GPBS - LA RECongress 2026 Professional Learning Tour for Catholic Educators

Early Morning : Arrive at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
After collecting luggage and clearing customs  you  will  depart from LAX by private mini coach.

This morning you have time to explore Santa Monica and the surrounding area. Take a stroll along Santa Monica's famous pier, enjoy the beach, and explore the shops and cafes in the area. This is also a great time to get some coffee and soak in the atmosphere of this beautiful coastal town.

11:00 am: Visit HomeBoy Industries. In 1986, when Homeboy Industries’ founder, Gregory Boyle, became the pastor of Dolores Mission Church, it was the poorest Catholic parish in Los Angeles. The parish included Aliso Village and Pico Gardens, then the largest public housing projects west of the Mississippi. They also had the highest concentration of gang activity. That was saying something, given Los Angeles’ reputation as the gang capital of the world. At the time, law enforcement tactics of suppression and criminal justice policies of mass incarceration were the prevailing means to deal with gang violence. But where others only saw criminals, Father Greg saw people in need of help. Today, Homeboy Industries is the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world, welcoming thousands through their doors each year. The visit will be followed by lunch (included).

After lunch you are transferred to our Anaheim hotel where you will be able to Check straight in to to our rooms and the rest of the afternoon free.

This evening we take a short walk to our welcome dinner at Bubba Gump Restaurant Anaheim.

20 - 22 FEB 2025      LA RECONGRESS Adult Days

“Wrapped in Mercy, Hope Renewed”—the theme of the 2026 Religious Education Congress and our 70th Anniversary—is an invitation to encounter God’s merciful love and to rekindle the hope our world so deeply longs for. As we gather to celebrate 70 years of RECongress, we give thanks to God for the journey that has brought us here—a journey sustained by God’s unwavering presence. Through seasons of joy and struggle, the mercy of God has gently wrapped us, reminding us that we are never alone, and is especially present in the richness of our diverse communities.

This mercy is not distant or abstract—it is tender, deeply personal, and transformative. It meets us in our brokenness, in our questions and weariness, breathing new life into our hearts. In a world often weighed down by fear, division, and uncertainty, God’s mercy breaks through as a light that renews our hope and invite us to share that hope with our sisters and brothers.

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, Pope Leo XIV reminds us that Christ, our true hope, calls us to be witnesses of love and peace in a world marked by uncertainty. What grace awaits us during this weekend! We invite you to join us at this year’s Religious Education Congress as we deepen our journey into being Wrapped in Mercy, Hope Renewed.

Sr. Rosalia Meza, VDMF
Director Office of Religious Education
Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Friday’s liturgical celebrations will invite participants to contemplate Wrapped in Mercy, the inexhaustible mercy of God—a mercy that heals, reconciles, and restores.

Saturday, 21 February 

Saturday’s liturgies will centre on the second facet of the theme—Hope Renewed. Hope is the light that guides and sustains the journey, especially in times of trial and loss. It is the assurance that God walks with us, even in the valley of shadows, and that the resurrection is not merely a distant promise but a present reality.

Sunday, 22 February

8 am - 3 pm : Exhibit Hall and Multicultural Exhibit, Workshops, Sacred Space, Speaker Signings

3.30pm:  Closing Eucharistic Liturgy | Arena 

Tonight our group are treated to a fabulous Farewell Dinner at McCormick and Schmicks Grille

24 FEB 2025 

This morning you will be transferred to your Los Angeles accommodation with a few memorable stops on the way.

10.00am : Visit to Christ Cathedral Orange County.

Originally developed under the guidance of pioneering evangelist Reverend Robert H. Schuller for his Garden Grove Community Church congregation, the campus was home to one of the first megachurches, the Crystal Cathedral. Schuller’s televised “Hour of Power” shows from inside the Arboretum and Crystal Cathedral, his ministries, and his insistence on using top architects and designers.

In 2012, with the blessing and support of Schuller, the 34-acre campus and its buildings were sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. The Cathedral itself is believed to be the first Protestant Church to be converted to a Catholic place of worship. The campus has now become the new spiritual center of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, the Christ Cathedral Campus.

