Diocese and Parishes Partner to Host Virtual Alpha Evangelization Series

The grouping of St Mary Glenshaw and St Ursula in Allison Park was five weeks into the 11-week Alpha evangelization series when the coronavirus pandemic ended the gatherings.

In Alpha, participants share a meal, watch a video, then break into small groups to discuss the spiritual ideas in the video. The format provides a safe space where those who may be unsure about God and Christianity can explore the “big questions” of life together.  

As they learn about the faith, they also practice the virtues of listening, caring and praying for each other. Fifty percent of Alpha graduates experience Christ in a personal way during the program and 80% of agnostic participants describe themselves as followers of Jesus by the program’s end.

Sue Ferguson, the grouping Alpha coordinator, was determined to keep going.

“By week five, the group is starting to bond. I thought, ‘How can we just stop this right now?’” she said.  

She had 110 people in the program, and has graduated 1,100 participants since 2016.

With help from Alpha USA, within a week her team had converted the Alpha experience to a Zoom platform. It has been so successful, particularly with people who were uncomfortable going inside a church, that a diocesan-wide version launched May 26, with three tracks: young adult, adult and Spanish. Small groups will be organized by parish and zip code.

An online experience is also available for ChristLife, a similar process that draws people into a deeply personal relationship with Jesus.

“We hope that, by encouraging parishes to try Alpha or ChristLife online, we will grow closer to Jesus and to one another as we look forward to the day when we will once again gather physically for the Eucharistic banquet,” said Marita Hunchuck, a consultant to the diocese in support of local evangelization.

She has been so impressed with the innovative efforts to take the programs online that “we are opening ourselves to the creativity of the Holy Spirit.”

Ferguson called the online experience “different, but I wouldn’t say it’s worse or better.”

Nearly half the original participants didn’t make the jump to Zoom. Ferguson, who was new to Zoom herself, suspects some were reluctant to try new technology. To correct for that, she offers practice sessions before the first Alpha evening.

For those who continued, “the small group discussion seems more intimate. For some people it might be easier to try a program like Alpha online without them having to step into a church building,” she said.

“They know they can jump off if they’re not happy with it. That takes the anxiety away, especially for the young people who may be far away from faith but are seeking something.”

Sensing an opportunity as people confined to their homes decide to explore new ideas, she worked with the Leaven Initiative – a diocesan-related evangelization ministry – to create a diocesan-wide online Alpha. It will allow parishes that have never had their own Alpha to offer the experience to parishioners. 

Because of the need for volunteers and organization, “starting an Alpha if you’ve never done it can be overwhelming. But this way we are providing the resources, facilitators, material for bulletins and social media. All we’re asking parishes to do is to promote it,” Ferguson said.

Anyone interested in participating can register at https://diopitt.org/leaven-initiative.