Alpha at Holy Innocents'
Alpha is fabulous! I felt a sense of belonging and welcome from everyone involved -
participant in one of our Alpha courses |
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Our next adult Alpha course dates to be announced
Thinking of coming? |
Thinking of inviting someone? |
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How can you attend?
We are running the course both in person in our new Father Phelan Centre at Holy Innocents' and online. We think coming to Alpha in person adds a special dimension - but if for whatever reason you don't think you can join our in-person group, why not join our online one instead - just tell us when you register. Want to register? Whether you're coming in person or online, you can register now - it will only take a minute - at our registration page. Still deciding whether it's for you? You can find out what Alpha is like by watching Lisa and Ike (both parents of children at Holy Innocents' School) and Suzanne tell their stories of coming on Alpha on our new video, 'It changed my life' - inspiring stories. We filmed that video for our previous course, which we ran solely on line - but if anything, coming in person is even better! Need more information? You'll find much more information about the course on our advertising flyer and on the rest of this page. |
What sort of people come on our courses?
All sorts of people: from the Orpington area or anywhere else; from all sorts of church backgrounds or none; young, old and anywhere in between.; with all sorts of commitments and problems to juggle. Whoever they are, they have two things in common: they have lots of questions to explore; and more likely than not, they won't come on Alpha Online unless someone invites them. Who can invite them? You can. Someone once said, "If the only thing I ever did in my life was to invite one person to Alpha, my life would have been worthwhile." They might be a family member, a friend, a neighbour or a work colleague. Anyone you think might benefit from coming on Alpha. And of course you don't have to stop at one person. If you're connected with lots of people, why not invite all of them? And remember - they might be more likely to say yes if you offer to come with them, at least for the first few sessions. Any questions? Contact Stephen on 07778 612050 or at orpingtonalpha@rcaos.org.uk. |
Alpha Online: invitational materials
Depending how you want to invite someone, you may send them a link to this page, to our registration page or to our new 'It changed my life' - inspiring stories video; or a copy of our advertising flyer.
We're also producing some social media materials - watch this space!
We're also producing some social media materials - watch this space!
Alpha : the basic details
We've been running Alpha at Holy Innocents' since 2017. Over 250 people have been on our adult courses and we also run Youth Alpha (check out our Youth Alpha page). Most of our courses have been in person, but during the pandemic we ran three courses online. This course is a hybrid one, which means the best of both worlds - you can sign up either to be part of our in-person group or part of our online group, on Zoom. We've always loved to welcome people from in and around the Orpington area, but now there is no geographical limit - you can join us from anywhere!
The course is free and it's simple to register; you can register now for this course at our registration page. It's best if you start at the beginning, joining the first session and carrying on from there. But we welcome people joining part way through, if you miss the early sessions.
We meet in person in the Father Phelan Centre at Holy Innocents' or online on Zoom on Friday evenings,
If you're coming in person, doors open around 7.30 pm for a prompt 7.45 pm start; if you're coming online, we start at 8 pm, with the Zoom room opening shortly before that. We aim to finish before 9.45 pm. Generally we'll meet every Friday from (dates to be announced), with a break for half term.
There are ten Friday sessions. Each of them includes:
There's also a "Holy Spirit retreat day" in person, usually on a Saturday at Aylesford Priory in Kent, with an option to stay overnight to make a weekend of it. On our first few Alpha courses, we didn't know how the retreat/weekend would go. We needn't have worried: each one of them has been great, even when we were only able to meet online!
The course is free and it's simple to register; you can register now for this course at our registration page. It's best if you start at the beginning, joining the first session and carrying on from there. But we welcome people joining part way through, if you miss the early sessions.
We meet in person in the Father Phelan Centre at Holy Innocents' or online on Zoom on Friday evenings,
If you're coming in person, doors open around 7.30 pm for a prompt 7.45 pm start; if you're coming online, we start at 8 pm, with the Zoom room opening shortly before that. We aim to finish before 9.45 pm. Generally we'll meet every Friday from (dates to be announced), with a break for half term.
