ConnectionSome of the positive energy behind this fall’s launch of ALPHA, a 12-week small group program, is volunteer Joanne Broccolino, whose passion for small groups is contagious.

Everybody has a different reason for joining a small group, says Joanne. Whether it’s a parent knee-deep in family life, a grandparent saddened by a grandchild’s lack of faith, or the simple desire to grow spiritually with others— finding a small group in step with one’s journey can become a spiritual lifeline.

“What I like about ALPHA is you can be anywhere in your faith journey,” says Joanne. “Small groups allow you to be with like-minded people, to feel comfortable saying what you want to say about God and faith and relationships without feeling stupid.”

Small groups have played a key role in Joanne’s faith. She had a loving marriage, but she and her husband practiced different faiths, so for Joanne,

creating her own Catholic community became an important part of her spiritual journey. “And when my husband died,” she says, “Thank God I had my faith.”

For many of us, in our daily lives, the topic of God rarely comes up.

“And when someone does bring it up – when you are asked about your faith, you can feel really inarticulate,” says Joanne. “But it’s important to talk about God. Small groups give you practice.”

Talking about and hearing someone else’s story can have a real impact on one’s own faith, says Joanne. “It helps me notice the times when I knew the truth but didn’t realize it. It can really open your eyes that God does not give up on you and you can trust Him. The bottom line is that we are all searching for the age-old question— why are we here on this earth? I think you can get further on that question when you tackle it together.”

To learn more about ALPHA or any of St. Joseph small group programs, contact Marie Lybolt, Director of Adult Ministry, mlybolt@sjpmd.org

Joanne Broccolino