Los Angeles Religious Education Congress

The Los Angeles Religious Education Congress (RECongress)  is a four-day event held by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The event began in 1956 as an "Institute" of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, popularly known as CCD. In 1967, the first three-day “Congress” was held. In 1970, the event moved to the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. It had been named as the largest annual gathering of Catholics in the United States with roughly 40,000 people attending. In recent years, after COVID, attendance has dropped to approximately 12,000 people over the four-day event. The focus of the RECongress is for those in attendance to learn more about the Catholic faith as well as seeking personal growth. It is open to all people of different faiths.

Dates & Themes
RECongress 2025 - February 21-23, 2025 - "Called to Compassion" / "Llamados a la compasión" / "Gọi Lòng Thương Xót"
 * Youth Day 2025 (February 20, 2026) - "You Are Enough! You Belong."

RECongress 2024 - February 16-18, 2024 - "Be Loved!" / "¡Déjate Amar!" / "Được Yêu!"
 * Youth Day 2024 (February 15, 2024) - "Your Path Awaits"

RECongress 2023 - February 24-26, 2023 - "Embrace Grace" / "Abraza la Gracia" / "Ấp ủ hồng ân"
 * Youth Day 2023 (February 23, 2023) - "Strive 4 Life"

RECongress 2022 - March 18-20, 2022 - "Living Waters of Hope" / "Aguas Vivas de Esperanza" / "Nguồn Nước của Hy Vọng"
 * Youth Day 2022 (March 17, 2022) - "Let God Take the Wheel"
 * RECongress 2022 returns to Anaheim and offers both an in-person and virtual experience

RECongress 2021 - February 18-21, 2021 - "Proclaim the Promise!" / "¡Proclama la Promesa!" / "Tuyên Xưng Lời Giao Ước”
 * 2021 is the first virtual event; Youth Day is held as Youth Day Track on Friday & Saturday from 2:30-5 pm

RECongress 2020 - February 21-23, 2020 - "Live Mercy – Be Holy” / “Vive la misericordia y la santidad” / “Sống Nhân Từ - Hãy Nên Thánh”
 * Youth Day 2020 (February 20, 2020) - "20/20 Through God's Eyes"

RECongress 2019 - March 22-24, 2019 - "Thirsting for Justice” | “Sed de Justicia” | “Khát Khao Công Lý”
 * Youth Day (March 21, 2019) - "Trust! God’s Gotchu"

RECongress 2018 - March 16–18, 2018 – "Rise Up!" / "¡Levántate!" / "Hãy Đứng Lên!"
 * Youth Day 2018 (March 15, 2018) – "Dare to Believe"

RECongress 2017 - February 24–26, 2017 – "Embrace Trust" / "¡Confía!"
 * Youth Day 2017 (February 23, 2017) – "What Are You Waiting For?"

RECongress 2016 - February 26–28, 2016 – "Boundless Mercy" / "Misericordia Inagotable"
 * Youth Day 2016 (February 25, 2016) – "#hopebound"

RECongress 2015 - March 13–15, 2015 – "See" / "Ver"
 * Youth Day 2015 (March 12, 2015) – "Talk Jesus with Me"

RECongress 2014 - March 14–16, 2014 – "Hope: A World Afire" / "Esperanza que Enciende al Mundo"
 * Youth Day 2014 (March 13, 2014) – "Never Alone, Forever Accepted!"

RECongress 2013 - February 22–24, 2013 – "Enter the Mystery" / "Entra al Misterio"
 * Youth Day 2013 (February 21, 2013) – "Keep Calm – God's Got This"

RECongress 2012 - March 23–25, 2012 – "Voice Infusing Life" / "Voz que Infunde Vida"
 * Youth Day 2012 (March 22, 2012) – "Called Out: Challenge Accepted"

RECongress 2011 - March 18–20, 2011 – "Hold Firm...Trust!" / "Mantente Firme ... ¡Confía!"
 * Youth Day 2011 (March 17, 2011) – "Godbook: Everyone Invited"

RECongress 2010 - March 19–21, 2010 – "Incredible Abundance" / "Increíble Abundancia"
 * Youth Day 2010 (March 18, 2010) – "I'm Just Sayin'..."

RECongress 2009 - February 27-March 1, 2009 – "Love Unfolding ... Igniting our Yes!" / "Amor Revelador ... Encendiendo nuestro ¡Sí!"
 * Youth Day 2009 (February 26, 2009) – "Step Up and Live!"

RECongress 2008 - February 29-March 2, 2008 – "Lift Your Gaze ... See Anew!" / "¡Alza tu Mirada ... Vuelve a Mirar!"
 * Youth Day 2008 (February 28, 2008) – "About Face"

RECongress 2007 - March 2–4, 2007 – "Stand in the Light" / "Permanecer en la luz"
 * Youth Day 2007 (March 1, 2007) – "LOL: Live Out Love"

RECongress 2006 - March 31-April 2, 2006 – "Step into Freedom" / "Paso a la Libertad"
 * Youth Day 2006 (March 30, 2006) – "Stand Up, Never Forget"

RECongress 2005 - February 18–20, 2005 – "Awake to Grace" / "Despierten a la Gracia"
 * Youth Day 2005 (February 17, 2005) – "Ask, Seek, Knock"

RECongress 2004 - February 20–22, 2004 – "Steeped in Mercy, Balm for the World" / "Inmersos en Misericordia, Bálsamo para el Mundo"
 * Youth Day 2004 (February 19, 2004) – "You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea!"
 * 2004 is the first year Youth Day adopts its own theme.

