a living symbol of grace – visually hovering over the heads of the Apostles when Jesus appeared to them after the Resurrection. As much as I had heard “three persons in one God” I had not internalized the concept.
     Particularly meaningful were the profound and incredible stories of redemptionin the videos. I too have a story of redemption, although humble. Miraculously,since my sister had been unable to attend the retreat during her Alpha course,
she attended the same retreat weekend as mine.
The Retreat
     Previously, I had shared with my group that I was a recovering alcoholic (I just celebrated seven years of sobriety), but as the retreat began, I felt compelled to continue sharing about my alcoholism, recovery, guilt and, that morning, showed Pam the bookmark my sister gave me after my last suicide attempt with John 8:12; Matthew 5:14, “I am the light of the world. . . . You are the light of the world” on one side, and handwritten on the other – “Deb, you are His Light, let it shine, never put it out. I love you, Me.” Everything was coalescing that weekend.  (Believe me, I have only ever in my life referred to my suicide attempts on VERY RARE occasions in the course of rehab and therapy.)
      During our lunch break I met a friend of my sister’s whose husband had taken
his life. I shared the story of my attempts at suicide and how I felt at the
time−that the best thing for everyone would be for me to be out of their lives
because I was causing them all so much pain.  When we returned after lunch, my sister gave me a hug that was divine. When Father Tim asked if anyone wanted to share, all of a sudden, and I am sure inspired by the Holy Spirit, I felt I had to give my testimony and acknowledge my sister’s suffering. I asked my sister to come to the front with me. I quoted St. Francis of Assisi, “I have been all things unholy. If God can work through
me, He can work through anyone.” (I have a framed copy on my dresser, which
was given to me by an AA sponsor.) I had tried to kill myself twice in the course
of my addiction to alcohol, and wanted my sister and all those attending the
retreat, whom I instinctively knew I could trust, to know that I was sorry for
the pain I caused her and how horrible it would have been for her and all of my
family if I had erased myself from this life.
     Alpha has set me on a path of quiet contemplation of God’s word, away from
the noise of everyday life. I have learned to be comfortable with silence and to listen.
I am not a member of St. Catherine Parish; I live in Kenner. I have never seen anything like the outreach and unselfishness of the members of St. Catherine Parish, and I know that Father Tim inspires by example.

Dan Centner - Alpha 2 (Fall 2018)

      When Father Tim asked me to write a testimony about my experience in the Alpha program, my first thought was that I wasn’t the right man for the job.  Although I was raised Catholic, I’d left the Church for many years, only returning when my oldest son started school here a few years ago. For those first years I’d gone through the motions, coming to Mass on Sundays every now and then, events for the school, and the occasional men’s club meeting, but that was the extent of it.  I was afraid of God, honestly, and when I did come to Church it was not because I wanted to, but because I felt obligated to and was afraid something bad would happen if I didn’t.
      When I started seeing the “Got Questions?” signs the Church uses to promote the Alpha course, I was intrigued.  I DID have a lot of questions about God, the Church, and their role(s) in my life, and so when my wife told me she’d signed us up for the program I went along without much of a fight.  I came into the course with an open mind, but no real expectations. Don’t get me wrong – I definitely looked forward to learning what I was supposed to be thinking and feeling when I was in Church.  I just didn’t expect to get much out of it, other than some good food, child care, and fellowship one night a week.
      To say I was pleasantly surprised by the program would be an understatement.  For the first time in my life I feel a connection to God. I can’t tell you exactly how or when it happened, but I can tell you it was because of my experience in the Alpha course.  Before I started the program I’d barely read a page of the Bible, let alone attempted to consider its impact on my daily life. I had no idea how to relate to Jesus. I wondered why there’s so much bad in the world, and then felt guilty about the way I was feeling.  These are the types of questions Alpha sets out to not necessarily answer, but address. Dedicating a block of time each week to thinking through these issues with peers who had some of the same questions I had was refreshing, engaging, and honestly, fun. I soon began to look forward to the Alpha meetings each week.  Most weeks I gained some new insight, either from the videos or the small group discussions. Two weeks in particular stick out for me—the week we explored the historical evidence of the life of Jesus, and the week where we considered the meaning and role of prayer. The former helped me see Jesus and God in a more tangible light, while the latter led me to the realization that they love me and want to be in my life (and that even simple, informal prayer can be a great way to foster that relationship).
     Over time my relationship with God evolved from one rooted in fear and misunderstanding to one of love and comfort. While I still don’t have all the answers, I have gained perspective, and I believe I’m a better person for it.  Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you’d like any additional thoughts.

