PRESS RELEASE |
Office or
Religious Education
|
For Immediate Release |
Date: November 3, 1997 |
"Imaging Love: Empowering Lives" - Religious Education Congress
18,000 to attend
Los Angeles -- The annual Los Angeles Religious Education Congress will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center from February 20-22, 1998. This three day Congress, for adults, is the largest annually held catechetical event in the world, according to Congress Coordinator Adrian Whitaker, who anticipates over 18,000 delegates will attend.
"Imaging Love: Empowering Lives," says Sr. Edith Prendergast, Director of the Office of Religious Education, "invites us to open up our hearts to experience the pouring out of God's outrageous, enduring, persistent, generous love... a love that affirms. heals, challenges and gives meaning to our lives and to our ministry.
Cardinal Roger M. Mahony along with over 100 priests and bishops will welcome the 18,000 delegates from the United States, Canada, Poland, Japan, Australia, and Jamaica. Approximately 130 distinguished speakers and Catholic theologians will give presentations in the 250 workshops covering all areas of religious education and catechetical leadership.
While a good portion of the Congress deals with Catholic issues
such as biblical
spirituality, catechetical issues, social justice, sacraments and liturgy, many of the 250
workshops will also deal with issues we all strive to achieve every day. A few topics not
specific to Catholics include spirituality in a pluralistic culture, national, ethnic and
religious hostilities, health and wellness, specialized ministry to youth, family
relationships and parenting alone.
This year's speakers are local, national and international who have lectured throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Latin America and Europe. Archbishop Rembert Weakland will be this year's keynote speaker on Saturday morning, February 21 and Carole Eipers, D. Min, will give a Keynote Address Sunday morning, February 22.
We are honored to have Archbishop Nguyen Van Thuan, Vice President of the Pontifical Council for Justice & Peace at the Vatican, present workshops in Vietnamese and English. Some other noted speakers giving workshops are Patricia O'Connell Killen, Rev. Donald Senior, Dr. Kathleen Kircher, Dr. Robert Wicks, Fr. Michael Joncas, Dr. Maria Harris, Dr. John Yzaguirre, and Rev. J-Glenn Murray.
Special emphasis will be given to the Spanish speaking communities with Rev. Mario Vizcaino, ScH.P. giving a Keynote Address on Sunday morning, February 22. There will be 43 general workshops, two liturgical celebrations and a noon time concert, designed specifically with the Hispanic community's needs in mind.
Added to the Congress will be six general Vietnamese workshops throughout the 3 days and a special Eucharistic celebration on Sunday morning, February 22 in honor the 200th year anniversary of the appearance of Our Lady of Lauang.
Thought provoking performances by acclaimed artists including the well known talented Christopher Walker, Jaime Cortez, Fr. Liam Lawton, John Bell, and Donna Peņa. Additionally, delegates will experience another Los Angeles Congress premiere, Fr. Richard Ho Lung & Friends present "Worship." This Caribbean musical depiction of the life of Jesus will be performed Friday evening in the Arena of the Anaheim Convention Center.
"Imaging Love: Empowering Lives" will conclude with Cardinal Mahony celebrating the Eucharist at 3:30 p.m., Sunday February 22.
For registration information, please contact Adrian Whitaker, at (213) 637-7346. Handicapped facilities are available.