RECongress Emailing - October 15, 2019 (REC #2020.6)

Workshops Announced for RECongress 2020

We are now announcing the workshops for our 2020 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. This year there are 178 speakers presenting nearly 300 workshops in three languages -- English, Spanish and Vietnamese. And for those traveling to Anaheim for the weekend, be sure to check the special rates we have negotiated with some of the local hotels. See our tips for making your stay the best possible. And keep an eye on our site — archive.recongress.org — as we keep posting new information about RECongress 2020.

A Welcome From The Director

"I welcome all of you to the 2020 Religious Education Congress! This year, the theme, “Live Mercy — Be Holy,” is a radical invitation to create a more compassionate and loving world. We are invited to live out mercy and holiness because God sees our tremendous capacity to love. We might think that only special people can be merciful or are worthy to be holy. Pope Francis, however, reminds us that “we are [all] called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves.” I invite you to explore this daring invitation to Live Mercy — Be Holy. Our world is in much need of these expressions of God’s love through us. This year’s theme will not only restore our own hope, but inspire, transform and challenge us to continue seeing the face of Christ in ourselves and in our faith communities. I look forward to welcoming you,"

Sr. Rosalia Meza, VDMF
Senior Director, Office of Religious Education

Pass along this emailing or our link — archive.recongress.org — to share with friends and encourage them to sign up for the Emailings to receive the latest information about RECongress 2020. If you do not care to receive future updates, you can find removal information at the bottom of this message.

Disney Ticket Store NOW Open

Disney is now offering specially priced tickets to RECongress attendees and their guests. There is special pricing for Twilight Convention tickets (after 4 pm), 1-day 1-park, multi-day and park hopper tickets. This discounted eTicket offer opens today and is only available online at www.mydisneygroup.com/ZMRB20A through February 19, 2020. Tickets are valid from Saturday, February 15, through Wednesday, February 26. Note: These ticket prices are not available once you arrive in Anaheim.Read more about the Disney offer here »

Speaker Spotlight: Bob Hurd
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 spotlight one of our speakers:

Bob Hurd is a composer and author who teaches in the Graduate Theology and Ministry Program of Seattle University. He has 42 years of teaching at the college and graduate level, and over the same period, as a liturgical composer and workshop presenter. His widely used liturgical music is published by OCP and is featured in numerous hymnals in the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Australia. In 2010 he received the National Association of Pastoral Musicians’ “Pastoral Musician of the Year” award.

COMPASSIONATE CHRIST, COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE: LIVING THE HOLY MERCY OF CHRIST IN THE LITURGY

Christ gathers us through the bread of the Word and the bread of the Eucharist so that we can become instruments of his compassion and mercy in the world. St. Paul calls this “having the mind of Christ” (Philippians 2:5). In short, Jesus’ spirituality is to become ours. This session shows how the stages of the liturgy – from the Gathering to the Word, and from the Word to the Eucharistic Prayer, Communion and Sending – lead us progressively to greater and greater participation in Christ’s kenosis or merciful self-giving. Bob Hurd will explore this theme in reflection and song.

Find the list of RECongress Speakers here »

Behind the Scenes: Blanca Langlois

Our Los Angeles Religious Education Congress could not function without the hundreds of volunteers who give of their time. We have those visible volunteers who are "out in front," but there is an army of people behind the scenes. These is to highlight just a few of the committee members, coordinators and volunteers who work behind the scenes.

Name: Bianca Langlois

What is your “day” job?

I am the Director of Faith Formation at St. Peter Claver Church in Simi Valley.

What and when was your first RECongress experience?

One of my most memorable RE Congress moments was coordinating the 2016 Arena Mass for “Church on the Margins” with Fr. Greg Boyle as presider. By talking with different communities in Los Angeles I learned so much about their lives and they helped me to develop a deeper understanding of our Church on the margins. It was a privilege given to me because I was coordinating this Mass that I would not have had otherwise. I'm grateful for the experience.

Find other Behind the Scenes people here »

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.
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 »

Just for Southern Californians

Ralphs Grocery Company, the Southern California supermarket chain, supports 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. Be sure to re-enroll now for this new term.

We encourage all Ralphs shoppers to sign up for the free Ralphs rewards Card and register it with the Community Contributions Program. It’s the easiest way to contribute to RECongress.
Name: Archdiocese of Los Angeles - Religious Education
Organization Number: KV939

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

Looking Back ... at 1982

From the 1982 Religious Education Congress Registration Guidebook, with the theme "Growing in Age, Wisdom, Favor" held February 11-14, 1982 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Bob Hurd has been involved in composition and teaching of liturgical music for a number of years in Chicago and Los Angeles. He is a philosophy professor at Loyola-Marymount University and Director of Music at Visitation Parish in Los Angeles. His albums include "O Let Him In" and "Bless the Lord." His articles have appeared in the magazine Modern Liturgy.

"IF TODAY YOU HEAR HIS VOICE ... " (4D)
All are invited to join and participate in this musical celebration of and meditation on the meaning of conversion, justice, and the love of God. Among other things, Bob Hurd and Anawim will be sharing music from their "Roll Down the Ages" album as well as a new collection of songs from a forthcoming album.

"SINGING AND PLAYING FOR GOD" (8D)
Bring your instrument -- whether it is your voice or your guitar or your flute or your violin or your oboe or whatever, and read through some new and old pieces of liturgical music, ranging from some of your favorite contemporary composers to that famous medieval writer named "Anonymous." Bob Hurd and Anawim, with the help of their arranger, Craig Kingsbury, will emphasize singing in parts, new and alternate arrangements for well-known pieces (including the St. Louis Jesuits' music) and go through some of the instrumental tricks and subtleties of various songs. New music from Anawim will also be featured.
See the 1982 RECongress Guidebook here »

Our Web Site — RECongress.org

You can find all Congress information and updates online. Our upcoming RECongress Emailings will feature some Congress Spotlights, and we will be adding speaker and hotel information online. Check our site for updates and announcements.

RECongress Emailing

Be sure to sign-up for our twice-a-month Emailings about the latest updates and information about the Religious Education Congress. You may opt out from our Congress Emailing at any time from the "Manage Your Subscription" link below.

Find past Emailings at archive.recongress.org/emailing.htm