RECongress 2003 - February 27-March 2, 2003 – "Bearer of Hope, Restoring Spirit" / "Portador de Esperanza, Restaurando el Espíritu"

RECongress 2002 - February 14–17, 2002 – "Gift Overflowing, A World Transformed" / "Don Derramado, Mundo Transformado"

RECongress 2001 - February 15–18, 2001 – "Clothed in Love, Summoned Beyond" / "Vestidos en Amor, Llamados al más allá"

RECongress 2000 - April 6–9, 2000 – "Embrace Hope: Shout Jubilee!" / "Despierta la Esperanza: Grita Jubileo"

RECongress 1999 - February 11–14, 1999 – "Lead with Eyes of Wisdom" / "Dirige con Ojos de Sabiduría"

RECongress 1998 - February 19–22, 1998 – "Imaging Love: Empowering Lives" / "Reflejando Amor: Dando Poder"

RECongress 1997 - February 13–16, 1997 – "Embrace and Echo the Word" / "Abraza y Haz Eco la Palabra"

RECongress 1996 - March 21–24, 1996 – "God's Liberating Power" / "Poder Liberador de Dios"

RECongress 1995 - February 16–19, 1995 – "Passion for Justice" / "Pasión por la Justicia"

RECongress 1994 - February 17–20, 1994 – "Live the Promise" / "Vive la Promesa"

RECongress 1993 - February 18–21, 1993 – "Compassion Poured Out" / "Compasión Derramada"

RECongress 1992 - March 19–22, 1992 – "On Holy Ground" / "En Tierra Santa"

RECongress 1991 - February 14–17, 1991 – "Waters of the Earth" / "Aguas de la Tierra"

RECongress 1990 - January 25–28, 1990 – "Voices that Challenge" / "Voces que Desafían"

RECongress 1989 - April 20–23, 1989 – "Proclaim God's Glory" / "Proclama la Gloria de Dios"

RECongress 1988 - March 10–13, 1988 – "We are God's Work of Art" / "Somos Obra de Arte de Dios"

RECongress 1987 - March 12–15, 1987 – "Sent to be a Blessing" / "Enviados a ser una Benedición"

RECongress 1986 - February 13–16, 1986 – "The Word is in Your Heart" / "La Palabra está en su Corazón"

RECongress 1985 - January 24–27, 1985 – "Journey Together in Faith" / "Caminar Juntos en Fe"

RECongress 1984 - March 22–25, 1984 – "The Lord is With Us" / "El Señor está con Nosotros"

RECongress 1983 - March 17–20, 1983 – "Making all Things New in Christ" / "Haciendo Todas las Cosas Nuevas en Cristo"

RECongress 1982 - February 11–14, 1982 – "Growing in Age, Wisdom, Favor" / "Creciendo Edad, Sabiuría, Favor"

RECongress 1981 - February 12–15, 1981 – "Many Gifts -- One Lord" / "Diversos Dones pero un solo Señor"

RECongress 1980 - March 6–9, 1980 – "Family Together in His Love" / "Familia Unida por su Amor"

RECongress 1979 - February 1–4, 1979 – "He Calls Us Each By Name" / "¡Nos Llama por Nuestro Nombre"

RECongress 1978 - February 2–5, 1978 – "Doing the Truth in Love" / "Hacer la Verdad en el Amor"


 * 1978 is the first year the theme is both in English and Spanish.

RECongress 1977 - February 10–13, 1977 – "Come Follow Me"

RECongress 1976 - February 12–15, 1976 – "Free to Live"

RECongress 1975 - February 27-March 2, 1975 – "Praise, Pilgrim & Rejoice "

RECongress 1974 - February 7–10, 1974 – "Jesus, Others, You "

RECongress 1973 - March 1–4, 1973 – "Who Do You Say I Am?


 * In 1973 the "CCD Congress" is renamed the "Religious Education Congress."

February 18–20, 1972 – "RECongress 1972 - CCD Congress Jubilee"

RECongress 1971 - March 26–28, 1971 – "You Shall be my Witnesses to the ends of the Earth" - Acts 1:8


 * In 1971 the first Youth Rally was held, which set the pattern for Youth Day.

RECongress 1970 - February 20–22, 1970 – "CCD Congress": "That All May Be One"


 * 'In 1970 the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) Congress relocates to the Anaheim (Calif.) Convention Center.'

RECongress 1969 - February 21–23, 1969 – "CCD Congress"

RECongress 1968 - February 2–4, 1968 – "Confraternity Congress"

RECongress 1967 - January 13–15, 1967 – "Southern California Confraternity Congress"


 * In 1967, the first "Southern California Confraternity Congress" was held at the LAX-area International Hotel.

Earlier Dates
1958-1966 – Held at Loyola University or Immaculate Heart College

1957 – Held at Bishop Conaty Catholic Girls High School

1956 – First CCD institute held at Mount Carmel High School on Hoover Street in Los Angeles.