RECongress 2013

2013 Theme
"Enter the Mystery" /
"Entra al Misterio"

Important Dates
Jan. 4 - Last day for refunds
Feb. 6 - Last day we mail foreign (out of U.S.) tickets
Feb. 8 - Last day we mail out-of-state (outside California) tickets
Feb. 13 - Last day we mail in-state (in California) tickets
Feb. 14 - Online registration ends 11 pm PST
Feb. 22 - Ticket Exchange begins at 11:30 am at Congress

 • What is Congress?

 • Dates

 • Registration

 • Ticket Info

 • Congress Reviews

 • Congress T-Shirts

 • Program Book

 • Tech Center

 • Speaker Signings

 • "Survival" Tips

 • Congress Apps

 • RECongress/LIVE!

 • Workshop Updates

 • Congress Reminders

 • RECongress.org

 • Emailing

Online at archive.recongress.org


Email us at
congress
@la-archdiocese.org

Featured Exhibitor

Happy Valentine's Day! Which means that the 2013 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress is just one week away. Are you ready? If you are attending this year, this Emailing is full of tips and information. If you're not joining us on site this year, be sure to join us online at archive.recongress.org/LIVE! TODAY is the last day you can pre-register online for Congress. If you're still not ready or would like to bring someone at the last minute, you can always register on site in Anaheim. Note: We have stopped mailing Congress tickets. Tickets are only available through ticket Pick-Up/Will Call on site at Congress (see information in this Emailing). Remember: The Congress evening liturgies and concerts are open to attendees and their guests. These are not ticketed events. So here's a simple way you can share Congress with your friends and family who are not registered. Pass along this emailing or our link — archive.recongress.org — to share with friends and encourage them to sign up for our Congress Emailing for the latest information and updates. If you do not care to receive future updates, you can find removal information at the bottom of this message. ¡Para información en español, clic aquí!

Future Dates
Next year's Los Angeles Religious Education Congress is scheduled for:
 • March 13, 2014 (Youth Day)
 • March 14-16, 2014r

Location
Congress is held at the Anaheim Convention Center, located at 800 West Katella Ave. in Anaheim, Calif. (just south from Disneyland and Disney California Adventure).

Fee
The registration fee for Congress is $75 per person ($65 by January 4).

Exhibit Hours
Exhibits are located in Hall A and will be open:
   Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
   Saturday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
   Sunday: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Registration
Haven't registered for Congress? It's not too late. Today is the last day to register online, until 11 pm PST. But you can still register on site at Congress at the Registration Booth located in the Prefunction Lobby. Hours will be on Thursday, February 21 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm and Friday and Saturday of Congress beginning at 7:30 am.

Online Registration Ends Today

CONGRESS REGISTRATION
If you still haven't registered for Congress — or know someone who might like to attend — it's not too late to register! TODAY is the last day to register online. After today, hang on to your registration form and bring it with you to Congress. You can register on site any of the three days of Congress, where you will receive Arena tickets (for English sessions) or Hall B tickets (for Spanish sessions) — which are the most popular workshops in each period. You can find a list of Arena and Hall B workshops on our Updates page.

Today is the Last Day to Register Online

CONGRESS TICKETS IN WILL CALL
Did you ask to have your Congress tickets held in Will Call? Did you never receive your Congress tickets in the mail? We have had quite a few tickets returned to us in the mail (wrong address, wrong ZIP Code, etc.). Check our Will Call window at the Registration area at Congress. Ticket pick-up is available on site at the Convention Center at the Registration Booth located in the Prefunction Lobby. Hours will be on Thursday, February 21 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm and Friday and Saturday of Congress beginning at 7:30 am.

TICKET EXCHANGE
Did you receive your tickets already, but didn't get the ones you really wanted? For Congress workshops, you have the following options:

• You may use the tickets you receive; or
• You may exchange your tickets (beginning 11:30 am on Friday) at the Ticket Exchange booth located at the Registration Prefunction area (between Hall B and Hall C); or
• Just use the ticket you were assigned for the workshop you would like to attend. Once all properly ticketed attendees are admitted, then the workshop is opened up to other ticket holders -- if there is available seating.
• Remember: Your ticket is always good for the Arena or Hall B session for that time period.

See Ticket Mailing Information

RECONGRESS IN THE TIDINGS
The Tidings, newspaper of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, is previewing the 2013 Religious Education Congress in its February 15 issue and featuring RECongress in their February 22 issue. You can find past Tidings stories and links to pieces about Congress over the years — as well as photos and videos and what others have said about Congress — on our Congress Reviews page.

Read Reviews about Congress

RECONGRESS T-SHIRTS
Again this year Seraph 7 will be selling Congress T-shirts (pictured), sweatshirts and more at their booth in Exhibit Hall A. Seraph 7 Clothing Company can be found at booths 337 and 339, adjacent to the Information/Souvenir booth at the center of Hall A. Note: The logowear is not available online this year, but they can be reached at store@seraph7.com for any inquiries.

