People often say that the Philippines is a culturally Catholic country and, thanks be to God, that’s true! In the same breath, people will often say how difficult it is to pass on the Faith to the young generation. “Lahi ang mga batanon karon!” This is also true. But here’s the question: do we get discouraged by this or see it as an exciting challenge every generation faces to find new ways of sharing the power of the Gospel with our youth?

As you know, the youth love feeling accepted in a community apart from their family. They love finding a “safe space” where they can be themselves without fear of being judged. They need to explore and make new friends! But what if meeting new friends could go hand-in-hand with discovering Jesus? It’s definitely possible!!

We, the Brothers of Saint John present in the heart of Cebu City, have found that the Alpha Youth Series is a well-adapted program for the youth and a way to make any community grow and discover the joy of the Gospel. It’s a series of fun, interactive sessions designed to create conversations where anyone can come to explore the basics of Christianity in a way that is authentic and safe.

Imagine youth playing games, asking deep questions, sharing with their peers about the struggles of life and faith… well, that’s Alpha! Simply put, it’s a safe space for the youth to discover what Faith really is: It’s not about simply following the traditions of their grandparents but about discovering a relationship that can change everything they are, their impact on this world, and the rest of their lives.

We are currently running our 5th batch of the Alpha Youth Series. Every Sunday evening for a bit more than two months we welcome around 30 participants and 15 youth volunteers to our priory. We invite them for praise and worship before the 5:30pm Sunday Mass. Then we proceed with a tasty meal, a game, then divide them into small groups before watching the Alpha video for that week.

We have witnessed powerful transformation in many of the youth who have attended the Alpha sessions and we hope to invite many more! Most of them come from our neighborhood area and a good number of them had stopped practicing their Faith before they found us. These youth have been revitalized in their faith and even become leaders themselves on Alpha.

Thanks be to God for all the work he is doing in this beautiful city. Let’s continue to pray for the youth, the leaders of today and most especially of tomorrow.