Nicole Masson - Alpha 2 (Fall 2018)

      My faith journey has not been a short one. It has had ups and downs, times of hope and times of doubt and times when I felt a calling but still wasn't sure what it meant or what to do.  I always knew that God had a plan for me from a young age. I am still trying to figure out that plan but since joining Alpha my path seems clearer.
      In high school I was called to be a peer minister and was also invited to travel to a Salesian Leadership retreat. I always felt near Jesus at those times when I was called to serve and learn. But when I would return I would go back to my normal life and not continue my faith journey. My family was mainly Catholic, but religion was not a priority. I learned about my Catholic faith in school but that was the extent of it. I then moved on to college and God was not high on my priority list. I was always a believer but He was not who I turned to. He was someone I prayed to at night but I don't think I was fully committed to Him, it was more of a routine to pray.
     My husband and I married in 2004 outside with a religious ceremony but we didn't see it necessary to be married in the church. It wasn't until after the birth of our three children who were all baptized at St. Catherine of Siena did I begin to feel God calling me again. Our church community at St.Catherine has had a huge impact in my wanting to belong to a church again. This has been the first community I have felt like I truly belong and am wanted.
     In 2017, my husband and I were married in the Catholic Church. I believe this was what jumpstarted our faith journey and led us to Alpha. I believe God puts people in our path to lead us back to him and He definitely sent Fr. Tim to encourage us to have our marriage recognized by the church. He also sent my dear friend, Jamie Centner. I encouraged her to join RCIA and also became her Godmother and she encouraged us to sign up for Alpha. Our families are on an amazing faith journey together. Having a friend who supports your desire to dig deeper into your faith is truly a special gift.
     I was not entirely sure what we were getting into at Alpha but everyone we spoke to who experienced Alpha assured us that we would not regret joining. After the first meeting I knew they were right. I knew after the first few weeks that the Holy Spirit had led us here and this was going to be where I was going to have the spiritual growth I had been searching for. My husband and I began to look forward to our weekly Alpha meeting. Something about having this meeting gave our life more balance. The day after I always feel refreshed and ready to continue my journey and make the changes in my life that I have talked myself out of for so long.
     Alpha has answered so many questions that have lingered on my heart. It addresses the hard stuff, the joyful stuff and even the stuff we may not want to question out loud.
I believe the Holy Spirit is present in every single one of our meetings. There is something so beautiful about a room of 100 people who are all there for the same reason. Different reasons may have brought us here but ultimately everyone in the room is there to feel the Holy Spirit and to grow in their faith with the Lord. The people in our small groups who started out as strangers are now friends. We have all shared a special experience together and one that will hold  a special place in all of our hearts.
     I hope if you feel the slightest interest or calling to learn more about Alpha that you listen to that call. Alpha has relit a fire in me for Jesus that I thought was burning out. I felt so lost in my faith for so long and Alpha has opened a door that I didn't know was there.  It has sparked my desire to make sure my children grow with a unwavering love for Jesus and a faith that they will want to share with everyone they meet. 

Tina D'Antoni - Alpha 2 (Fall 2018)

      Many parishioners have written about the Alpha program and its format.  I am sure you already have an idea of how each gathering is conducted.  Therefore, what I'd like to focus on is the great grace that I received from attending Alpha.  The program has been such a blessing for me with meeting and getting to know our parish family and, as a result, making new and lasting friendships.
     One of the weekly sessions was on healing, physical and/or spiritual.  We watched a 30-minute film on the multiple ways people needed healing.  This was after we had a delicious gourmet dinner.  After the film, Fr. Tim requested that we all go into the church for some personal reflection and meditation.  As we all took a place in church, he gave us a beautiful brief insight on various healings followed by an announcement that there were prayer stations set up with people there who would pray with you.
     At the time, I had a big concern that was bothering me.  My carotid artery had some blockage and my doctor told me that I would likely be in need of surgery in order to prevent a stroke.  The doctor ordered another CT scan as the previous one had shown blockage.  I related this to my prayer team and asked them to pray with  me as my additional test would be the following Monday.  As they were praying with me, I felt a warm sensation go through the right side of my neck and body.  At that moment, I thought about the power of prayer and its healing aspects.
      That Monday, I did the test and the following Friday I met with the vascular surgeon to get the results.  He said, "I've got good news for you.  You do not need surgery."  What a relief it was to me to hear those words.  Following my doctor's appointment, I went directly to the adoration chapel in thanksgiving knowing full well that our prayers were answered.

