Name: Cyrus
Date: May 30, 2010
Comments

I love Congress 2010!!! The Liturgies were Incredible...(I'm just a kid so I cant go to the real Congress). I hope the theme song is good like 2010's theme song!!!!! My mom told me if I get A's I can go to the Opening Rite. I'm gonna make plans and all that...THANK YOU FOR HAVING CONGRESS. YOU GUYS INSPIRED ME TO BE A CATECHIST (since I go to mass like 3 times to sing in Choir and be an Altar Server)...I've been watching the Congress vids so much I know everything about Congress....See you IN 2011!!!!

Name: Glenda O'Grady
Date: April 13, 2010
Comments

I took the online survey a couple days after our LA Congress. Everyone did a Superb job and the one thing I did comment that needed addressing is: God deserves more space in Sacred Space, in the adoration / quiet room. My suggestion was to take the 3 rooms and give 2 rooms to God and one small room for art and the Labyrinth. We have thousands of square feet devoted to our LA Congress and God got squished into too small a space. When I went up to this room each day... people were packed inside the room and almost out the door. The other two rooms had few people compared to God's room. We were sitting on the floor and I am sure some people just walked away. Thank you for listening to my comments.

Name: Bruce Baumann
Date: March 26, 2010
Comments

This was my first time presenting at Congress. Overall, the experience was great. Everything was very well organized, the hotel accommodations were good, the volunteer teams in charge of each workshop were superb, etc. I really cannot think of anything that would need improvement.

I am a very detailed person and usually analyze and evaluate events with an eye towards improvement. However, I can honestly say that I did not see or experience anything that could be improved upon (from a participant or speaker perspective). You and your staff are to be commended for such an incredible (had to get the theme in there somehow) job! You are the reason that Congress is top notch year after year.

Name: Terry Dicks
Date: March 27, 2010
Comments

This was my LAST CONGRESS after coming for 14 years.... I am so uncomfortable with the air conditioning and have decided it is no longer worth it to freeze while trying to pay attention to the speaker.

Name: Herminia Scalise
Date: March 20, 2010
Comments

Just returned to look at this site and for the first time clicked on "Statistics". This is delightful information that the great majority of our states are represented at Congress. I think all but four states. I also enjoyed knowing for the first time the number of foreign delegates to our convention from the Islands, Mexico, and Europe if not more. I would like to suggest that the previous years statistics (minimally states represented and foreign delegates) be included in the program book. I think it really speaks for the popularity of the Congress, and I for one enjoy this type of information. I had no idea of so many foreign delegates.

Name: Sister Norine Nichols, osf
Date: March 15, 2010
Comments

My prayers with all good wishes for the Congress! Everyone who plans and works for the event does such a great job. I was fond of everything when I had the opportunity to attend. The whole program is a splendid example of how people can work together to produce such a grand affair! Blessings with peace and all good to all.

Name: Michelle
Date: March 8, 2010
Comments

I sent in my registration months ago and have not yet received my tickets. What do we do if we do not receive them in time for Congress?

Reply

If you don't receive Congress tickets before you leave for the weekend, you can check in at the Will Call window at the Registration area to see if they were returned to us for some reason. Will Call at Congress is available Thursday evening, March 18, from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., and on each of the days of Congress beginning at 8 a.m.

Name: Michele
Date: March 2, 2010
Comments

Thank you for keeping me in your email list, even though I have never shown up, despite having attended Franciscan university in '03 and receiving low grades in Relig. Ed./Catechetics which would seem to indicate that I need more catechesis. I am not attending because I don't drive anymore, am financially broke, and don't know who to attend with? maybe.

The workshop subjects seem fascinating. Everything to be discussed has to do with catechesis, at least it should be, because it's important for a Teacher of God to use the voice of the Church through its teachings, which have the Catechism as a reliable manual. Anyhow, going down the list of topics (RECongress.org/2010/topics.htm), I picked out the Catechesis topics (which I need to study more, obviously!) and looking up keywords in the online Catechism search, I'd like to contribute some key quotes. I hope that these might inspire your Congress.

"Abundant Parish Life: The Value of Belonging"
2179: "A parish is a definite community of the Christian faithful established on a stable basis within a particular church; the pastoral care of the parish is entrusted to a pastor as its own shepherd under the authority of the diocesan bishop." It is the place where all the faithful can be gathered together for the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist. The parish initiates the Christian people into the ordinary expression of the liturgical life: it gathers them together in this celebration; it teaches Christ's saving doctrine; it practices the charity of the Lord in good works and brotherly love
2182: Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of *belonging* and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church.
1309: Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit - his actions, his gifts, and his biddings - in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of *belonging* to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. The latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands.
899: The initiative of lay Christians is necessary especially when the matter involves discovering or inventing the means for permeating social, political, and economic realities with the demands of Christian doctrine and life. This initiative is a normal element of the life of the Church:

Lay believers are in the front line of Church life; for them the Church is the animating principle of human society. Therefore, they in particular ought to have an ever-clearer consciousness not only of *belonging* to the Church, but of being the Church, that is to say, the community of the faithful on earth under the leadership of the Pope, the common Head, and of the bishops in communion with him. They are the Church.

