About Los Angeles Religious Education Congress
The Los Angeles Religious Education Congress (RECongress) is an annual four-day Catholic gathering hosted by the Office of Religious Education of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Founded in 1956 as a Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) institute and held in its modern Congress format since 1967, it has been described as the largest annual gathering of Roman Catholics in the United States, drawing roughly 40,000 people from across the nation and around the world in its peak years to the Anaheim Convention Center. The event combines a Youth Day on Thursday with three Adult Days of keynote addresses, more than 300 workshops in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, multiple themed Eucharistic liturgies, a large exhibit hall, concerts, and special events such as Fiesta Latina and a Film Showcase.
Mission
To provide an atmosphere of Christian unity and learning where all who attend may advance scholastically and spiritually for the benefit of each and the common good of all; to support the diverse needs of parish leaders through workshops in evangelization, liturgy, theology, Scripture, spirituality, morality, parish leadership, detention ministry and related areas.
- Founded
- 1956 (first CCD Institute); 1967 (first full Congress)
- Founder
- Msgr. Leland Boyer (with Msgr. John Clarke), building on the CCD program started under Bishop John Cantwell with Fr. Leroy Callahan and Fr. Robert E. Lucey
- Leader
- Sr. Rosalia Meza, VDMF — Senior Director, Office of Religious Education, Archdiocese of Los Angeles; Paulette Smith, RECongress Event Coordinator / Associate Director of ORE
- Reach
- Described as the largest annual Catholic gathering in the United States. Recent pre-COVID totals reached 40,000+ across the four days, with about 36,000 registered attendees and roughly 700 participants traveling from places as far away as the United Kingdom and Australia (Congress 2019); Youth Day 2019 alone drew 12,837. After COVID, attendance dropped to approximately 12,000 across the four days, with the 2026 edition reporting nearly 10,000 on Youth Day alone (around 8,000 high-schoolers and 1,300 middle-schoolers). Congress 2025 was the 69th edition and offered more than 140 workshops; pre-pandemic Congresses offered over 300 workshops by roughly 200 speakers.
- Serves
- Roman Catholics from across the United States and around the world — including catechists, parish leaders, youth, young adults, families, clergy, religious, and speakers of English, Spanish and Vietnamese; the event is open to people of all faiths.
What Is the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress?
RECongress is the annual four-day Catholic gathering sponsored by the Office of Religious Education (ORE) of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Held since 1970 at the Anaheim Convention Center, 800 West Katella Avenue, Anaheim, Calif., it has been described as the nation's largest annual gathering of Roman Catholics. Congress opens with Youth Day on Thursday and continues with three Adult Days (Friday through Sunday) offering keynotes, more than 300 workshops in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, themed liturgies, an exhibit hall, concerts, a Film Showcase, Fiesta Latina and Taizé prayer. The event supports parish leaders across evangelization, liturgy, theology, Scripture, spirituality, morality, leadership and detention ministry.
- Sponsor: Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Office of Religious Education
- Venue (1970-2027): Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, CA 92802
- Venue (2028-2032): Long Beach Convention Center
- Typical schedule: Thursday Youth Day; Friday-Sunday Adult Days
- Languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese
History and Origins
RECongress grows directly out of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) program begun in Los Angeles in 1922 under Bishop John Cantwell for refugees of the Mexican Revolution. Fr. Robert E. Lucey was the first director and the program spread across the Southwest, the U.S. and into Latin America. In 1937 Archbishop Cantwell named Msgr. John Clarke archdiocesan CCD director; under him enrollment grew from 30,000 to more than 200,000 by 1969. In 1956 Msgr. Leland Boyer helped Clarke organize the first CCD 'Institute' at Mount Carmel High School. The gathering evolved through Bishop Conaty Catholic Girls High School, Loyola University and Immaculate Heart College before becoming a three-day 'Southern California Confraternity Congress' at the International Hotel near LAX in January 1967. It moved to the Anaheim Convention Center in February 1970, was renamed the 'Religious Education Congress' in 1973, and added Spanish workshops that year and bilingual English/Spanish themes starting in 1979.
