Youth Day Spotlight: Susan Searle

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.

Youth Day - Thursday, February 20, 2020

Title: SEEKING A DEEPER CONNECTION TO THE GOD WHO SEES US

Speaker: Susan Searle

Location: ACC North Hall 256-258 (upper Level 200)

Times: 8:15 am & 1:00 pm

“Anxiety can work against us by making us give up whenever we do not see instant results,” Pope Francis warns. Your stress and anxiety may come from your addiction to constant stimulation, immediate gratification and other distractions that make you think you are not enough. God sees when you are struggling, and God wants you to know peace. Prayerful meditation and contemplation invite you to surrender your distractions to God and explore the restorative power of silence. In this workshop, we will practice a variety of meditative prayers to quiet the distractions in your head. Come prepared to turn inward, be still, and seek God’s peace.

Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., Susan Searle is a Coordinator for Youth Ministry Services for The Center for Ministry Development (CMD) and is Project Coordinator for their Just5Days middle school missions and the YouthLeader high school programs. She also provides nationwide ministry workshops, trainings and teaches CMD courses for the Certificate in Ministry Studies. Searle has several published sessions for youth ministry and blogs quarterly for CMD.

Find our other Youth Day Speakers here »

Speaker Spotlight: Fr. John Burns

Over the three days, RECongress 2020 will offer nearly 300 workshops presented by about 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. John Burns, a priest of the Milwaukee Archdiocese, is a promoter of vocations and of women’s religious and consecrated life. He speaks at national men’s and women’s conferences, preaches missions and directs retreats throughout the country and has appeared on Relevant Radio’s The Inner Life. Fr. Burns is author of “Lift Up Your Heart: A 10-Day Personal Retreat with St. Francis de Sales.” He also works extensively with the Sisters of Life and the Missionaries of Charity, giving retreats and conferences for them.

Saturday, February 22, 3:00-4:30 pm - Session 6-05

THE THEOLOGY OF SUFFERING

The agony of betrayal, loss, grief and sorrow are often overwhelming and can so easily consume us. By faith, we know that the Incarnation of Jesus Christ gives new meaning to our every experience of suffering. How do we allow God’s mercy to heal us and God’s grace to bring order to our emotions? How do we find Christ in our experiences of suffering, and how can we make sense of his words, “My yoke is easy and my burden light”? What does it look like to bear our wounds with dignity and carry the cross with Christ? This session will explore the nature of emotional pain and examine trust, surrender and emotional healing.

Sunday, February 23, 10:00-11:30 am - Session 7-07

SEEKING HEALING THROUGH FORGIVENESS
presented with Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT

Have you ever wanted to live a vibrant and abundant life, yet feel “stuck” with certain memories or experiences that you would rather forget? Have you wanted to be free of anger or resentment? At the very heart of our Catholic faith is the call to receive God’s forgiveness and to share it. Being wounded by the injustice of another is part of human life, and only through the graced experience of forgiveness do we let go of the anger and resentment that accumulate around our wounds. In this workshop, we will delve into what forgiveness really is, how it sets us free, and how it brings Christ’s powerful, healing love into our hearts and into the world.

Please note that in our last RECongress Emailing, Sr. Heidland was misidentified in which workshop she was co-presenting with Fr. Burns. 

Find the list of RECongress Speakers here »

Liturgy Spotlight: Contemplative

Within the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, liturgy is celebrated every Sunday in no fewer than 40 different languages. We have worked diligently to inculturate the liturgies at Congress to accurately and authentically reflect the church of Los Angeles.

Friday, February 21, 2020 • 5:15 pm
CONTEMPLATIVE LITURGY
Presider: Rev. Cyprian Consiglio (photo)
Music by: Trevor Thomson

You are invited to still your mind from the busy-ness of the day and to focus on Christ, the fount of all grace. Come and enter into deep reflection on the connection between our faith, its call to holiness and its active expression in works of charity and mercy. [Language: English]

Find the listing of RECongress Liturgies here »

Entertainment: Busted Halo Live

Friday, February 21, noon-2:00 pm & Sat, February 22, 1:00-3:00 pm – Hall A

Come watch SiriusXM Radio's "The Busted Halo Show" as it broadcasts live from RECongress. Join in the fun with host Fr. David Dwyer and his team as they interview speakers and entertainers appearing at RECongress 2020. The Busted Halo Show airs Monday through Friday, from 7-10 pm Eastern time on SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 129. (Note: Fr. Dwyer will again be a speaker at RECongress 2020.)
Find other Entertainment at RECongress here »

January Deadlines for Several Hotels

RECongress has contracted with a number of local hotels to offer attendees a variety of pricing and room types. But you need to book now. A number of these hotels have January deadlines for their special rates. Check our online listing and be 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 »

FOCCUS Training at Christ Cathedral

Next Monday is the deadline to register for FOCCUS Ministry's session to become trained as a Certified FOCCUS Facilitator. FOCCUS is the pre-marriage assessment designed to provide engaged couples and those working with them a personalized profile of their relationship.
Date: February 20, 2020
Time: 8:00 am to 3:30 pm
Location: Christ Cathedral, 13280 Chapman Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92840 (free parking)
Registration deadline: January 13, 2020
Find other Entertainment at RECongress 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 »