2012 Theme
"Voice Infusing Life" /
"Voz que Infunde Vida"

 • What is Congress?

 • Dates

 • Congress Milestones

 • Art Exhibit

 • Youth Day Tees

 • Featured Speaker

 • 'Voices' Blog

 • Ticket Offer

 • Hotels

 • So. Cal-ers Only

 • RECongress.org

 • Emailing

Online at archive.recongress.org


Email us at
congress
@la-archdiocese.org

Office of Religious Education - Archdiocese of Los Angeles

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The origins of the Religious Education Congress spring from the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, popularly known as CCD, a ministry that actually began in Los Angeles in 1922. It was in 1956 that the first CCD “institute” gathering was held with about 500 catechists and teachers in attendance. Over the 56 years attendance has continued to increase. Last year our turnout was nearly 40,000! 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 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!

WHAT IS CONGRESS?
The Religious Education Congress, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Office of Religious Education, is the nation's largest annual gathering of Roman Catholics! Our last RECongress, held in March 2011, brought together nearly 40,000 people during the four-day weekend!

See 2011 Congress Statistics

Location
Congress is held at the Anaheim Convention Center, located at 800 West Katella Ave. in Anaheim, Calif. (just across from Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure). See a Yahoo Map

Fee
The registration fee for Congress is $60 per person. Youth Day has a separate registration and fee of $20 per person.

Registration
The Registration Guidebook contains all workshop and speaker descriptions, entertainment and liturgy options, and all events during Congress. There are two Registration Forms per book. Guidebooks have been mailed. If you did not receive your copyattended RECongress 2011, you will automatically be mailed a Registration Guidebook. Guidebooks will be available late-October.

Order a Guidebook

CONGRESS MILESTONES
The Congress event has transformed over the years. What we know today as the Religious Education Congress, first began in 1956 as an "Institute" of the Congregation of Christian Doctrine — popularly known as CCD. The two-day event was held at Mount Carmel High School (which closed in 1976) on Hoover Street in Los Angeles, with about 500 teachers and catechists in attendance.

A decade later, with the cooperation of the Diocese of Monterey-Fresno and the Diocese of San Diego, the event became a three-day "Congress." That first "Southern California Confraternity Congress" was held at the LAX-area International Hotel on January 13-15, 1967.

Yet another decade later, in the 1970s, when the CCD Office was renamed to the Office for Religious Education, the event officially became the "Religious Education Congress."

You can find Congress milestones and see photos from the early years of the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress on our web site.

See the Congress Milestones
 

ART EXHIBIT
The Saint John’s Bible: Letters and Revelation
After more than 12 years, the creation of The Saint John's Bible has reached its conclusion. Letters and Revelation, the final volume of the entire monumental project, includes some of the most crucial works of all the Christian Scriptures. Renowned calligrapher and illuminator Donald Jackson has collaborated with scribes, artists and theologians to lend them a new life and vibrancy for modern readers.

Letters and Revelation contains more than 30 illuminations and special text treatments, many of which are included in this exhibition. They are stunning in their beauty and dramatic imagery. Written and drawn entirely by hand using quills and paints hand-ground from precious minerals and stones — such as lapis lazuli, malachite, silver and 24-karat gold — The Saint John’s Bible puts Jackson’s mastery of an ancient craft at the service of the timeless spiritual vision of Sacred Scripture.

See the Congress Milestones
 

ORDER YOUR YOUTH DAY T-SHIRTS
The official Youth Day T-shirts with the theme "Called Out - Challenge Accepted" are available for group pre-orders. Orders with payment must be received by February 26, 2012. Customize your Youth Day shirt with your youth group or parish name on the back
Special Discount Pricing for Pre-Orders:
T-shirts: $12.50, Sweatshirts: $35
Adult sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL
Find out more on the Congress Youth Day site.

Volunteering at Youth Day
Remember that youth attending Youth Day can apply to be an MC for the event by attending Emcee training day on Saturday, February 18, 2012. The registration form is available on the Youth Day page. Also, adults who are not already chaperoning a group may volunteer to help with Youth Day. An information flyer for adult volunteers is also available on the Youth Day page.

See the 2012 Youth Day Page

FEATURED SPEAKER: JOHN BELL
Sunday, March 25, 2012
1:00 - 2:30 pm - Session 8-03
"10 Things You Didn’t Know About Jesus"
Not another workshop about what we already know, but one about what we overlook. In his book, “10 Things They Never Told Me About Jesus,” John Bell explores facets of the personal life, relationships and ministry of Jesus, which are seldom the stuff of preaching or conversation, but are all rooted in the Gospels and are necessary if we are to be freed from the passive stereotypes that still dominate thinking about Christ. In this session John will share the stories of encounters with people on the periphery of religious life and in situations where politeness was not a prerequisite for discussing faith.

Rev. Dr. John L. Bell
With his colleague, Graham Maule, John Bell began the Wild Goose Resource Group and is Liturgical Resource Worker with The Iona Community, based in Glasgow, Scotland. He has worked for more than 20 years with churches and Christian organizations. Bell lectures on spirituality, liturgical music and Scripture and has been on broadcasts on BBC national radio, and has authored two books and the DVD series, “Living the Questions.”

RECongress 2012 Speakers Page

"Oh No! He's Been To Congress Again!!" -- A Catholic School Principal Inspiring His Staff...
The Religious Education Congress continues to be for me the highlight conference of the year. I have traveled to L.A. for the Congress for the past 5 years, knowing the top notch world renowned speakers, the liturgies and the sense of community at this Congress will support my vocation as an educator. As a principal of a Catholic Elementary School in Edmonton, Alberta, I find the topics and presentations relate directly to my work with students, staff and parents. As a liturgist, the variety of music, liturgical experiences and atmosphere of the Congress leads me to prayer, praise and reflection. At the same time, I come back to school filled with energy and new ideas that often result in my staff saying: “Oh no, he’s been to Congress again!!” ...

Read the blog, add your comments, and ...

"Accept the Challenge" Contest

SPECIAL CONGRESS OFFER
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 until March 22. Tickets are valid March 19-April 1, 2012.

HOTELS
RECongress has contracted with local hotels to offer special rates for attendees. We suggest making hotel reservations as soon as possible. Check online for our most current listing of hotels for Congress attendees. When making reservations, be sure to ask for the Religious Education Congress rate. You can find information about contracted hotels on our web site.

RECongress Hotels Page

JUST FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIANS
We encourage all Southern California Ralphs shoppers to sign up for the free Ralphs rewards Card and register their 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. Sign up now! It’s never been easier to contribute to the RECongress. Find step-by-step instructions and information on our Congress site.

RECongress Ralphs Program

RECONGRESS.ORG
You can find all the latest Congress information and updates online. We are always adding new speaker and hotel information. Check our site for updates and announcements.

archive.recongress.org

EMAILING
Our Emailings for Congress 2012 run through April 2012. Be sure to Sign-up for our Congress Emailing List for Congress reminders and news. If you missed any, you can find them all online at archive.recongress.org/Emailing. You may opt out from this Emailing at any time from the link below.