See the Congress Updates page

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM BOOK
Be ready for Congress: See the online version of the Program Book that attendees receive when they arrive at Congress 2013. Get a little extra time to plan out your weekend by downloading the Program Book. Available in PDF and iPaper formats.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND:
— Spotlight on events at Congress
— Tech Center schedule
— Speaker Signing schedule
— Exhibitor listing and Categories listing
— Restaurant guide and map
— Audio Recording Form

Take Note! Our Congress survey is found in the center of the printed Program Book. Use the book to take note of your Congress experiences and share them with us on our online survey form during or after Congress — at archive.recongress.org/survey.

Preview the Congress Program Book Online

RECONGRESS TECH CENTER
The Technology Center at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress is adjacent to the Office of Religious Education booth, located in the center of Exhibit Hall A. The RECongress Tech Center's purpose is to highlight educational software, online services and Internet resources — be it web site or computer-based software — that is of interest to our Congress attendees.

This year Archbishop Gomez starts off the Tech Center schedule on Friday with an online student video chat. Among this year's scheduled events we have mobile app developer Chris Gonzalez, who created the Youth Day app and — new this year — our first RECongress app. The Tech Center schedules 30-minute slots all weekend long with appearances by Charlotte McCorquodale, Mount St. Mary’s College Campus Ministry, and The Five Loaves; and returning appearances by Catholic Communication and Collaboration (C3) Project, Gradelink, Lisa Hendey, Outside da Box, and the St. Camillus Center. Note: There is a change in Saturday's schedule from what is printed in the Program Book, so check the schedule online or at the Tech Center for updates.

See the 2013 Tech Center Schedule

SPEAKER SIGNINGS
Authors and some performing artists have scheduled times to sign their books and CDs at the Signing Area. The tables are located in the southeast corner of Hall A. Schedule speakers include John Allen, Luis Benavides, Fr. Greg Boyle, Roy DeLeon, Frank DiLallo, Dan Ebener, Dr. Thomas Groome, Lisa Hendey, Fr. Michael Kennedy, Fr. Richard Leonard, Josephine Lombardi, Fr. James Martin, Rabbi Michael Mayersohn, Juan Carlos Montenegro, Fr. Jonathan Morris, Joe Paprocki, Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, Fr. Tony Ricard, Fr. Richard Rohr, Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, Mark Shriver, Daniel Smith-Christopher, Sr. Anne Smollin, Mary Sperry, Fr. Robert Spitzer, Pam Stenzel, Char Wenc, David Whyte and Fr. Ronald Witherup.

Check the schedule online or at the Signing Area for any updates in table numbers or appearance times.

See the 2013 Speaker Signing schedule

12 TIPS TO 'SURVIVE' CONGRESS
Every year I like to highlight regular Congress attendee and blogger Claude Muncey's "A (Baker's) Dozen Handy Tips for Surviving RECongress":

If you're not already familiar with it, the RECongress is probably the largest regularly scheduled gathering of Catholics in North America. It is held at the Anaheim Convention Center across the street from Disneyland. Thursday is Youth Day, which attracts around 15,000 high schoolers, and Friday through Sunday is the Congress itself which is attended by anywhere from 15,000 to 20,000 teachers, catechists, musicians and other Catholics in ministry from all over the country. There are dozens of conference sessions each day with Masses and other events in the evenings. Here are a dozen handy tips for surviving the Religious Education Congress.

	Dress for comfort There is nothing formal about RECongress. Good shoes and socks are a must. Think of it as going on a day hike with 10,000 of your closest friends!
	Get there the night before If possible, even Thursday afternoon before. Try to avoid crossing Downtown Los Angeles between the hours of 3 and 7 pm. ...
	Read the rest on our Web site.

Find all the Congress 'Survival' Tips online

CONGRESS APPS
Youth Day 2013 App
Again this year, Youth Day has its own mobile application for iPhones. With this app you can stay up-to-date with all Youth Day speakers, musicians, and performers. You can also enter giveaways on Twitter and update your Facebook status, all from within the app. Added maps and schedules will make sure you always know where to be. Youth Day is much more than just a one-day experience and this app will allow you to keep with you what each speaker and musician says long after the day is over. You can find this year's and last year's apps online at AppStore.com/YouthDay2013 (coming) and AppStore.com/YouthDay2012.

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NEW! Congress 2013 App
This year Congress gets its own mobile app for iPhones! Keep tabs on our Congress speakers and find information about Sacred Space, the liturgies, lunchtime entertainment, and more! There is a detailed name/category breakdown of exhibitors as well as maps for Exhibit Hall A and the hotels. Download the Congress 2013 app when it becomes active at AppStore.com/Congress2013.

See the RECongress Updates Page

RECONGRESS.ORG/LIVE
See the schedule of our live events from Congress 2013 on RECongress.org/LIVE. Watch the Arena events, beginning Thursday with Youth Day and running all the way through Sunday. And we are mobile compatible, so the stream will work with iOS devices like the iPhone and the iPad! And don't forget to post comments on our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @LACongress. We will be responding to your comments — use hashtag #REC2013.

