AN INVITATION FROM THE CONGRESS MUSICAL DIRECTOR

February 4, 2015


Dear Musician & Friend:

A very Happy New Year to you! I hope this email finds you and your loved ones well and thriving.

The Los Angeles Religious Education Congress with over 42,000 delegates in attendance remains the largest annual catechetical and liturgical gathering in the world, and it happens every year right here in Southern California at the Anaheim Convention Center. The Church's documents and the subsequent teachings of every Pope since Paul VI have called the Church to the inculturation of the liturgy. It is in this spirit that the Los Angeles Religious Education Liturgy Committee has worked diligently and tirelessly over the years to bring peoples from every corner of the world together and shape the Church’s prayer in faithfulness to the Church’s teachings, documents and in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council.

“See!” is the theme of the 2015 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. The story of the man born blind reminds us to be attentive; to open our very beings to the presence of Christ in our midst. We are reminded that at the very moments that we think we can see everything clearly, in those moments in which we think we have the entire truth, that it is in those very moments we are called to pray to be healed from our own blindness – to open the eyes of our hearts and see anew. John Angotti wrote the theme song this year to lift and inspire us through the weekend and beyond.

In acknowledging your ongoing commitment to music ministry, I extend an invitation to you to participate in Congress Choir 2015. The combined talents of nearly 300 musicians comprise the group that will provide the music for the final liturgies on Sunday, March 15, 2015. Over 16,000 people attend these liturgies. I hope that in considering this invitation, you’ll decide to join us. I promise you, it is an experience to remember.

To participate, RSVP by clicking the following link and complete the online form at: http://tinyurl.com/CongressChoir2015

Attendance at two rehearsals is mandatory. Several “first” rehearsals are conveniently scheduled at a location close to you. Choose from one of the following.

*Choose the one geographically closest to and most convenient for you:
 

Inland Empire – Moreno Valley/Riverside *Tuesday, March 3, 7:00 p.m. St. Patrick Catholic Church 10915 Pigeon Pass Road Moreno Valley, CA, 92557 Contact: Maria Alvarado phone (951) 780-6049 Email:  BTK4GOD@aol.com Text: 951.255.8806 San Diego Area *Tuesday, March 3, 6:30 p.m. 10866 Manacor Court San Diego, CA 92124 (Tierrasanta Area) Contact: Bob & Ginger Infantino Phone: (858) 256-9351 Email:  rinfant1@san.rr.com Los Angeles Area *Tuesday, March 3, 7:30 p.m. St Jerome Church La Tijera exit at the 405 Fwy 5550 Thornburn St. Los Angeles, CA 90045 Contact: John Flaherty Phone: (310) 338-2720		Inland Empire – Yucaipa/Redlands/San Bernardino *Thursday, March 5, 7:00 p.m. St. Frances X. Cabrini Church 12687 California Street Yucaipa, CA 92399 Contact: Cyndi Noble Phone: (951) 742-1334 Email: cmnmuzic@gmail.com Phoenix/Scottsdale Area *Monday, March 9, 5:30 p.m. Franciscan Renewal Center 5802 E. Lincoln Drive Scottsdale, AZ 85253 Contact: Norbert Zwickl Phone: 480.948.7460 Email: casaliturgy@aol.com Boise, Idaho *Date, TBA Contact: Jackie Hopper Phone: 208-350-7541 Email: jhopper@rcdb.org Monterey, Calif. *Date, TBA Contact: Diana Macalintal Email: macalintal@dsj.org
YOU MUST ATTEND THIS FINAL REHEARSAL:
Wednesday, March 11, 7:30 p.m. St. Linus Church 13913 Shoemaker Ave., Norwalk, CA 90650 Contact: Anna Betancourt Email: Annalbetancourt@gmail.com

Should you have any questions, please contact me at: John.Flaherty@lmu.edu

Again, RSVP by February 18, 2014 to me at http://tinyurl.com/CongressChoir2015

Please let others know who might enjoy being a member of Choir 2015!

*Finally, and most importantly – RSVP right away. We must cap the choir at 250.

With care in Christ,

John Flaherty
Chair, Congress Liturgy Committee
Congress Music Director
Los Angeles Religious Education Congress