Youth Day Feature: Katie McGrady

Youth Day 2018 features an Arena Keynote, Session and Liturgy along with a choice of two workshops from among 13 speakers. Each Emailing we will spotlight one of those speakers:

Katie Prejean McGrady is a theology teacher at St. Louis Catholic High School and Youth Director at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church in Lake Charles, La. She is author of "Room 24: Adventures of a New Evangelist" and, since 2007, she has been traveling throughout North America and across Canada using her original blend of humor and storytelling to speak at events ranging from small sessions to national conferences.

Arena Keynote: Daring Faith
March 15, 2017 - AM and PM sessions
Why did St. Peter step out of the boat and try to walk on water? Why did a woman sick for 12 years reach out to touch Jesus' cloak? Why did St. Paul endure being sent to prison time after time, but kept preaching the Gospel? Why did St. Teresa of Calcutta begin a new religious order focused on service to the poor and sick? Why did they, and so many others, live their faith in such radical and powerful ways? Why did you come to Youth Day? These holy men and women dared to believe, and their belief prompted them to live with a daring faith. We too are invited to live a daring faith – to step out of the boat, to reach out to be healed, to proclaim the Gospel, and to radically serve others, even when it hurts.
Find our Youth Day page here »

Congress Speaker Feature: Becky Eldredge

Over the three days, Congress 2018 will offer 334 workshops presented by 185 speakers. Topics range from personal growth to music to spiritual topics — in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Each Emailing we spotlight one of our speakers:

Becky Eldredge is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator and author of the book, “Busy Lives & Restless Souls.” With two decades of ministry experience, she has led young adult retreats, parish missions, Ignatian preached retreats, and days of reflection for adults. Eldredge has presented at the Spiritual Director’s International Conference, the Ignatian Spirituality Conference, and has appeared as a panelist at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Convocation of Catholic Leaders.
 

Friday, March 16, 3:00-4:30 pm - Session 3-11
Praying Our Lives: A Remedy for Restlessness (*)

Do you ever feel like something is missing in life? Do you ever feel like you are on a hamster wheel trying to keep up with life’s rapid pace? Do you wonder how will I find rest in the busyness of life? Do you seek a deeper meaning and purpose for your life? If so, this talk is for you. Learn how God speaks to us through our restlessness and yearning for more. Learn practical ways to pray your life to help calm the restlessness within and find rest, love, healing, meaning and joy.

Sunday, March 18, 1:00-2:30 pm - Session 8-07
Weary and Waiting: Nurturing Hope During Transitions (*)

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where it is hard to hold onto hope? At times life’s journey feels like stepping out into total darkness. Anyone who has faced a time of serious transition knows how this can feel. Hope is the candle of faith that scatters the darkness and sees us through the Paschal Mystery. Becky Eldredge, an Ignatian-trained spiritual director and retreat leader, shows you how to nurture hope, to explore your deepest desires when the way forward seems unclear so that you can find the path you were meant to follow and become the person you were created to be.
See our other speakers here »

Liturgy Spotlight: Care of the Earth

FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 5:15 pm - Arena

Care of the Earth in the Perspective of the Filipino Culture
Cardinal Luis Tagle, presider
Music by Ricky Manalo and Clarissa Martinez

Continuing our prayer and reflection from Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Sí, Congress is offering a Mass with a focus on caring for our common home. This year, members of the Filipino community will be sharing their pastoral response in liturgy. Since we will be in Lent, part of the response will focus on calling to mind the sins we have committed against nature and against our neighbors as well as a commitment to deepen our awareness of God’s action in all of creation. How do we help the earth "Rise Up"? How do we inspire our brothers and sisters in light of the Gospel to rise up and care for our common home?
See the listing of Congress Liturgies here »

RECongress Spotlight: Performance Stage

MUSIC PERFORMANCE STAGE in Hall A
Several of the performing artists at Congress have scheduled time to appear at the Performance Stage in Hall A. The stage showcases 20-minute sets of live music and is located in the southeast area of Exhibit Hall A. Check the posted schedule onsite for appearance times.

Find our Congress Spotlights here »

Special Hotel rates for attendees

We have contracted special rates for RECongress attendees at some of the nearby hotels to the Anaheim Convention Center. You can find our updated listing online. To get the quoted rates, contact the hotel directly and be sure to mention that you are attending the 2018 Religious Education Congress and ask for the REC or Religious Education Congress Block Group Rate.
Find the Hotel listing here »

Discounted Disney tickets

Religious Education Congress attendees may purchase specially priced Disneyland resort eTickets. There is special pricing for Twilight Convention tickets (after 4 pm), 1-day 1-park, multi-day and park hopper tickets. This eTicket offer is only available online at http://mydisneygroup.com/ZMRC18A.
See other Congress Updates here »

Just for Southern Californians

Ralphs Grocery Company, the Southern California supermarket chain, has a program to help non-profit organizations with annual contributions. We invite you to re-register your Ralphs Rewards Card again this year to benefit the RECongress. The current term began September 1 and runs through August 31, 2018. This is an annual program that must be renewed each year.  You may register online or by calling (800) 443-4438.

Sign up for the free Ralphs rewards Card and register your card with the Community Contributions Program. It’s never been easier to contribute to the RECongress.
Name: Archdiocese of Los Angeles - Religious Education
Organization Number: 90658

Find step-by-step instructions and information online and
Go to the RECongress Ralphs page »

A Look Back: RECongress 2008

SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2008

Session 4-14:
"One with the Risen Lord: A Spirituality of Ministry"

The Lenten journey finds its completion in Easter – a season that proposes a spirituality of ministry for the church, newly born from Christ on the cross. Beginning with the proclamation of Christ’s Resurrection, we learn about seeing the Risen Lord but also believing without seeing. We learn what it means to know and heed the Shepherd’s voice. By way of reflection and a new collection of songs, Bob Hurd and Anawim will explore this spirituality of ministry opened up by the season’s readings. This workshop will help catechists, liturgists, musicians, lectors, those working with Christian Initiation, and all worshipers prepare for the Easter Season.

Appearing left to right: Dominic MacAller, Marie Hodgson, John Gilb, Barbara Bridge and Bob Hurd.

Bob Hurd has served as a teacher, composer, and liturgist in various pastoral and academic settings. He currently teaches in the Graduate Pastoral Ministries Program at Santa Clara University in California. His music appears in a number of hymnals in this country as well as abroad. Over a 10-year period, Hurd and Anawim recorded some of this country’s most popular and widely used worship music. The members of Anawim include Dominic and Kathleen MacAller, Marie Hodgson, John Gilb, Barbara Bridge, Jim Drollinger, all of whom serve as music ministers in the archdioceses of Los Angeles and Portland, Ore.
See the Guidebook from RECongress 2008 »