Kirk Buuck -  Alpha (Spring 2018)

I have been a practicing Catholic my entire life. I attend mass each week, pray often, went to Catholic schools, and I send my children to Catholic schools. But I have recently been looking for ways to deepen my faith. When I was invited to attend Alpha I accepted somewhat hesitantly, not knowing what to expect. After our first meeting I was completely at ease. Our table consisted of 14 people, some that I knew, some that I didn’t. Our group leader was wonderful, and I quickly became close and comfortable with everyone at the table. The weekly videos were very well done, and they were followed by group discussions on various topics. I am not the most outspoken person in group settings, but here I felt completely comfortable. Participation was voluntary, so I was able to speak as much or as little as I wanted. For me, the best part of Alpha was hearing the perspectives of the other group members. They were so insightful and really made me think. I soon found myself really looking forward to our Tuesday night meetings. Lastly, the meals we were served were unbelievable (I have to give a shout-out to my four tablemates who cooked for us each week). I would truly recommend the Alpha program to everyone. It is a wonderful addition to our parish community to help others to deepen their faith and get insight into some unanswered questions that they may have.

Audry Wild - Alpha (Spring 2018)

In the beginning, I was unsure about Alpha. I had been finding it harder and harder to manage my anxiety, and losing Tuesday nights during the school year seemed it would only add to my overwhelming stress and anxiety. However, I decided that doing something to grow in my faith, especially during the Lenten season, would be good for me. While I enjoyed the socialization and discussion during the meetings, it was not until the retreat that Alpha left an impression on me. While at the retreat, we had a session of silent prayer, and during this time, we were invited to have the leaders pray over us. I initially intended not to participate, thinking, “Why do I deserve to be prayed for? I’m already so blessed.” I believed that it would be a waste of time to pray for me and better for someone else to receive the prayers. However, one of the leaders, who knows me well enough to understand I would not come up on my own, made eye contact with me and I felt obligated to go to her. She prayed over me, and I felt some inner peace that I had not felt in a long time. A knot in my chest began to loosen and I felt all the anxiety and stress from the past few weeks leave me.  I could not help crying tears of relief.  I know that the peace I felt then was the Holy Spirit, and I would not have been able to experience this peace if I had not gone to Alpha.

Miranda Powell - Alpha (Spring 2018)

During my experience with Alpha, the Lord completely stretched my faith in ways I never could have imagined. I entered the eleven week course not expecting to learn much, as I felt my faith was already strong, and already had a good understanding of what it meant to be a good Catholic. Every week taught me something new about myself. I realized that the Lord was calling me to serve him in many ways to which my answer was often “No Lord! Are you crazy!” My response quickly changed to a frequent and confident, “Yes Lord!”. In the hectic life of being a mother of three young children, taking this time to focus on my relationship with God gave me the confidence to surrender myself completely to his will, which has allowed me to become a better wife, mother, and Catholic. My favorite part about Alpha was getting to know and love the people in my small group. Sharing this experience together helped us become closer as a family of faith, not to mention- FOOD WAS FABOULOUS!

Tanner Shaw - Alpha (Spring 2018)

Alpha at SCS was a wonderful experience for Sara and me simply because the time allowed our faith to revitalize and a personal relationship to form with the Holy Spirit. Alpha is a small group, non-biased exploration of Christianity focused on the validity of the Bible, God’s unconditional love, and the life of Jesus Christ. Developing a strong Christian foundation surrounded by other like-minded parishioners services our growing faith and continues to strengthen our church community. Alpha helps remind us of God’s beautiful plan for ourselves and for everyone who trusts, believes in, and loves Him. Everyone who yearns to understand their purpose in life, a desire to explore a profound relationship with God and those who all around want to feel the magnitude of God’s love will enjoy Alpha.

