The Alpha course works best as part of an ongoing process of catechesis within a church. There is a range of different follow-up materials and courses available to help people to grow in their faith.

Many parishes have adopted or developed post-Alpha groups that retain the key ingredients of Alpha: friendship, food, worship, teaching, Bible study, discussion and prayer.

Catholicism 201: A new follow up to Alpha

Father James Mallon, a parish priest from the Archdiocese of Halifax, Canada, has created a course called Catholicism 201, which is designed as a Catholic follow-up to the Alpha course. This eight-session DVD resource is intended to directly follow the last talk of the Alpha course, 'What about the Church?' The talks cover topics such as The Church, Sacraments and Sacraments of Initiation, Mary and the Saints, Introduction to Christian Morality, Sacraments of Healing, The Eucharist, The Thorny Issues, and Sacraments of Vocation.

The course comes on DVD, in three discs:

Disc 1: Week 1, 2 and 3.

Disc 2: Week 3, 4 and 5.

Disc 3: Week 7, 8 and extra material (DVD ROM)

DVD ROM: Course guide, discussion questions, readings, course evaluations, customizable poster and brochure, examination of conscience brochure and Chalice child sponsorship form.

Catholic Evangelisation Services & Christlife

Catholic Evangelisation Services, based in the UK, and Christlife, based in the US, have developed a range of video resources that maintain the small-group dynamic of Alpha while teaching more about the Catholic Church. Here are some of their recommended post-Alpha resources:

CaFE Resources (Catholic Faith Exploration) - CaFE resources are an ideal follow-up to Alpha in a Catholic context. These resources, which are filmed in a similar style to Alpha, help Catholics grow deeper in their faith as they explore the Sacraments and Teaching of the Catholic Church in a fun and life-giving way.

Resources include

• "Knowing God Better" by David Payne helping Catholics experience God's love and forgiveness through the Sacraments, Prayer and Scripture.

• "Knowing God Even Better" taking Catholics even deeper into their faith.

• "Exploring the Catholic Church" by Dr Marcellino D'Ambrosio includes sessions on why we need the Church and an explanation of the Mass.

• "Plugged In Youth CaFE" A fast moving MTV style series looking at the basics of the Catholic Faith. Ideal follow-up to Youth Alpha for Catholic teenagers.

• CaFE Resources (Catholic Faith Exploration) - CaFE resources are an ideal follow-up to Alpha in a Catholic context. These resources, which are filmed in a similar style to Alpha, help Catholics grow deeper in their faith as they explore the Sacraments and Teaching of the Catholic Church in a fun and life-giving way.

What others have to say:

• "Alpha has been run several times in our Parish and has been a good starting point for finding out how to lead a Christian life, teaching us the basics such as God's great love for each one of us and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. CaFE puts this into a Catholic context and encourages us to explore our Catholic teachings."

Liz Howe, St Joseph's Church, Gerrards Cross

• "Alpha has been run several times in our Parish and has been a good starting point for finding out how to lead a Christian life

John & Rachel McKay, St Peter's Parish , Hazel Grove

Also available are many other series by Catholic speakers including Fr Raniero Cantalamessa. Please visit www.faithcafe.org where trailers can be viewed.

Also available are two series by Father Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher to the Papal Household:

Drink from the Wells of the Church
Life in Christ

RCIA

People who have had no prior experience of the Catholic Church, and are interesting in finding out more, are recommended to consider making contact with a parish where there is a group of people who are being helped to learn more about Christ and the life of discipleship in the Catholic Church through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). This process is designed to lead people through various levels of commitment, culminating in the celebration of the sacraments of Initiation, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.

Alpha International

Resources have also been developed by Alpha International to specifically follow on from Alpha:

• A Life Worth Living – A nine-week video course based on Paul’s letter to the Philippians

• Challenging Lifestyle – Nineteen Bible studies based on the Sermon on the Mount

For further details contact:

Catholic Evangelisation Services

PO Box 333, St Albans, Herts AL2 1EL UK

Tel/Fax: 0845 050 9428 (UK) +44 207 717 9133 (International)

Email: info@faithcafe.org

www.faithcafe.org

Christlife: Catholic Mission for Evangelization

12290A Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042, USA

Tel: +1 888 498 8474 or +1 410 531 7710

Fax: +1 410 531 77002

Email: info@christlife.org

www.christlife.org