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RECongress 2015
RECongress Dates
March 12 (Youth Day) &
March 13-15, 2015
2015 Congress Theme
"See" / "Ver"
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2015 Theme Reflection
Read Sr. Prendergast's reflection on the 2015 (and prior) Congress themes.
Read more »
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Did you know?
Fr. Christopher Bazyouros will become the next Director of the Office of Religious Education. Fr. Bazyouros served at several different churches in the archdiocese before coming to the ORE to help in Adult Ministry.
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Congress Advertiser:
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RECongress
is
just
weeks
away!
Ash Wednesday means
RECongress is LESS than a month
away. And our 2015 Los Angeles Religious
Education Congress literally
could not function without
the hundreds of volunteers
who give of their time. This
month we hold a Volunteer
meeting for Youth Day and
Congress volunteers. Find
out about the Congress Choir
and learn about
opportunities for
Eucharistic Ministers
If you have attended
Congress in the past and
would like to find out more
about becoming a volunteer,
please consider this your
"personal invitation."
Are you receiving our Congress Emailngs in your
inbox? Pass along this
emailing or our link – archive.recongress.org – to
receive the latest
information about Congress
2015 and encourage your
friends to sign up for our
Congress Emailing at
archive.recongress.org/optin.htm.
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! »
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Dates
The 2015 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress dates are:
• March 12, 2015 (Youth Day)
• March 13-15, 2015
Location
Congress is held annually at the Anaheim Convention Center, located at 800 West Katella Ave. in Anaheim, Calif. (just south of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure).
See a Yahoo Map »
Online Registration
Online registration is available for both Congress and Youth Day. Register online by credit card. You can register as individual or a "group" (2 or more people, all just paying with one credit card).
Register Online »
Need the Guidebook in
Print?
The Guidebook is available online in a variety of ways
– downloadable as a PDF or viewable online in iPaper format,
and
as web pages. If you haven't already been mailed a Registration Guidebook, you may order one here. (Guidebooks are mailed out weekly on Wednesdays.)
Order a Guidebook » |
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Volunteer
Meeting
All
registered
Volunteers
should
plan to
attend
the
Volunteer
Meeting
on
Tuesday,
February
24, 2015
at 7:30
pm (7:15
hospitality)
at
Bishop
Bishop
Conaty-Our
Lady of
Loretto
High
School,
2900
West
Pico
Boulevard,
Los
Angeles,
CA 90006
in the
gym.
Not sure
if you
are a
registered
Volunteer?
English
Volunteers
can
check
with Ana
Gomez at
RECvolunteer@la-archdiocese.org;
Spanish
Volunteers
should
email
Ramona
Meza at
RECvoluntario@la-archdiocese.org
See the Volunteer page »
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Extraordinary
Ministers
at
Congress
Are you
a
trained
Extraordinary
Minister
of Holy
Communion?
We
invite
you to
sign up
to be a
floor
Minister
of the
Cup for
any one,
two,
three,
or all
the
Arena
liturgies
at
Religious
Education
Congress.
Floor
Ministers
are
Ministers
of the
Cup on
the
"floor"
of the
Arena.
(There
is
separate
training
during
the
Religious
Education
Congress
on
Friday
at noon
for any
Extraordinary
Ministers
of Holy
Communion
for the
upper
levels
of the
Arena.)
If you
haven't
signed
up, you must
attend
one of
the
three
remaining mandatory
trainings
to serve
as a
FLOOR
Extraordinary
Minister
of Holy
Communion.
See the
Volunteer
page for
more
information,
training
locations,
and the
link to
sign up.
See the
Volunteer
page »
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The
200-voice Congress
Choir
 John
Flahery,
the
Congress
Musical
Director,
extends
an
invitation
to those
who are
interested
in
singing
at the
Closing
Liturgies
at
Congress
(Sunday
at 8:00
am and
3:30
pm).
Volunteer
musicians
are
required
to
attend
two
scheduled
rehearsals
offered
in
different
regions
of the
Los
Angeles
Archdiocese
prior to
Congress.
There
are
usually
3 or 4
primary
rehearsal
dates
and
locations
for
Congress
Choir,
and
additional
rehearsals
are
usually
planned
for the
Inland
Empire,
San
Diego,
Northern
California
areas as
well as
Reno,
Nev.,
and
Phoenix,
Ariz.
