GPBS - LA RECongress 2025 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 and evening are free.

20 FEB 2025      LA RE-Congress Youth Day

Youth Day - You and Enough!  You Belong!

The event begins with Youth Day - a vibrant day planned by young people, for young people.  High school youth and their chaperones will experience an inspiring keynote, engaging general session, and participate in two dynamic workshops.

The day concludes with Liturgy.

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

21-23 FEB 20235     LA RE-Congress Adult  Days

Adult Days 

Over the following 3 days, participants of the Adult Days will gather from diverse backgrounds, ministries and vocations for an enriching like no other.  Whether you seek spiritual growth, professional development or a deeper connection with your faith, RECongress offers something for everyone.

Called To Compassion 

The theme of the 2025 Adult Days, Called to Compassion, is a radical invitation to create a more compassionate and loving world. The readings of the seventh Sunday of ordinary time invite us to see reality through compassion, the lens of the heart. Jesus’ ministry is characterized by genuine compassion that restores and alleviates our human hearts. He invites us not to close our eyes to the many needs of our loved ones, our world, and yes, even our enemies. Jesus encourages us to believe in our compassionate hearts! We must “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). Compassion is not a moral emotion, rather, Pope Francis reflects, “compassion is the language of God.” Our hope during this RECongress is that each participant, with a heart open to compassion, might experience this language of God. We pray that we may receive the strength to exercise this virtue as we form families and Church communities that restore human hearts.

We invite you to participate in RECongress 2025 to deepen this beautiful invitation of Called to Compassion and become a Church where everyone can feel loved and encouraged to live Jesus’ ministry.

 - Sr. Rosalia Meza 
Senior Director, Office of Religious Education at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles 

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.

Tonight you have a special walking Food Tour.
 

This morning you will be picked up at 7.30 am by private mini-coach for a full day professional enlightenment and learning.

Breakfast will be available from 6.30 am.

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.

Morning: Cultural and Educational Exploration

• 8:00 am: Departure from the hotel via luxury coach for a scenic tour through the iconic West Hollywood district. Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and notable landmarks en route to your first destination.
   
• 10:30 am: Arrival at St. Finbar Catholic Parish School, Burbank. A warm welcome by school representatives followed by an insightful session on the school's educational philosophy and ethos.
• Immerse in St Finbar’s School environment by observing classes. Engage in discussions with educators to gain perspectives on their teaching methodologies and student engagement strategies. We will have lunch with the staff, meet with student leaders and attend an after school staff meeting.

Afternoon: Cinematic and Entertainment Experience

• 3.30 pm:  Depart for the Universal Studios Outside Promenade, a distinctive area renowned for its entertainment and leisure offerings.
• Enjoy leisure time at the Universal Studios Outside Promenade. Engage in shopping, networking, or simply relish the ambiance.
• 5:00 pm: Transfers to the airport for your flight home.