The Story of Alpha in Cork City

Gearoid has been involved in running Alpha in his local Cork parish for a number of years. He has seen Alpha bring the Holy Spirit to life for people from all different backgrounds. But this year he saw the need to reach out. Driven by Jesus’ assertion that “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matt 25:40 NIV), Gearoid got involved in an initiative to bring Alpha to a group of at-risk people in Cork City.

Gearoid joined a team of 9 people from all parts of Cork hosting Alpha for this at-risk group in St Mary’s Church in Pope’s Quay. The Dominicans generously host the Alpha and put on the food for the group. Gearoid asserts that there is a single motivating factor for the team: “We’re trying to help people better their lives, and we believe that the message of the Gospel could help improve these people’s lives.”

But Gearoid would be hesitant to call this a social justice Alpha. For him, it’s purely a response to hearing and understanding Jesus’ message for himself. “The Gospel compels us to go out and bring the Good News to those who need it,” he says. “And if we show love to our fellow man, we are living the Gospel. If we’re not showing that love, we’re not living out the Gospel.”

“The biggest thing you can do when reaching out to those at-risk is to show you care,” Gearoid continues. “What I’ve learned is that all of these people are trying. But the route back out of addiction is really difficult. The starting point for them is trust. You have to show that you care, genuinely. Otherwise you’re just another person telling them what to do.”

Gearoid thinks Alpha is uniquely suited to engage with at-risk groups. “As a model, Alpha easily helps people know that they are cared for. I’ve seen Alpha strike a chord with everyone,” he says. With this in mind, Gearoid would encourage churches or individuals to find a way to reach out to other at-risk groups in their locality with Alpha. 

“It’s 100% worthwhile,” Gearoid reflects. “A lot of Christians want to reach out, but struggle to know how. Maybe you could find a way to partner with a professional organisation who works with the group you would like to serve. But it’s important to remember that love is key. We’re called to love our neighbour. Jesus tells us that the only way the world will know we’re his disciples is in how we love others. And that’s the central message of Alpha, which is why it works so well.”