ONE of the highlights of my year is the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Religious Education Congress at the Anaheim Convention Center. It draws a crowd of over 40,000 people. To me, this event is like a big family reunion. Personally, it's my opportunity to see friends from the seminary days and people with whom I have developed friendships with throughout the years. Over the entire weekend, Friday to Sunday, goers participate in 8 workshops ranging from Liturgy to Catechesis, to Spiritual Formation. Each day concludes with liturgy(several styles of liturgy are offered to cater to as many tastes as possible). By far, the liturgies tend to be a little on the production side, but to their merit, they are well executed. Aside from the liturgies and the workshops, there is a huge exhibit (market area).Some of my favorite presenters at the Congress were: Fr. Ron Rolheiser, Fr. Jim Martin, Fr. Tony Ricard, Dr. Greer Gordon, and Fr. J. Glenn Murray.
The parish purchased a new processional cross that will be used for the first time at the Triduum. I am writing a small blurb on the processional cross for later publication in the Sunday Bulletin and on this blog.
The highlight of the weekend for me was meeting Fr. Jim Martin, SJ. He is as great in person as he comes accross in his writing. We had a great chat. My impression of him is that he is very down to earth and honest with and about himself. It was an immense blessing to spend a few minutes with him. I attended both of his talks. One was based on his book, Becoming Who You Are. The second talk was on Catholic Laughter.
Below is a photo of Fr. Jim and I.