- 1922: CCD ministry launched in Los Angeles under Bishop John Cantwell
- 1937: Msgr. John Clarke named archdiocesan CCD Director (served 33 years)
- 1956: First CCD Institute, Mt. Carmel High School, Los Angeles
- 1958-1966: Held at Loyola University and Immaculate Heart College
- 1967: First three-day Southern California Confraternity Congress at the International Hotel near LAX
- 1970: Move to Anaheim Convention Center; first Youth Day model in 1971
- 1973: Renamed Religious Education Congress; Spanish workshops introduced
- 1979: Bilingual (English/Spanish) themes adopted
- 1983: Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson becomes ORE director; major growth era
- 1987-2015: Sister Edith Prendergast, RSCJ, directs ORE
- 2025: 69th Congress held; 70th anniversary celebrated
- 2028: Scheduled move to Long Beach Convention Center
Leadership
The RECongress is organized by the Office of Religious Education of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The current senior director is Sister Rosalia Meza, VDMF, a member of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity who joined as ORE director in 2019. Paulette Smith serves as RECongress Event Coordinator and Associate Director; Jan Pedroza is RECongress Program Coordinator; Joanna Aguilar is RECongress Administrative Assistant and ORE Financial Records; and Natalie Aviles is Administrative Assistant for RECongress and City of Saints. Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles provides a personal welcome each year in the printed program.
- Sr. Rosalia Meza, VDMF — Senior Director, Office of Religious Education
- Paulette Smith — RECongress Event Coordinator / ORE Associate Director
- Jan Pedroza — RECongress Program Coordinator
- Joanna Aguilar — RECongress Administrative Assistant / ORE Financial Records
- Natalie Aviles — Administrative Assistant, RECongress & City of Saints
- Archbishop José H. Gomez — Welcome from the Archbishop
- Auxiliary Bishop Alexei Smith — ORE Bishop Liaison (per recent programs)
Youth Day
Youth Day is the Thursday kickoff of RECongress, beginning in 1971 with the first Youth Rally. It draws thousands of Catholic high-school and confirmation students (and, beginning in 2026, middle-schoolers) for a day of speakers, music, prayer, Mass, adoration, workshops and playful activities. In 2026 Congress organizers added a middle-school track for the first time, capping registration at 1,300 middle-schoolers; the 2026 Youth Day overall drew nearly 10,000 participants, with about 8,000 high-schoolers and 1,300 middle-schoolers taking part.
- First held: 1971 (as the Youth Rally)
- Typical keynote/music in the Arena
- Topics include digital life, identity, mental health, the Eucharist, service
- 2026 theme: 'Real Love Carries the Cross'
- 2025 theme: 'You Are Enough! You Belong.' (keynote by Jessica Cox)
- 2026: middle-school track added for the first time
Adult Days
Friday through Sunday are the Adult Days, oriented to catechists, parish leaders, clergy and Catholic adults. The schedule includes two daily workshop periods in English (and parallel Spanish and Vietnamese tracks), a Morning Praise and Keynote each morning, themed Eucharistic Liturgies in the Arena, an Evening Prayer and Taizé Prayer Service, the exhibit hall, and special events such as 'Front Row with Archbishop Gomez' and Fiesta Latina.
- 300+ workshops by ~200 speakers (pre-pandemic)
- Keynotes in English and Spanish
- Fiesta Latina evening with mariachi and folklórico
- Film Showcase
- Center Stage concerts (e.g. 'Songs that Shine')
- Catechist recertification credit offered
Themed Eucharistic Liturgies
Congress is known for celebrating a wide range of culturally specific Eucharistic Liturgies, typically about 11 each year. Recent Congresses have included Celtic, Contemplative, Indonesian, Mass for the Evangelization of the Peoples, Mass of Charity in the African American Perspective, the Mystery of the Holy Cross in the Vietnamese Perspective, Paz y Justicia (Spanish), Spanish, and Young Adult Masses, plus Morning Praise (with both English and Spanish keynotes), Evening Prayer, and Taizé prayer.
- Celtic Mass
- Contemplative Mass
- Indonesian Mass
- Mass for the Evangelization of the Peoples
- Mass of Charity in the African American Perspective
- Vietnamese Mystery of the Holy Cross Mass
- Paz y Justicia (Spanish) Mass
- Spanish Mass
- Young Adult Mass
- Morning Praise (English and Spanish keynotes)
- Taizé Prayer Service and Evening Prayer
- Closing Liturgy
Congress Themes by Year
Congress has carried an annual theme since 1967, drawn from Scripture or papal teaching. Beginning in 1979 the themes have been bilingual English/Spanish. Most recent themes include:
- 2025: 'Called to Compassion' / 'Llamados a la compasión' / 'Gọi Lòng Thương Xót' (Congress 69, Adult Days Feb. 21-23; Youth Day theme 'You Are Enough! You Belong.')
- 2026: 'Wrapped in Mercy, Hope Renewed!' (Congress 70, Adult Days Feb. 20-22; Youth Day theme 'Real Love Carries the Cross', Feb. 19)
- 2027: 'Remain in Me. Live Boldly!' / 'Permanezcan en mí. ¡Vivan con valentía!' (final Anaheim Congress, April 22-25)
- 2024: 'Be Loved!'
