Artist's Reflection on the Logo

Artist Valerie MacRae reflects on designing the RECongress 2020 logo:

The logo began with broken pieces of overlapping color and texture — rusted metal, rough burlap and scratched copper joined with pieces of a heart. The four irregular quadrants of shapes came together allowing the heart to take shape. A cross formed with a red sphere at its center symbolizes the core of our being — God. God’s light radiates out in rays of gold.

Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken vessels with gold, was imitated by the gold leaf around the side of the heart and in the rays of light. It suggests that if we allow the light of God’s love to mend our brokenness we will be even stronger because of our once-broken pieces. We will move forward encountering each other with heartfelt kindness and generosity of spirit, sharing our unique talents to ensure the sun will rise on a better world.
Read her full reflection online here »

Speaker Spotlight: Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI

Over the three days, RECongress 2020 will offer nearly 300 workshops presented by nearly 200 speakers. Topics range from personal growth to music to spiritual topics — in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Each Emailing we will spotlight one of our speakers:

Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, is President of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. His books have been translated into many languages, and his weekly column is carried by more than 80 publications worldwide. Formerly, Fr. Rolheiser taught at Newman Theological College in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and served as Provincial Superior of his Oblate Province and on the General Council for the Oblates in Rome.

THE PENULTIMATE INVITATION TO HOLINESS – PRACTICING MERCY AS JESUS PRACTICED IT
Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful: That’s quite an initiation! It’s also the invitation that lies at the essence of all religion and all religious practice worthy of the name. It’s what, ultimately, makes for holiness. How is God merciful? How do we incarnate that? More importantly, how might the practice of biblical mercy help heal our bitter divisions with society and the Church today?

THE REAL OBSTACLE TO HOLINESS – OUR PATHOLOGICALLY COMPLEX NATURE
Spirituality tends to blame our struggles for holiness on original sin, on concupiscence, and then blame Adam and Eve. A closer examination, however, of both Scripture and Christian tradition places the roots of our struggles not in what’s wrong with us, but in what’s right with us. We are born with divine fire inside our souls and that fire does not find easy peace in this world. Our own over-charged nature is the real reason why we struggle “to will the one thing.”

Special Hotel Rates for Attendees

The Religious Education Congress has contracted with certain hotels in the area of the Convention Center that offer a variety of pricing and room types that should meet everyone’s needs. Please pay special attention to the amenities offered — some properties offer free breakfast options and several hotels offer suites that can house up to 6 people — which can add even greater value to your stay. We look forward to your presence with us at RECongress. To get the quoted rates, sure to mention that you are attending the 2020 Religious Education Congress and ask for the REC or Religious Education Congress Block Group Rate.

Find the list of contracted hotels here »

Here is Your 'Personal' Invitation to Volunteer

Our Los Angeles Religious Education Congress could not function without the hundreds of volunteers who give of their time. If you would like to find out more about becoming a volunteer for our next RECongress, please consider this your "personal invitation." We have a need for volunteers for both Youth Day and our Adult Days, including Adult Days Workshop Volunteers (English, Spanish and Vietnamese), Eucharistic Ministers for the two Sunday Closing Liturgies in the Arena, and musicians for the RECongress Choir. All new volunteers should plan to attend a Volunteer Meeting held on Tuesday evening, January 21, 2020.
Find additional Volunteer information here »

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. Here is an easy way to help the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, a member of Ralphs Community Contributions Program. Simply by using your Ralphs rewards Card a portion of eligible purchases are contributed to the RECongress.

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 the easiest way to contribute to the RECongress.

Name: Archdiocese of Los Angeles - Religious Education
Organization Number: KV939

Find step-by-step instructions and information online and
See more about the Ralphs program »