C&SI - Introducing Alpha Ireland - 7 Dec 2025 (S06E02)

On this weeks podcast we have a chat with John Quinn (Director of Strategy, Alpha Ireland) and Fr Chris O'Donnell about the Alpha programme and what it offers to searchers for the meaning of life and those seeking someway to engage with the big questions of life in a friendly, open and fulfilling encounter.

We have our regular run through the upcoming liturgical odds and ends of the week which has a very large Marian theme with the feast of the Immaculate Conception of BVM (Dec 8), Our Lady of Loreto (Dec 10) and Our Lady of Guadeloupe (Dec 12). We also remind people of some of the upcoming events at Knock Shrine.

In part three we have our weekly reflection on the Sunday gospel and this week we encounter the figure of John the Baptist - the Forerunner of the Lord, the great bridge between the Old and New Testaments and his uncompromising call to conversion to prepare the way of the Lord which echos down to us to this moment in time. 

Introducing Alpha

John, John Quinn and Fr Chris have a chat about what Alpha means and what it is. It generally consists of a 10-week series of sessions exploring the basics of the Christian faith. Alpha provides a safe space to discuss life, meaning and faith in a friendly and informal environment. Alpha sessions are all about a time to connect, relax and build friendships over a cup of tea or something to eat. There is a talk/video designed to engage and inspire conversation; exploring the big issues and unpack the basics of Christianity, addressing questions in a fresh, contemporary, and dynamic way. Followed by conversations where people share their thoughts and discuss it in a small group. 

Link to Alpha Ireland

Contact Fr Chris - 0876323309

Text us at +353 874668950 or email at [email protected]