Youth Day Feature: Doug Tooke
Both Youth Day tracks get to see the Youth Day Arena keynote and two chosen workshops, including this one and others whose sessions are held in the Convention Center meeting rooms.

Doug Tooke, Executive Director of Reach Youth Ministry and owner of Monarch Catholic Ministries, directs youth ministry events in the Diocese of Helena, Mont., where he formerly served as diocesan Director of Faith Formation. He has over 20 years of professional ministry experience and has traveled to more than 75 dioceses in the past 15 years teaching, training youth ministers, keynoting conventions and presenting at events, including World Youth Day, the National Catholic Youth Conference and the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry.

Session C - "Proudly Proclaim"
February 25, 2016 - Convention 213
Our faith is supposed to be shared in an enthusiastic, contagious and compelling way. How are you doing with that? This workshop is about evangelization as a way of life for young Catholic faithful. Come learn about healthy ways to share the Word and practical tips on how to live out the New Evangelization in the modern world.

See the Youth Day page »

Volunteers at RECongress

The Religious Education Congress literally could not function without the hundreds of volunteers who give of their time. Our Volunteer meeting is coming up on Monday, February 1. Check our Volunteer page as to how you can participate in a special way at RECongress:

• Youth Day Volunteers, including coordinators, crowd flow and other designated duties.
• English & Spanish Volunteers as Assistants (ticket takers/greeters), Chairperson (coordinator), and Master of Ceremonies "MC" (who introduces the speaker and makes announcements).
• Congress Choir at the 8:00 am and 3:30 pm Sunday Closing Liturgies.
• Eucharistic Ministers as Ministers of the Cup for any or all liturgies in the Arena.

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."
See the Volunteers page »

RECongress 2016 Tote Bag

Here's a sneak peek at the bag that will be handed out at Congress 2016. The green tote features the 2016 Congress logo on one side and the logo of the bag sponsor, RCL Benziger, on the other. Every Congress attendee receives a bag filled with several items, including a Tidings RECongress commemorative issue, the Program Book, a lanyard and a name badge holder.
See the 2016 Exhibitors »

RECongress Spotlight: Speaker Book Signing

Authors and musical performing artists appearing at Congress have begun to schedule times to sign their books at the Signing Area. And the Signing Area has a new location this year — in the northwest corner of Hall A. After each period there are scheduled times for speaker signings — including Keynote Sr. Helen Prejean on Saturday. Check the latest schedule online or on site to find any updates to table number or appearance times.
See the Speaker Signing Schedule »

Liturgy Feature: Contemplative Liturgy

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 - 5:15 pm
Hilton California

Rev. Pat Mullen, presider

Music by Liam Lawton

Rev. J. Patrick Mullen, a priest of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, is Professor of Biblical Studies at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, Calif., and Pastor at the neighboring Junipero Serra Parish. He is author of two books and numerous articles. Fr. Mullen often presents to priests of various dioceses in the Southwestern United States and annually speaks at the L.A. Congress as well as other regional conferences, from San Diego to Detroit, as well as the Little Rock Bible Study Summer Conference and the Texas Catholic Conference.
See the Congress Liturgies »

Sunday English Address: Fr. James Heft, SM

Over the three days, Congress 2016 will offer 300 workshops presented by 199 speakers. Topics range from personal growth to music to spiritual topics — in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Each Emailing we spotlight one of our presenters:

Fr. James L. Heft, a Marianist priest, is Professor and President of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Previously, Fr. Heft spent many years at the University of Dayton in Ohio, as Chair of the Theology Department as well as Provost and Chancellor. He is author and editor of 12 books and 190 articles, and in 2011, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities honored him with the Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for his service to Catholic higher education.

"Pope Francis, the Environment and U.S. Politics" (*)

Sunday, February 28, 2016, 8:30 am

Is Pope Francis overstepping the boundary between Church and state? Is he smart in endorsing the current scientific consensus on climate change? Is his criticism of capitalism fair? Is he polarizing rather than uniting Catholics? Join Fr. James Heft as he leads us in a examination of these issues in our Church today.
Go to the Speakers Page »

Did You Know?

On Friday through Sunday at Congress during the lunch hour there is an open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.). Veterans, newcomers, and 12 steppers from all programs are most welcome! The meeting takes place in the lower level of the Marriott Hotel in the San Diego Conference Room.
See other Congress Spotlights »

Special Hotel Rates

NOTE: Most hotel rates are only good through February 4. 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 Hotels listing »