There are ten Friday sessions. Each of them includes:
- social time, getting to know each other. It's amazing how quickly strangers become friends on Alpha
- if you're here in person, sharing a meal together
- watching a film from the Alpha Film Series
- discussing the film in a small group (if you're online, this will be in a Zoom "breakout room")
There's also a "Holy Spirit retreat day" in person, usually on a Saturday at Aylesford Priory in Kent, with an option to stay overnight to make a weekend of it. On our first few Alpha courses, we didn't know how the retreat/weekend would go. We needn't have worried: each one of them has been great, even when we were only able to meet online!
WHAT is Alpha?
Alpha is a course - weekly sessions and a weekend retreat, exploring life and the Christian faith in a friendly, open and informal environment.
But more important, Alpha is an experience - of being welcomed, well-fed, informed, challenged, listened to and respected. Of meeting new people, sharing meals, enjoying each other's company and having fun. Of deepening relationships with each other and, if you'd like to, with God.
But more important, Alpha is an experience - of being welcomed, well-fed, informed, challenged, listened to and respected. Of meeting new people, sharing meals, enjoying each other's company and having fun. Of deepening relationships with each other and, if you'd like to, with God.
Transforming and uplifting -
participant in one of our Alpha Online courses
WHO is Alpha for?
It can be for anyone. It might be for you.
Millions of people around the world have taken part in Alpha. People from every church background and none. Non-believers, seekers, regular or occasional churchgoers, Catholics or other Christians who haven’t been to church for a while. All of them have experienced something special.
Here's what some of the participants on our earlier courses have said about Alpha:
Millions of people around the world have taken part in Alpha. People from every church background and none. Non-believers, seekers, regular or occasional churchgoers, Catholics or other Christians who haven’t been to church for a while. All of them have experienced something special.
Here's what some of the participants on our earlier courses have said about Alpha:
A superb course
It was an eye opener. I learnt more than I expected
I have never laughed so much in my life!
I have never felt community like it in the church… I found a Catholicism I can get on board with
Helped me to 'join the dots' in my head about my faith
I would recommend it to everyone
WHAT happens at an Alpha weekly session?
When we're meeting in person, we share a meal together. When we are online, we spend some social time getting to know each other.
We watch a talk or a film, about an aspect of the basic message of the Christian faith. Is there a God? If so, does He love us? Why did Jesus come? Is faith rational? Should we pray? And so on.
We talk about it in small groups, with an emphasis on listening to and respecting the views of everyone who has something to say.
We watch a talk or a film, about an aspect of the basic message of the Christian faith. Is there a God? If so, does He love us? Why did Jesus come? Is faith rational? Should we pray? And so on.
We talk about it in small groups, with an emphasis on listening to and respecting the views of everyone who has something to say.
Every church needs a space where people can be welcomed, known and loved.
Alpha provides that space
WHAT happens at an Alpha weekend?
The Alpha weekend is very special.
We make time and space for ourselves and for God.
We enjoy each other's company.
We watch some Alpha films and discuss them in our small groups.
We get to know about the Holy Spirit.
We have the chance to receive the gifts He has in store for us.
The Alpha Holy Spirit retreat is an absolute highlight that you won't want to miss.
We make time and space for ourselves and for God.
We enjoy each other's company.
We watch some Alpha films and discuss them in our small groups.
We get to know about the Holy Spirit.
We have the chance to receive the gifts He has in store for us.
The Alpha Holy Spirit retreat is an absolute highlight that you won't want to miss.
I wanted to reiterate how wonderful last weekend was -
I got so much out of it and thoroughly enjoyed it...
for me it was an incredible, emotional and thought-provoking experience -
participant in our first Alpha Online course
HOW can I learn more?
Contact Stephen Walsh (07778 612050) or e mail orpingtonalpha@rcaos.org.uk
Visit catholics.alpha.org
View our new video, 'It changed my life' - inspiring stories or some other Alpha stories
Visit catholics.alpha.org
View our new video, 'It changed my life' - inspiring stories or some other Alpha stories
Alpha has been the most rewarding and personally fulfilling thing
that I have ever been involved in during my entire life -
Holy Innocents' Alpha team member