"Passing the Baton: Intergenerational Evangelization and Catechesis"
2033: The Magisterium of the Pastors of the Church in moral matters is ordinarily exercised in catechesis and preaching, with the help of the works of theologians and spiritual authors. Thus from *generation to generation*, under the aegis and vigilance of the pastors, the "deposit" of Christian moral teaching has been handed on, a deposit composed of a characteristic body of rules, commandments, and virtues proceeding from faith in Christ and animated by charity. Alongside the Creed and the Our Father, the basis for this catechesis has traditionally been the Decalogue which sets out the principles of moral life valid for all men
78: This living transmission, accomplished in the Holy Spirit, is called Tradition, since it is distinct from Sacred Scripture, though closely connected to it. Through Tradition, "the Church, in her doctrine, life and worship, perpetuates and transmits to every *generation* all that she herself is, all that she believes." "The sayings of the holy Fathers are a witness to the life-giving presence of this Tradition, showing how its riches are poured out in the practice and life of the Church, in her belief and her prayer."

"Catechesis: Revealing the Mystery of Abundance"
731: On the day of Pentecost when the seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, Christ's Passover is fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, manifested, given, and communicated as a divine person: of his fullness, Christ, the Lord, pours out the Spirit in *abundance.*
2013: "All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity." All are called to holiness: "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

In order to reach this perfection the faithful should use the strength dealt out to them by Christ's gift, so that . . . doing the will of the Father in everything, they may wholeheartedly devote themselves to the glory of God and to the service of their neighbor. Thus the holiness of the People of God will grow in fruitful *abundance*, as is clearly shown in the history of the Church through the lives of so many saints.

2833: "Our" bread is the "one" loaf for the "many." In the Beatitudes "poverty" is the virtue of sharing: it calls us to communicate and share both material and spiritual goods, not by coercion but out of love, so that the *abundance* of some may remedy the needs of others.

"Wait Until Your Father Comes Home…: Making the Faith Come Alive Within Families Coach Parents to Form Their Own Kids!
1666: The *Christian home* is the place where children receive the first proclamation of the faith. For this reason the family home is rightly called "the domestic church," a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and of Christian charity.
2226: Education in the faith by the parents should begin in the child's earliest years. This already happens when family members help one another to grow in faith by the witness of a Christian life in keeping with the Gospel. Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith. Parents have the mission of teaching their children to pray and to discover their vocation as children of God. The parish is the Eucharistic community and the heart of the liturgical life of Christian families; it is a privileged place for the catechesis of children and parents.

"Get On Board! Musical Liturgy as Model of Faith Formation"
1156: "The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as a combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or integral part of solemn liturgy." The composition and singing of inspired psalms, often accompanied by musical instruments, were already closely linked to the liturgical celebrations of the Old Covenant. The Church continues and develops this tradition: "Address . . . one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart." "He who sings prays twice."
1157: Song and music fulfill their function as signs in a manner all the more significant when they are "more closely connected . . . with the liturgical action," according to three principal criteria: beauty expressive of prayer, the unanimous participation of the assembly at the designated moments, and the solemn character of the celebration. In this way they participate in the purpose of the liturgical words and actions: the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful:

How I wept, deeply moved by your hymns, songs, and the voices that echoed through your Church! What emotion I experienced in them! Those sounds flowed into my ears distilling the truth in my heart. A feeling of devotion surged within me, and tears streamed down my face - tears that did me good.

1158: The harmony of signs (song, music, words, and actions) is all the more expressive and fruitful when expressed in the cultural richness of the People of God who celebrate. Hence "religious singing by the faithful is to be intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises as well as in liturgical services," in conformity with the Church's norms, "the voices of the faithful may be heard." But "the texts intended to be sung must always be in conformity with Catholic doctrine. Indeed they should be drawn chiefly from the Sacred Scripture and from liturgical sources."

"Return to the Passion"
790: Believers who respond to God's word and become members of Christ's Body, become intimately united with him: "In that body the life of Christ is communicated to those who believe, and who, through the sacraments, are united in a hidden and real way to Christ in his *Passion* and glorification." This is especially true of Baptism, which unites us to Christ's death and Resurrection, and the Eucharist, by which "really sharing in the body of the Lord, . . . we are taken up into communion with him and with one another."

"Catechesis and Multiple Intelligence Theory"
286" Human intelligence is surely already capable of finding a response to the question of origins. The existence of God the Creator can be known with certainty through his works, by the light of human reason, even if this knowledge is often obscured and disfigured by error. This is why faith comes to confirm and enlighten reason in the correct understanding of this truth: "By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear."

