Speaker Spotlight: Bill Huebsch

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:

Bill Huebsch has been a farmer, a writer, a diocesan administrator, a master catechist, a college professor and a spiritual director. He is on the adjunct faculty at the Institute for Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago. Huebsch has published more than 30 booklets and books on spirituality and ministry, including “Promise and Hope: How to Become an Accompanying Parish,” “The Art of Accompaniment,” and several others. For many years, he has maintained a busy international lecture schedule.

PROMISE AND HOPE: ACCOMPANIMENT IN THE PARISH

Pope Francis has called on the whole Church to learn the art of accompaniment and make it the chief pastoral strategy in every parish. This offers us all a chance to really live mercy and be holy, one and the same thing. But how we do actually do this in a real parish? What does it mean to religious education, liturgy, pastoral care and other ministries? This workshop will demonstrate the method by which accompaniment is enacted in each parish program and provide concrete steps and suggestions to help you succeed as an "accompanying parish."

HOW CAN I SERVE YOU? LEARNING TO BE AN ACCOMPANIST
Do you want to serve others in your parish as a pastoral accompanist? Do you want to train people in your parish or program to do so? As parishes adopt accompaniment, many people will be needed to assist in this ministry. Those who come forward will have to live mercy and be holy! Who can do this? How will you be trained? What is the commitment? What skills are needed? What guidelines will you be asked to follow? This workshop will be packed full of practical, concrete information based on real case studies and examples.

Have You Considered Volunteering?

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 »

Some Hotel Tips

With you in mind, the Religious Education Congress has contracted with certain hotels in the Convention Center area 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 -- that can add even greater value to your stay. 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 »

Southern Californians: It's a New Year

Back-to-school time also means back-to-Ralphs.com time! RECongress is a member of Ralphs Community Contributions Program. Simply by using your Ralphs Rewards Card a portion of eligible purchases is contributed to RECongress.

If you would like to register or if you've already registered this year, you need to re-register. Everyone needs to be re-enrolled for the term that starts September 1. Simply register your Ralphs Rewards Card online at www.ralphs.com. Once it is registered, click on Community Contributions and choose Name: Archdiocese of Los Angeles - Religious Education or Organization Number: KV939.

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