RECongress 2020 Spanish Keynote Announced

Our Spanish Keynote is Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas, where he has served since December 2009. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Detroit Archdiocese. Both of our keynotes (English and Spanish) begin at 7:50 on Saturday morning, as part of Morning Praise. Bishop Flores' Spanish address is titled: “Ojos abiertos, corazones vivos, manos a la obra: La Misericordia, acción de Dios en el mundo” (Eyes Open, Living Hearts, Working Hands: Mercy, God's Action in the World)
Find our other RECongress Speakers here »

Sneak a Peek at the Registration Guidebook

You can now find our Registration Guidebook online and available in 4 formats:
PDF: The Guidebook is available HERE to view in the Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). You may download the complete Registration Guidebook or sections of the book.

Web Pages: Find every workshop period HERE (English and Spanish) as a separate web page for each period.
iPaper: The Guidebook is also available HERE in iPaper format, a web-based version which requires no software download.
In Print: Still prefer the paper version? Guidebooks will be mailed out later this month automatically to all those who attended our last event.
Find our Guidebook available online here »

Youth Day Recruitment Day

A reminder that this Saturday, November 16, is Recruitment Day for Youth Day 2020. It's a day planned and led by young people themselves who will serve at Youth Day in the following areas: Liturgical Ministry; Ministers of Movement; Music; General Session Hosts; Workshop Emcees; Social Media; and the Spirit Squad.
Find more information on the Youth Day page here »

Youth Day Spotlight: Doug & Dave

In addition to the Arena Keynote on Youth Day, you make your choice of two workshops from the remaining 14 sessions held in ACC North Hall.
 
Title: MASS CONFUSION WITH THE DOUG AND DAVE SHOW
Speakers: Doug Brummel & David Wilson
Location: ACC North 161-162 (lower Level 100)
Times: 8:15 am & 1:00 pm

Have you ever been confused at Mass about why we say this, the priest says that, why we sit, stand, kneel and sing? You won’t want to miss this fun, faith-filled experience that explores the joy, beauty and history of the “source and summit” of our faith. This brand new “catechetical comedy” is a fast-paced, music-filled session that brings to life how we worship through the Mass with original music and an original format that engages all generations. Warning: Mass Confusion may induce unexpected laughter and learning ... all at the same time and may cause more participation and understanding of the Mass!

John Doug Brummel and Dave Wilson, together as The Doug and Dave Show, are Catholic Christian speakers, catechetical comedians, musicians and storytellers. Over the past 25 years, Doug has served over 1400 parishes and conferences with his Lighten Up! Parish Family Missions as well as presented at national youth, adult and family conferences. Dave is an established musician, singer, and storyteller for over 20 years.

Find our other Youth Day Speakers here »

Speaker Spotlight: Suzanne Nawrocki

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

Suzanne Nawrocki, DMin, is an adjunct Professor of Homiletics at the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis. A member of the Catholic Association of Homiletics, the Academy of Homiletics, and the international guild Societas Homiletica, she also consults with the University of Notre Dame preaching initiative. In addition to her work with preachers, she gives a wide variety of workshops in parishes across the country. Her latest works include chapters in “Effective Preaching: Bringing People Into an Encounter with God.”

Saturday, February 22, 10:00-11:30 am - Session 4-18

BREAKING OPEN THE WORD THE RITE WAY
Breaking open the Word (B.O.W.) in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults provides the opportunity for catechumens and candidates to make new discoveries about how God loves them. In B.O.W., the catechist helps people to stop, pause and look at the Word of God, pointing the way, letting them do their own seeing and helping them find the best vantage spot for them to see God for themselves. The session defines B.O.W., gives helpful suggestions about proclamation and preaching, and models a breaking-open session. Afterward, participants will have catechist’s box filled with practical tools to allay fears about leading a B.O.W. session.

Sunday, February 23, 1:00-2:30 pm - Session 8-17

IT’S TOO LATE TO PUT MY HAND DOWN: PRACTICAL HELP WITH SCRIPTURAL INTERPRETATION FOR MINISTRY
Now that you have committed to a ministry involving the Bible, delve into the methodology of Catholic Scripture study as presented in “The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church” by the Pontifical Biblical Commission. Methods and approaches for interpretation of texts will be detailed, advancing their possibilities and noting their limitations. This workshop will make God’s Word more accessible to you and to those your ministry reaches.
See our list of RECongress Speakers here »

Entertainment: Saturday Lunchtime Concert

Saturday, February 22, 11:45 am-12:30 pm – Hall B
 
John Angotti & Craig Colson
"It’s Time to Get Up & Give God Higher Praise!"
Bring your lunch and come rock out with World Library Publications artists John Angotti and Craig Colson with an amazing band. It's contemporary music to give God praise and get you on your feet!

Find other Entertainment at RECongress here »

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 »

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. Note: If you enrolled this year before September 1, you will need to re-enroll for this new term.

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 »