Big questions. Good food.
No pressure.
Alpha is a free, no-strings-attached space where students from every campus gather over a shared meal to ask honest questions about life, faith, and meaning — no experience or beliefs required, just curiosity.
starting the first week of October
~90 minutes
Saint Mary's University
dinner included every week
A conversation, not a lecture.
Alpha runs in cities, campuses, and homes all over the world — and now it's coming to campus, hosted at Saint Mary's University and open to students from any school. Each session starts with a meal, moves into a short talk on a big question (Is there a God? Why does the world have so much suffering? What's the point of life?), and ends in small-group conversation where every question is welcome and nobody's put on the spot.
You don't need to know anything about faith, believe anything in particular, or come back every week. Come as you are, bring a friend, and see where the conversation goes.
Share a free meal
Every session opens with dinner — good food is where good conversation starts.
Watch a short talk
A relaxed, honest look at a different big question each week — no jargon, no assumptions.
Join the discussion
Small groups, real talk. Say as much or as little as you want — every question counts.
All backgrounds welcome
Whether you're curious, skeptical, or somewhere in between — you belong here.
What a Wednesday night actually looks like.
Real photos from real Alpha nights — good food, full couches, and conversations that go longer than planned.
Not perfect, just honest conversations.
Could ask anything.
Frequently asked questions
New to Alpha? Here's what to expect before you come to your first session.
Not at all. Alpha is built for people who are exploring from scratch — whether you've never opened a Bible or grew up in church. Every talk starts from the beginning, no prior knowledge assumed.
Never. There's no pressure to participate in anything you aren't comfortable with. You're welcome to just listen and observe for as many sessions as you like.
Not at all — most people who come are exploring, curious, or simply skeptical. Alpha is for anyone with questions about life and faith, whatever you currently believe.
Alpha is completely free, including dinner every week. There's no catch and nothing to sign up to pay for.
Come whenever you can — every session stands on its own, so missing a week (or starting late) is no problem at all.
Not at all. Alpha is open to students from any campus — bring friends from other schools, no SMU enrollment required.
Please do! Alpha is even better with people you know, and friends of all backgrounds and beliefs are always welcome.
Reserve your spot
Sign up in under a minute, or reach out with any questions — we'd love to save you a seat at the table.
Sign-up form
Reserve your seat and let us know if you have any dietary needs.
Follow along
@campus_alpha — updates, reminders, and behind-the-scenes.
Email us
Questions about Alpha? Reach the team at [alpha@smu.example].
First time? Just show up — walk-ins are always welcome too.