"What Can We Learn from the Evangelical Churches? How to Share Our Faith with Seekers (Without Being Obnoxious)"
515: The Gospels were written by men who were among the first to have the *faith and wanted to share it* with others. Having known in faith who Jesus is, they could see and make others see the traces of his mystery in all his earthly life.
1679: In addition to the liturgy, Christian life is nourished by various forms of popular piety, rooted in the different cultures. While carefully clarifying them in the light of faith, the Church fosters the forms of popular piety that express an *evangelical* instinct and a human wisdom and that enrich Christian life.
429: From this loving knowledge of Christ springs the desire to proclaim him, to *"evangelize"*, and to lead others to the "yes" of faith in Jesus Christ. But at the same time the need to know this faith better makes itself felt. To this end, following the order of the Creed, Jesus' principal titles - "Christ", "Son of God", and "Lord" (article 2) - will be presented. The Creed next confesses the chief mysteries of his life - those of his Incarnation (article 3), Paschal mystery (articles 4 and 5) and glorification (articles 6 and 7).
848: "Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to *evangelize* all men."
930: Alongside the different forms of consecrated life are "societies of apostolic life whose members without religious vows pursue the particular apostolic purpose of their society, and lead a life as brothers or sisters in common according to a particular manner of life, strive for the perfection of charity through the observance of the constitutions. Among these there are societies in which the members embrace the *evangelical* counsels" according to their constitutions.
1122: Christ sent his apostles so that "repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations." "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." The mission to baptize, and so the sacramental mission, is implied in the mission to *evangelize*, because the sacrament is prepared for by the word of God and by the faith which is assent to this word

"The Spirituality of the Catechist: Re-igniting the Flame"
427: In catechesis "Christ, the Incarnate Word and Son of God, ... is taught - everything else is taught with reference to him - and it is Christ alone who teaches - anyone else teaches to the extent that he is Christ's spokesman, enabling Christ to teach with his lips. ... Every *catechist* should be able to apply to himself the mysterious words of Jesus: 'My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.'"

"Catechumenal Catechesis: Vision, Practice, Resources"
168: It is the Church that believes first, and so bears, nourishes and sustains my faith. Everywhere, it is the Church that first confesses the Lord: "Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you", as we sing in the hymn "Te Deum"; with her and in her, we are won over and brought to confess: "I believe", "We believe". It is through the Church that we receive faith and new life in Christ by Baptism. In the Rituale Romanum, the minister of Baptism asks the catechumen: "What do you ask of God's Church?" And the answer is: "Faith." "What does faith offer you?" "Eternal life."
1247: Since the beginning of the Church, adult Baptism is the common practice where the proclamation of the Gospel is still new. The catechumenate (preparation for Baptism) therefore occupies an important place. This initiation into Christian faith and life should dispose the catechumen to receive the gift of God in Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.
1248: The catechumenate, or formation of catechumens, aims at bringing their conversion and faith to maturity, in response to the divine initiative and in union with an ecclesial community. The catechumenate is to be "a formation in the whole Christian life . . . during which the disciples will be joined to Christ their teacher. The catechumens should be properly initiated into the mystery of salvation and the practice of the evangelical virtues, and they should be introduced into the life of faith, liturgy, and charity of the People of God by successive sacred rites."

"A Test for the Modern Church: Media and Catechesis"
2496: The means of social communication (especially the mass *media*) can give rise to a certain passivity among users, making them less than vigilant consumers of what is said or shown. Users should practice moderation and discipline in their approach to the mass media. They will want to form enlightened and correct consciences the more easily to resist unwholesome influences.
2494: The information provided by the *media* is at the service of the common good. Society has a right to information based on truth, freedom, justice, and solidarity: The proper exercise of this right demands that the content of the communication be true and - within the limits set by justice and charity - complete. Further, it should be communicated honestly and properly. This means that in the gathering and in the publication of news, the moral law and the legitimate rights and dignity of man should be upheld.

Catechesis - helpful links:

Conformity Listing of Catechetical Texts and Series - http://www.usccb.org/catechism/document/Currentlist.pdf
Pauline Books & Media (Spanish) - https://store.pauline.org/Espa241ol/tabid/58/List/0/Default.aspx

Name: Josette
Date: February 21, 2010
Comments

Just an observation: After years of attending Congress, we have over 40,000 to 50,000 Catholics and some non-Catholics attending Congress, but for some reason or another it seems as though the food concessions forget that on Fridays we observe the “no meat only fish," but there is never fish to buy at Congress. But you’ll see plenty of hot dogs, hamburgers etc. I am curious to see if the Congress organizers can pass this along to the Anaheim Convention managers for this year’s event. It always bothered me; so this I choose to mention and hopefully something will be done about it.
God Bless, See you all @ Congress!!!

Reply

Yes, every year we do inform the food providers of our event and food preferences, but ultimately it is up to them as to what they serve.
This year, it turns out that Friday, March 19 is a solemnity -- the Feast of St. Joseph. Therefore, we are allowed to eat meat on the Friday of Congress.

Name: Alba
Date: February 17, 2010
Comments

It has been a week since the tickets were supposed to be mailed out and I still have not received them. I would like to know if all of my paperwork is in order or if there is a reason why I have not received my tickets.

Reply

Yes, tickets started to be mailed out February 9th. Please know that we do not mail them out all at once. They go out in the order that the registrations were received. (We begin with number 1 and then move on.) Please realize that it might take a week or two before you receive your tickets.

Name: John
Date: February 16, 2010
Comments