Twitter - www.twitter.com/LACongress   @LACongress   #REC2013

Facebook - www.facebook.com/RECongress

Go to RECongress.org/LIVE!

WORKSHOP UPDATES
Hall B Speaker Handouts Online - link
Some of our Hall B speakers have provided handouts for their workshops. This option is available for speakers assigned to rooms where the capacity is too large to provide handouts to everyone. There are also links to the following handouts on our Speakers Page:
   1-52: Fr.Jose Roman Flecha — Bajar apuntes
   3-52: Marta Garcia Fernandez — Bajar apuntes
   6-51: Luis Benavides — Bajar apuntes
   8-51: P. Ruben Bellante — Bajar apuntes
   Asemblea Domingo: Luis Benavides — Bajar apuntes

Audio Recording - link
Many of the Congress workshop sessions are audio recorded with speaker permission. Audio CDs — and this year, downloadable MP3s — are available for purchase at Congress at the CSC Digital Media booth, located at the east wall in Exhibit Hall A. You can order on site, from the order page in the Program Book or online.

Ticket Exchange
You may exchange tickets for any open workshops during the same period beginning on Friday at 11:30 am at the Registration Booth’s Exchange window.
Remember: Any ticket can be used for sessions of the same time in the Arena or Hall B.

Speaker Change
Jesuit priest Fr. Allan Deck will present the workshop originally scheduled with Cardinal Roger Mahony, 4-17: "For I Was a Stranger, and You Welcomed Me!" (*)

See the Congress Updates page

CONGRESS REMINDERS
Live Streaming in Hall B
As an alternative to the Arena, you can now watch Friday’s Opening Event (8:30-9:30 am) broadcast live in Hall B.

Scooter / Wheelchair Rentals
OC Medical has scooters and wheelchairs for rent to attendees during the Religious Education Congress. Contact them at (800) 593-4942 or online at www.ocmedicalsupply.com.

Disney Resort Tickets - purchase by Feb. 20
Congress attendees can pre-order specially priced Disneyland Resort Tickets. Find specials on tickets to Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, with special pricing on evening passes and on single- and multi-day passes for both Disneyland Resort parks. Note: These tickets are only available for sale online through Wednesday, February 20, 2013. Tickets are valid from Wednesday, February 20, 2013 to Tuesday, March 5, 2013.

Registration & Program Books Online - link
Our 2013 Registration Guidebook and even our 2013 Congress Program Book — the one given away at Congress — are now available online in PDF (requires the free Adobe Reader) and in iPaper format (requires no software download).

Hotels - link
RECongress has contracted with local hotels to offer special rates for attendees. When making hotel reservations, be sure to ask for the Religious Education Congress rate. Check online for our most current listing of hotels. 

Convention Center Parking
Day parking is available in the Convention Center parking structures at the rate of $12 per day, with no in-and-out privileges.

Airport Shuttle - link
Prime Time Shuttle is offering Congress attendees special online convention discounts for transportation to and from Southern California airport or cruise ship terminals. Information can be found on their special Congress event page.

Unwind at Congress
On Friday and Saturday (10 am-4:30 pm) and again on Sunday (10 am-2:30 pm) in the Hall A Prefuntion Area you can take a break from the bustle of Congress with a chair massage. The cost is $1 per minute.

A.A. Meetings
Join a lunchtime meeting (Friday through Sunday) with other Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) men and women to share experiences, strengths and hopes with mutual support for recovery from alcoholism. (The meeting room is location in the Marriott’s lower level San Diego room.)

Lost and Found
There is a Lost & Found desk located outside of Congress Headquarters,
located in Convention AR 1, near the south end of the Arena.

Message Center
The Message Center, located in the Prefunction area, can receive incoming messages. Call (714) 765-8883 or (714) 765-8884 to leave a message, or you can leave a note on the Message Board.
   Friday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
   Saturday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
   Sunday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Ralphs Rewards Program - link
Don't forget to sign up at your Southern California Ralphs store for the free Ralphs rewards Card and register the card with the Community Contributions Program. It’s easy! Every time you shop for groceries and scan your card at Ralphs, RECongress will automatically earn up to 5% of all eligible purchases per enrolled card. It’s never been easier to contribute to the RECongress.

See the RECongress Updates page

RECONGRESS.ORG
You can find all Congress information and updates online. There are links to speakers, workshops, topics and specially priced tickets for the Disney Parks. Check our site for the latest updates and announcements.

archive.recongress.org

EMAILINGS
Be sure to sign-up for this twice-a-month Emailing about Congress updates and events. You may opt out from the Congress Emailing at any time from the link below. Our Emailings for Congress 2013 are scheduled only through March; Congress 2014 Emailings are set to begin in August 2013.

© 2013 RECongress.org