Angelus News | March 25, 2022 | Vol. 7 No. 6

A Congress
of connection
LA Congress is back as a ‘hybrid’ event
this month. Here’s what in-person and
virtual participants can expect.
BY TOM HOFFARTH
Sister Rosalia Meza, director of the
Office of Religious Education, greets an
attendee after the Opening Ceremony
& Welcome at the Anaheim Convention
Center for RECongress 2020. | ADLA
Two years after its last full in-person attendance and
a year removed from an all-virtual presentation, this
month’s Los Angeles Religious Education Congress
(REC) will be a hybrid event for the first time in its history.
“A lot of energy, heart, and mind has gone into Congress’
logistics,” said Sister Rosalia Meza, senior director of the
Office for Religious Education.
A lot of that has gone into conforming with COVID-19
pandemic safety requirements. As an indoor mega event
with 1,000 or more people, organizers have had to comply
with California public health guidelines, as well as those set
by the Anaheim Convention Center and surrounding hotel
partners.
“It has been super challenging to plan with so many changes,
but the reality is we will see what happens and make sure
everyone can experience a wonderful faith-sharing experience,”
said Sister Rosalia.
Speaking to Angelus, Sister Rosalia acknowledged the 2022
Congress will be held on a smaller scale and will be a “bit
different” from past Congresses.
“But everything from the spiritual liturgies to the keynote
speakers will be refreshing and healing. We are really trying
to honor what we have been through, and move forward as a
faith community.”
In-person attendance, once as large as 40,000, will be closer
to 5,000 this year, Sister Rosalia estimated. Identification,
proof of vaccination, and indoor masking will all be required.
All transactions are cashless at the Convention Center —
debit or credit cards only.
“People are longing to come back in person and we know
we can safely do that,” said Sister Rosalia.
Live participants will be able to attend the opening event,
keynote talks, workshops, liturgies, sacred space, art exhibits,
film showcases, and wander the exhibit hall. Other years
have seen as many as 280 workshops. This year’s will have
just shy of 100 one-hour sessions (available in English, Spanish,
and Vietnamese), down from the previous 90-minute
format.
Congress favorites like Father Greg Boyle, Bishop Robert
Barron, Father Robert Spitzer, and Sister Norma Pimentel
will be among those speaking in person. The pool of in-person
speakers purposefully focused on those able to come
from nearby LA, Orange County, and other states.
This year’s Thursday “Youth Day” will welcome high
school students March 17 with the theme, “Let God Take
the Wheel,” the subject of a talk by keynote speaker Ansel
Augustin from Vagabond Missions in New Orleans.
Linda Dakin-Grimm of the Southern California Catholic
Task Force on Immigration will return for a Sunday afternoon
workshop for her annual talk on the intersection of
faith with immigration law and practice. She admitted she’s
curious to see what the smaller crowd will be like.
“One of the best things about REC was the weirdness of the
huge crowd — it really was a ‘here comes everyone’ experience
of Catholicism,” Dakin-Grimm told Angelus.
“I hope this year’s REC is energetic, and I believe it will
be, with so many people yearning for connection. It is
much more fun as a presenter to see people’s real faces and
expressions, as opposed to recording something on video and
wondering how it is received. Chatting with people afterward
is a real joy.”
Those who opt for the virtual Congress experience (price:
$35/person) can also access livestreamed keynote addresses
and liturgies. An on-demand menu of pre-taped workshops
— 31 adult and four from Youth Day — are included with
an interactive “Click — Connect —Converse” connection.
Registration for this option is open until March 31, with
access to all content until May 17.
22 • ANGELUS • March 25, 2022