- 1967: First Southern California Confraternity Congress theme drawn from Pope John XXIII's Vatican II opening address
Speakers and Workshops
Congress draws an internationally recognized roster of Catholic speakers, theologians, Scripture scholars, musicians, youth ministers, and pastoral leaders. The 2025 program listed well over 100 presenters such as Bishop Tuan (Louis) Nguyen, Fr. James Martin SJ, Fr. Ron Rolheiser, Fr. Leo Patalinghug, Hosffman Ospino, Barbara Reid, John Roberto, Matthew Ramage, Julianne Stanz, Michael Patin, Sr. Marie-Kolbe Zamora OSF, and many others. Workshops are organized into topical tracks including personal growth, music and liturgy, evangelization, Scripture, theology, morality, spirituality, parenting, marriage and family, young adult ministry, cultural ministry, and ministry formation.
- Theology and Scripture tracks
- Spirituality and morality tracks
- Liturgy and music track (added as a dedicated track in 2025)
- Evangelization and parish leadership tracks
- Cultural ministry tracks (African American, Vietnamese, Latino/Hispanic)
- Youth ministry and young adult tracks
- Detention ministry and social-justice tracks
- Marriage and family / 'Radiate Love' CA bishops initiative
Exhibit Hall, Music and Special Events
The Exhibit Hall at the Anaheim Convention Center hosts hundreds of Catholic publishers, ministries, shrines, schools, and vendors. Congress 2019 showcased more than 500 exhibit booths. Special ticketed or featured events across the weekend include Film Showcase, Center Stage: Songs that Shine, Fiesta Latina (Saturday evening, Arena), Front Row with Archbishop Gomez, and the Congress Theme Song performance.
- Exhibit hall (free for Congress registrants)
- Film Showcase
- Center Stage concerts
- Fiesta Latina with mariachi and folklórico
- Front Row with Archbishop Gomez
- Congress Theme Song
- Together in Compassion from Age to Age liturgy
Resources, Recordings and Endowment
Congress offers audio recordings of most workshop sessions for purchase — 79 were produced in 2025 alone — supporting catechists who need recertification credits. The Office of Religious Education also maintains an Endowment Fund. Each year's program book includes acknowledgements, an alphabetical speaker index, an exhibitor index, exhibit-hall and Convention Center maps, and a 'Welcoming Sunday' reflection.
- Audio recordings of Congress sessions for catechist credit
- Printed Program Book (RGB) mailed annually
- Congress Endowment Fund for contributors
- Theme Reflections, theme songs, and resources posted after each Congress
- Living-stream archives of selected events
Registration, Travel and Logistics
Registration is open online at recongress.org, by email to [email protected], by phone at 213-637-7348, or by mail to the Office of Religious Education, 3424 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90010. The Anaheim Convention Center sits at 800 West Katella Avenue, across from Disneyland, with nearby hotel blocks for out-of-town attendees. Congress draws participants from across the United States and internationally.
- Online: recongress.org
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 213-637-7348; Fax: 213-637-6574
- Mail: Religious Education Congress, ORE, 3424 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010
- Venue: Anaheim Convention Center (2028 onward: Long Beach Convention Center)
Get Involved
Catholics can engage with RECongress in several ways: register as a participant; volunteer with the Congress team; exhibit products or services for Catholic parishes and schools; contribute to the RECongress Endowment Fund; apply to speak or lead a workshop; or partner through parish and school groups. Dayrin Perez serves as lead coordinator of youth ministry for the Archdiocese, working with the Youth Day track.
- Attend / register a parish or school group
- Volunteer (see Volunteers link on recongress.org)
- Exhibit at the Exhibit Hall (for new and returning exhibitors)
- Donate to the RECongress Endowment Fund
- Apply as a speaker / workshop presenter
- Subscribe to the RECongress email newsletter for updates
Move to Long Beach (2028 and Beyond)
On May 20, 2025, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced that RECongress will relocate from the Anaheim Convention Center to the Long Beach Convention Center beginning in 2028 under a five-year agreement through 2032. The move brings the event back into the geographic footprint of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and is presented as the start of a new chapter. RECongress 2027 (April 22-25, 2027) will be the final gathering held in Anaheim.
- Announcement: May 20, 2025
- First Long Beach Congress: 2028
- Term: five years through 2032
- Long Beach also hosted National Catholic Youth Conference (2022, 2024)
- RECongress 2027 (April 22-25) is the final Anaheim Congress
