Angelus News | April 8, 2022 | Vol. 7 No. 7

Connolly, and RCIA director Tina
Bowie.
As part of a group of 12 from the St.
Thomas More Catholic Newman
Center at the University of Arizona in
Tucson, Nicole Traicoff was another
first-time attendee.
“We were all in,” said Traicoff. “We
soon realized being here in person is
an awesome opportunity. The experience
has been beautiful. Sometimes
in the pandemic, it feels so isolated
in your parish with little socialization.
But this reminds us the Church really
is universal and there really is physicality
to our faith.”
Jason Sharp, who with his wife,
Bridget, have been the adult leaders
since 2011 of an ecumenical youth
group, “Rooted,” in Kearney, Nebraska,
had been to REC eight times before,
and participated in the all-virtual
Congress last year.
“Doing things virtually is wonderful
for information,” said Sharp, “but
Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron with young people at Youth Day, on March 17.
Speakers at a panel discussion on homelessness in LA with Archbishop Gomez on Saturday, March 19. The panel was moderated by Michael Donaldson (far right), senior director of
the archdiocesan Office of Life, Justice, and Peace.
when it comes to feeling and emotion,
that’s what can be lacking. There
is so much energy and a common
sharing of our faith that comes alive
when you are here.”
Sharp said attending Bishop Robert
Barron’s Friday morning presentation,
“Looking at the Cross of Jesus with
Fresh Eyes,” confirmed his decision to
come in person. So did Anh Duong,
director of Vietnamese Religious
Education at Holy Family Catholic
Church in San Diego.
“I wish all the people who wanted
to could have come to listen to that,”
said Duong, who made a 90-minute
drive back and forth between days
to attend in person. “Since last year
I’ve been trying to get back to see
people from all around the world that
come here. I feel blessed to be able to
April 8, 2022 • ANGELUS • 21