See the
Musical
Director's
Invitation
See the
Volunteer
page »
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New
Saturday
Lunchtime
Session
Added
 Saturday,
Convention
Ballroom
AB –
11:45 -
12:30 pm
Cardinal
Oscar
Rodriguez
“Church
and the
Future”
A
special
lunchtime
session
will be
offered
and
facilitated
by
Cardinal
Oscar
Rodriguez
Maradiaga,
currently
chair of
the
Council
of
Cardinals
appointed
by Pope
Francis
to
advise
him on
reform
of the
Roman
Curia.
This
presentation
will
include
opportunity
for
input,
discussion
and
dialogue.
See
Other
Congress
Updates
»
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Youth Day T-Shirts
 Today!
(February
16) is
the last
day you
can
pre-order
your Youth Day 2015 T-shirts – with the theme “Talk Jesus with Me.” Customize your Youth Day shirt with your youth group or parish name on the back for only $2 additional.
Pre-order discount rate:
T-shirts: $13; V-Neck: $16; Sweatshirts: $25: $25
Adult sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL
(2XL - 4XL sizes are $2 extra for T-shirts and $5 extra for hoodies.)
Order online at www.seraph7.com or by email seraph7clothing@gmail.com.
Go to the Youth Day page »
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Youth
Day
Speaker
Feature:
Mary
Bielski
Both Tracks at Youth Day are set to see the Youth Day Arena speaker and one additional workshop, including this one and 11 others whose sessions are held in the Convention Center meeting rooms.
 Born
in
Indianapolis,
Mary
Bielski
lived
her
passion
through
youth
ministry.
In 2006
she
founded
ALL4HIM
Ministries
and
three
years
later
left her
pharmaceutical
sales
job to
immerse
herself
in
full-time
ministry.
With 15
years of
experience
in youth
ministry
and 12
years as
a
national
speaker,
Bielski
has
spoken
to over
75,000
teens
and
adults
around
the
nation
at high
schools
and
young
adult
retreats,
from
major
national
youth
conferences
to
parish
and
diocesan
rallies.
Session C - "The Truth About
Love,
Sex and
Relationships"
Youth Day, Thursday, March 12, 2015
This
session
presents
the two
hottest
topics
on the
planet
for
teens:
God and
sex.
Focusing
on the
virtue
of
chastity
as being
more
than
just “no
sex,”
this
talk
exposes
the lies
the
world
offers
regarding
relationships
and sex,
and
points
to a
deeper
truth of
authentic
love
found in
Christ.
Through
funny
stories
and
compelling
witness,
Mary
Bielski
presents
a
message
of hope
for
purity
and
freedom
found in
the
power of
Jesus.
See the Youth Day Workshops »
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RECongress Spotlight: Archbishop
Video Chat
 Friday,
March 13, 10:15-11:00 am – Tech
Center @ Hall A
Join us Friday morning at the Tech
Center as Los Angeles Archbishop
José Gomez conducts a live online
chat session with students from St.
Finbar Elementary School in Burbank.
This will be the Archbishop's fourth
annual live, online chat from
Congress with school students.
See
past Congress Chats
See other 2015 RECongress Spotlights »
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Congress
Liturgy
Feature:
Australian
Liturgy
Congress
annually
offers
a
variety
of liturgies and prayer
services. We
will be featuring some of our 17
Eucharistic Liturgies and 4 Prayer
Services from the Congress weekend
here in our Emailings.
 Friday,
March 13, 2015, 5:15 pm
Convention Arena
Rev. Richard Leonard, presider
Music by Michael Mangan, John
Burland and Andrew Chinn
The Australian Culture Mass is new
to Congress in 2015! Come and
celebrate the universal Church with
Aboriginal dance, the haunting
sounds of the didgeridoo, and Aussie
musicians Michael Mangan, John
Burland and Andrew Chinn. Fr Richard
Leonard and Fr Rob Galea will lead
us in a liturgy steeped in both the
ancient and modern Church from "the
land down under."
Jesuit priest Fr. Richard Leonard is
Director of the Catholic Office for
Film & Broadcasting, based in
Melbourne, Australia. He is a
Visiting Professor at the Gregorian
University in Rome and has been a
Visiting Scholar at the University
of California, Los Angeles. Fr.
Leonard, a popular speaker at the
RECongress, is author of eight
books, including “What Are We Doing
on Earth for Christ’s Sake?” and
“Where the Hell is God?”