Victor Fernandez - Alpha (Spring 2018)

      After participating in ALPHA at St. Catherine, I can truthfully say that it has been a wonderful blessing for my wife and me that will be with us forever. At each meeting we were greeted by friendly, smiling faces and enjoyed a delicious meal. After watching a short film we had the opportunity to discuss that week's topic with people who shared our desire for a closer walk with our Lord. For anyone who is looking for a deeper, more personal relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, ALPHA offers a strong foundation for a life-changing spiritual journey.
 

Kayne Stewart - Alpha (Spring 2018)

      Alpha was a joyous experience and strengthened my faith by bringing me  “back to the basics of my faith”.   You know that saying:  “Everything you need to know about life you learned in Kindergarten?”  Well, that is how I felt about Alpha.   The message of Alpha  is pure and simple:  God is love.  We need to know Him. He loves us.  He loves me and He wants us to by joyful and share His love.  
     Alpha is an inclusive message about forgiveness and acceptance.   It shows you how to live your normal, everyday life with a sense of purpose and knowledge that no matter what you do, you can do it with God by your side.    
     It’s a spiritual experience in a fun and accepting environment.   You will make new friends and feel joy by sharing with your “table group”.  You will learn about yourself and deepen your relationship  with God, and if you feel that you do not have a relationship with God, this may be the start.  I hope to meet you at Alpha in September!  
 
 

Donna Hummel - Alpha (Spring 2018)

     The Alpha program was a friendly layback atmosphere which gave me the opportunity to meet and get to know more SCS parishioners while growing in my faith. The evening starts with socializing while eating a delicious meal. Each week has a question centered around a 30 minute video such as “Why and how do we pray?”.  After viewing the video we discussed the video and the questions our leader has for the week.  There are no wrong responses to the questions, but it gives the opportunity to share your thoughts with one another.  We can take for granted the gift we were given at birth of being a cradle catholic.  The Alpha program gave me the opportunity to stop and listen to the videos and learn from the discussions to make my faith stronger.
     Part way through the program there was a mini retreat centered around the Holy Spirit.  The mini retreat was a Wow! factor for me.  The atmosphere was warm and filled with a lot of love.  I found out more about myself and became closer to the Holy Spirit.  Before this time he really was not that much a part of my lift.  Even though I don’t see the participants of Alpha socially I do feel a special bond when I see them around SCS.

Mary Sue Battle - Alpha (Spring 2018)

When I received my ALPHA invitation, my first reaction was “Oh no, that’s too long of a commitment and this is totally out of my comfort zone!” After some persuasion from my husband, I decided to go. I was a little on the defensive side at the first meeting. “I don’t need this. I already believe in God. This is for people who don’t believe.” But after the first two sessions I started to feel a little more open and receptive to the videos. Meeting every week with the same group, talking about our faith and becoming so aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence, really opened my heart to a deeper love of God. Not only did I make new friends but spending the extra night each week at Alpha class allowed me to focus on what is really important in life…Love and Faith in The Lord.

Darlene Cohen - Alpha (Spring 2018)

     I had been invited to attend many Alpha courses with other faiths.  When I was invited here at SCS, my curiosity finally got me.
     It was interesting at first: the mix of people, the table groups, and never could I have imagined such delicious food!  So we ate and mingled for about 30 minutes, then watched a film.  At first I thought that it was generic and go home unsure of what I thought of this program.  I thought that it would be great for those who needed to be in touch with Jesus.  You see, I am already a follower of my Catholic faith.  How wrong could I be!
      After a couple of weeks, I began to look forward to my Tuesday nights at Alpha.  These 100 or so people were becoming my friends.  I had something to learn, a lot to learn, and I had something to give.
     There was a pivotal point for me.  I cannot tell you all of the specifics because everyone’s journey with Jesus Christ is different.  I am not you, nor you me.  But what I can tell you is that our journey with the Lord can be strengthened through Alpha.  And the journey will continue.  
     SCS has become a parish for us.  We are a parish centered on Christ, ablaze with love.  Our pastor, leaders, and parishioners are providing the tools necessary to deepen our faith and spirituality.  All of us have this opportunity handed to us; those that are lucky will take the journey.  I encourage you to join in and discover Alpha!