1:30 pm: Visit Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral. Standing in the midst of downtown Los Angeles, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels serves the total Archdiocese of over 5 million Catholics. As the heart of all 287 Parish Churches and communities, it is the place where the Archbishop celebrates the major Liturgies of the year with clergy, religious, and laity.

What historically took centuries to construct was accomplished in three years in the building of the 11-story Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. This first Roman Catholic Cathedral to be erected in the western United States in 30 years. The construction began on May 1999 and was completed by the spring of 2002.

Depart from Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral to your Hollywood Hotel.

Morning:  Early morning transfer to St. Finbar Primary School.

Today we will immerse ourselves with the students and staff at St. Finbar Parish Primary School situated in Burbank, California. The school is deeply committed to nurturing the whole child – spiritually, academically, socially and physically. The staff at St. Finbar strive to help students grow in both faith and knowledge, preparing them to be responsible, compassionate young people in their school, parish and local communities. Today you will become part of a Catholic faith community that is “building kingdom relationships, one disciple at a time." Our time at St. Finbar's School will conclude with attending the afternoon staff meeting.   An exciting and rewarding day awaits you! 

Afternoon:   Universal CityWalk Hollywood.

3.30 pm:  Depart for the Universal Studios Promenade.

The promenade is associated with Universal Studios in Los Angeles is called Universal CityWalk Hollywood, a three-block entertainment, dining, and shopping complex located directly next to Universal Studios Hollywood. Visitors can explore shops and eateries, watch a movie at the multiplex theatre, and experience Universal's themed attractions without needing a ticket to the theme park.

Late afternoon transfer back to your hotel.

Transfer this morning to St Geneviève's School. 

You will visit and tour the St. Genevieve School (Elementary and High School).   Lunch will be hosted by the School.

Their Mission  - To know God.  To live with honor.  To change the world.

Non-discrimination Policy: St. Genevieve Parish Schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletics and other school-administered programs. All students are afforded the rights, privileges, programs, and activities made available at the school.

"Our Brand Is - LOVE"

Every man, woman and child wants to feel accepted in this world. We all have a need to be a valued member of a community, a member who is confident, always curious and compassionate. At St. Genevieve we nurture an environment where children, teenagers and adults feel valued, loved and worthy.

A top priority for our Leadership Team is to hire teachers and coaches who love children, love teaching, and love being a learner right alongside our students. We hire knowledgeable teachers who are likable and who will be good role models for students of all ages.

We know that when students feel loved and accepted, they achieve more. This is true academically, athletically and artistically; students reach higher and work harder when they are surrounded with and by LOVE.

Tonight you have a special walking Food Tour.

Morning free for relaxing and checking out of the hotel.

Los Angeles Afternoon Tour – St. Vincent de Paul Church, Olvera Street & Surroundings

11.00am: You will be collected from your hotels for an afternoon tour of Los Angeles before your evening flight home.

Your first stop will be the St. Vincent de Paul Church, one of the largest Catholic churches in Los Angeles. Built in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, it is renowned for its striking architecture, grand interior, and vibrant parish community. You will have time to admire the church, reflect in prayer, and take in its importance as a spiritual centre in the city.

The tour continues to Olvera Street, often called the “birthplace of Los Angeles.” This historic district preserves the city’s Mexican heritage with colourful markets, handicrafts, and traditional food stalls. At the heart of the area is the Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles Church (La Placita), founded in 1814, which remains an active Catholic parish serving the community. You will have time to visit this church, learn about its history, and see how it has been central to Catholic life in Los Angeles for over two centuries.

Nearby, you can also view other historic landmarks such as the Avila Adobe (the oldest standing residence in Los Angeles) and the Plaza area, which reflects the city’s early Spanish and Catholic roots. This part of Los Angeles offers a unique opportunity to connect with the cultural and religious heritage that shaped the city.

In the late afternoon, your coach will take you directly to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in time for your evening flights back to Australia.