Hi, my name is Brendan and I have lived in Narrabeen for approximately 7 years  I am not a frequent goer to Mass but Fr Rex did ask if I'd like to join his Alpha program on the odd occasion that he did see me in church.

I honestly had no idea what to expect or what it was all about so I went in with an open mind and nothing to lose.  Once I started the program and started to meet lots of different people of all ages and personalities, I started to embrace what was going on. We would start by sitting and sharing a beautiful meal together and talking casually about our daily lives to then listening to the daily topic on hand and discussing our own views and experiences on that topic.

It has really opened my eyes to the bigger picture and what life is more about.  I have been going through a tough period in my life and I feel that this whole experience has really helped me pull through and has given me a different outlook on things.  It has given me courage and inspiration when I didn't know what else to do and has put a different perspective on life now.

Listening to everyone else's stories and experiences also means that you can help and give each other advice on how to deal with life's ups and downs.  No one is alone and I feel that we all have renewed faith. It has certainly made me feel more a part of this wonderful community that we live in, as well as giving me the strength and courage to deal with what lies ahead.

I would recommend to anyone to give Alpha a go.  Have an open mind and let your faith guide you.  It might help you to deal with those different pathways in life or just give you that feeling of belonging to the community as a whole. Either way, it's a beautiful experience and one that you will enjoy.

Brendan Dalton