St. John Vianney’s Alpha Story

Fr. Joe Kim launched Alpha during COVID—and it’s renewed his parish. It transformed lives, engaged young adults, united communities from four languages, and bridged the gap between parish and school.

Alpha Endorsements

Discover why Catholic leaders are endorsing Alpha as a trusted tool for evangelization and parish renewal.

Impacting Catholics in the United States

In 2024 alone we estimate that over 2,200 Alpha courses were held across the U.S. in Catholic contexts, engaging approximately 73,400 participants. In addition to being a proven tool for effective, relational evangelization, Alpha’s greatest impact may be how it helps parish leaders renew the culture of their parishes.

Impact of Alpha in Catholic Parishes

Watch how leaders and guests across the Catholic Church are using Alpha to create space for encounter, evangelization, and renewal.

Catholic Youth Group Resources & Activities | Alpha Youth for Catholic Churches

Alpha Youth in a Catholic Context

Alpha Youth offers teens a place to ask real questions, share openly, and encounter Jesus in authentic friendship. It’s not another class or lecture — it’s a conversation where faith comes alive. In parishes, schools, and Sacramental prep, Alpha Youth helps build community, equips leaders, and creates space for encounter with Christ. Embraced by Catholic bishops and leaders, it opens the door to a deeper relationship with Jesus and life in the Church.

Story Highlight

A Catholic school runs Alpha Youth

A NEW PATHWAY FOR CONFIRMATION PREP

Busy lives and endless to-dos can make Confirmation prep feel overwhelming. You’re not alone. That’s why Alpha Youth and YDisciple have teamed up to offer a fresh approach—no textbooks, no checklists—just space for honest questions, meaningful conversation, and authentic experiences of faith.

Whether you’re a seasoned youth minister or a volunteer stepping up to serve, this content is designed to support you every step of the way—with ready-to-use sessions, discussion guides, leader training, and flexible formats that meet teens where they are.

Let’s turn Confirmation from a task into a transformative encounter with the Holy Spirit.

What Does Alpha look like in the Catholic Church?


Alpha is a parish tool for evangelization that invites honest questions and dialogue about life and faith for those in and out of the pews. It begins with the basic Gospel message (kerygma) and accompanies guests as they explore, reflect and respond.
Thanks to the generosity of donors, Alpha is provided at no cost.

Learn more by downloading the Introduction to Alpha in a Catholic Context.

Connect with your Catholic Team

Jason Kidd

National Director of Alpha in a Catholic Context

Dan McCarty

National Associate Director, Alpha in a Catholic Context

Rick Grinstead

National Catholic Alpha Youth Specialist

What happens at an Alpha?

Arrive & Connect

Connecting with others is what we were made for. All sessions start with a time to connect and build friendships, eliminating awkwardness and creating space for important conversations.

Watch a Series

You’ll watch a short Alpha video exploring a big question about life and faith, like Who is Jesus? or Why do we pray? The videos are engaging and designed to spark discussion.

Conversation

You’ll gather with a small group of people to discuss the video. Those who attend Alpha share that their small group discussions are hands-down the best part of the experience. No questions are off limits and there’s nothing you can’t ask.

7 Easy Steps Alpha in the Catholic Church

7 Easy Steps to Hosting Alpha in the Catholic Church

New to Alpha? This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to get started.

From registering your Alpha to inviting guests and running great sessions. Whether it’s your first time or you just need a refresher, these seven simple steps will help you launch with confidence.

Search the Series

Alpha offers a range of video series you can choose from, each designed to spark conversation and connect with different audiences. Whether you’re hosting Alpha in a church, school, or prison, you’ll find a series that fits your context and helps people explore life, faith, and meaning.

Stay Connected

Join the +10K community of Catholic ministry leaders who are exploring ways to share the Good News in a good way with Catholic adults and teens in parishes, schools, universities, and prisons.

Fr. Mike Schmitz

“One of the reasons that Alpha is phenomenal is because there are not that many things you can invite a person to when you are Catholic. You can invite them to bingo. theology on tap, but you don’t know those will lead them to Jesus or be even good. But when you take them to Alpha, you know it will propose Christ…, and it will be excellent and fun. So my advice is to try Alpha because Alpha is phenomenal.”

Bishop Nevares

Diocese of Phoenix

“Over the years, I have come to appreciate the profound effects that Alpha has had on so many people. Alpha provides a warm, welcoming environment where people can grapple with the deep questions of life: where do I come from; what difference can I make; where am I going; how can I find my purpose and meaning for my life, etc. Since these questions are human questions, all people are welcomed.”

Doctor Mary Healy

Professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit

“We have lost the art of evangelizing those who don’t know the gospel at all. Alpha is re-training us how to do that.”

Archbishop Vigneron Cardinal Tagle

Archbishop of Manila

“Alpha offers a very human, nonthreatening door for everyone to enter. I encourage people to try this model of evangelization”

Fr. James Mallon

Fr. James Mallon

Author and founder of Divine Renovation

“Alpha is not a silver bullet; it’s a tool. When used as part of a larger pastoral strategy, it is the best tool that I’ve found for jump-starting and sustaining parish renewal.”

Cardinal Cantalamessa

“Alpha is a wonderful method to introduce people to a first knowledge of faith in a way that is very appropriate to modern man.

One of the advantages of Alpha is that it focuses on the Kerygma. In the ancient church, there was a clear distinction between the Kerygma and the Didache or the Catechesis. The Kerygma was the starting point of faith, and the catechesis was to form the faith, but faith in itself blossoms by hearing the Kerygma.”