View the 2015 RECongress Liturgies
»
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Speaker
Feature:
GIA
Workshop
Over the three days, Congress 2015
will offer 309 workshops presented
by 202 speakers. Topics range from
personal growth to music to
spiritual topics – in English,
Spanish and Vietnamese. Each
Emailing we spotlight one of those
speakers:
The Old Gravel
Road: Storytelling and Song from the
Heartland (*)
Session 5-07, Saturday, March 14,
2015 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm - Arena
Telling our stories is a healing
practice. And when we heal
ourselves, we have the potential to
restore one another. Jeanne Cotter,
known for her vivid musical
storytelling, and her uncle Michael
Cotter, a Minnesota farmer and
national award-winning storyteller,
invite you to experience the value
of your own life, through song,
musical prayer and the mirror of
storytelling. Joined by Liam Lawton,
Tony Alonso and Betsey Beckman, this
event will leave you transformed,
ready to share your own story and be
wholly present to another’s. This is
where healing begins.
 Jeanne
Cotter is a liturgical composer,
author, parish mission director and
active singer-songwriter. For over a
decade she has performed her
original piano works and songs
throughout the United States and
Canada. Jeanne shares her
heartwarming and humorous stories
of growing up in an Irish Catholic
family in southern Minnesota and
what she calls “the authority of
experience.” Her latest work, “The
Old Gravel Road,” is due in 2015.
 National
award-winning storyteller Michael
Cotter (and uncle to
Jeanne Cotter) has performed
throughout the United States,
including the Smithsonian Folk
Festival, National Storytelling
Festival, television and radio
broadcasts, schools, retreats, fairs
and festivals. Michael starred in a
healing stories film used by the
Mayo Clinic. At 83, he still spends
his days farming outside of Austin,
Minn.
 Liam
Lawton is a priest of the
Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin,
Ireland, where he serves as Director
of Music. He has recorded 15
collections of music and has written
two books; his most recent is “Where
God Hides.” Fr. Lawton’s music has
been translated into many languages
and he has recorded two PBS
specials. He has presented at
conferences in Europe and across the
United States and regularly presents
at the L.A. Congress.
 Tony Alonso’s contemporary
liturgical music appears in numerous
compilations and hymnals, and he has
presented at liturgy, music and
theology conferences throughout the
world. Alonso is currently a
doctoral candidate in the Graduate
Division of Religion at Emory
University in Atlanta. Formerly, he
served as Director of Music for
Campus Ministry at Loyola Marymount
University in Los Angeles.
 Based in Seattle,
Betsey Beckman is
a liturgical movement artist,
storyteller, spiritual director,
author and InterPlay leader. She
regularly appears as
artist/presenter at national
conventions, online retreats and
international pilgrimages. Beckman
is Director of Movement Ministry at
St. Patrick Church in Seattle and
Director of The Dancing Word, her
company that produces DVDs
celebrating women’s arts and
spirituality.
See other Congress Speakers »
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Disney Tickets Offer
 Religious Education Congress attendees can purchase specially priced Disneyland resort tickets prior to your arrival. There are discounted rates for Twilight Convention tickets (after 4 pm), 1-day 1-park, multi-day and park hopper tickets. This offer is only available online at www.disneyconventionear.com/ZMRC15A and not available at the Park. Tickets are valid Tuesday, March 10 through Sunday, March 22, 2015. The online ticket store closes 9:00 PM PST on Tuesday, March 10, 2015.
Check online for restrictions and bulk ticket orders.
See the Updates page »
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Special Hotel Rates
 Don't forget to make your travel arrangements now. We have secured special rates for Congress attendees at a number of hotels with pricing to meet everyone's needs. Make sure when making your reservations you mention the Religious Education Congress so that you receive our special contracted rates.
See the Listing of Hotels »
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Just for Southern Californians
 Ralphs Grocery Company, a major supermarket chain in the Southern California area, supports schools, churches and other non-profit organizations with annual contributions. The Los Angeles Religious Education Congress is a member of Ralphs Community Contributions Program. Simply by using your Ralphs rewards Card a portion of eligible purchases are contributed to the RECongress. This is an annual program that must be renewed each year. The current term just began last month. If you were part of the program last year, we thank you and encourage you to re-enroll again for this year's term.
We encourage all 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.
Organization Name: Archdiocese of Los Angeles - Religious Education
Organization Number: 90658
Find step-by-step instructions and information online and
Read about the Ralphs program »
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RECongress.org
 You can always find the latest Congress information and updates online. Though our Congress Emailings feature some of our Congress Speakers, Spotlights, Entertainment and Liturgies, you can find the complete listing online at www.RECongress. And check our updates pages updates and announcements.
See the 2015 Updates page »age »
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RECongress Emailing
Be sure to sign-up for this twice-a-month Emailing about the latest Congress updates and information. You may opt out from our Congress Emailing at any time from the "Manage Your Subscription" link below.
See past Emailings »
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