Utah catechists participate in national congress

Friday, Mar. 04, 2016

SALT LAKE CITY —Dozens of catechists from all over the  Diocese of Salt Lake City traveled to California Feb. 25-28 to attend the 60th annual Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, which had the theme  “Boundless Mercy.”

Billed as “the largest annual gathering of its kind in the world,” it began as a gathering for religious education teachers, but has grown to include people of all vocations and different faiths, according to the event program.

The four-day gathering at the Anaheim Convention Center was sponsored by the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles Office of Religious Education. 

The event hosted speakers, workshops, exhibits, and spotlights in English and Spanish.

Attending the Congress from Utah were catechists from the parishes of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Cathedral of the Madeleine, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis of Assisi, and Sts. Peter and Paul, among others, said Maria Cruz Gray, director of the diocese’s Office of Hispanic Ministry.

For Gray, the participation of the  diocesan catechists in the Congress was important for different reasons.

“For me this was helpful in many ways. First, it’s a joy to see so many Catholics together; we are one community with others. Second, it is important to know that what we are doing is not just for us; we do it for the Church’s future, and when we go there and we are told what the Church wants, we can emphasized that in our classes,” said Gray. “It is like a vitamin shot, telling you, ‘Catechists, go ahead.’”

The annual Los Angeles Religious Education Congress is open to all who wish to learn more about the Catholic faith or are seeking personal growth. Last year 40,000 people attended the event; its Sunday liturgy was celebrated in 40 different languages. 

“Living in the gift, promise and spirit of the Second Vatican Council, the L.A. Religious Education Congress liturgies have grown as they have embraced this wonderfully diverse Church,” reads in the Congress program. “Without exaggeration, complimentary reports and reviews come from six of the world’s seven continents. From Gregorian chant to gospel choirs; from Aztec dancers to Vietnamese and African drummers; we’ve worked diligently to inculturate the liturgy to accurately and authentically reflect the church of Los Angeles.” 

Nearly 275 musicians provided the music for the final liturgies on Sunday. 

“It was amazing to see how we made community; Anglos and Hispanics from the diocese were one,” Gray said. “God was there and God is here. We were and are a bridge among communities.”

The 2016 Congress offered more than 300 workshops and more than 200 speakers, whose presentations were given in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Topics ranged from personal growth to music to spirituality.