It is that time of year again!     The Annual Religious Education Congress in Anaheim is upon us.     It is happening Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th.     

There will be sessions for personal growth and development, for parents, for all who minister in anyway in a parish community or archdiocesan community.     Over 250 workshops will be offered during those three dynamic days presented in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Sign Language.     Those presenting these workshops will come from across the United States and from Europe.    Topics will range from spirituality and personal development to theology and catechesis.

On Thursday, April 6^th, the Annual Youth Day will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center.    Over 10,000 high schoolers from all over our Archdiocese and around the State will gather for a day of enrichment through thirteen diverse workshops, a concert, and a Eucharistic Liturgy with our Cardinal Archbishop presiding and concelebrated by all the priests in attendance.    Our Confirmation Candidates will be among those attending, as will Confirmation Candidates from around the Archdiocese.

Sister Edith Pendergast will open the Congress 2000 with a reflection on the Congress Theme:   "Awaken Hope - Shout Jubilee".     Sister Elizabeth Johnson, Craig Kielburger, Arun Gandhi, and Bishop Samuel Ruiz will be the Keynote Speakers on Saturday and Sunday.

During the Congress there will be many opportunities for prayer and spiritual reflection.    Daily Morning and Evening Praise (Morning Prayer & Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours) will be prayed.     Each afternoon at 5:00 p.m. there will be Eucharistic Liturgies.     The Most Blessed Sacrament will be reserved in a special room all throughout the weekend for an opportunity to stop by and pay the Lord a visit.      Confession too during this Jubilee Year of Reconciliation will be available each day as the priests of the Archdiocese are being asked to make themselves available.

Register now!     Congress 2000 promises to be an enriching and spirit-filled weekend experience.    Registration Forms are available in the Religious Ed Office during their regular office hours, or call Joan Nardone at 818 - 889 - 0612.

You may also call Adrian Whitaker at 213 - 637 - 7332 or 637 - 7346.
PS:   As has been done for years, our parish will have a Hospitality Room.    Because the Congress had to be changed from its original dates due to double booking by the Anaheim Convention Center, this year our Hospitality Room will be in the Anaheim Hilton Hotel.   Lunch will be provided Friday and Saturday as usual.     Members of our Sister Parish will also join us for lunch those days.

Dolores Mission in East Los Angeles still has a real need for sleeping bags and blankets.   In fact, it is a Desperate Need!

In particular, sleeping bags are needed so that the men and women may take them with them when they move on.

Also needed are men's  shower sandals.

If you can help, please bring your donations to the Parish Pastoral Office.    Louise Brennan will make sure these items get to Dolores Mission as soon as possible.

Branch 380 of the Italian Catholic Federation will again sponsor a St. Joseph's Table at St. Paschal Baylon Parish on Sunday, March 19^th.      There will be a Children's Procession, blessing of the Table, and sale of Italian cakes and cookies.     In the afternoon and early evening an authentic Italian dinner will be served.     

Funds raised by this event will benefit the poor of the Conejo Valley and other Catholic charities.
 
Tickets must be obtained ahead of time by contacting Gay or Andy Tortorici at 805 - 529 - 2139.

No tickets will be sold at the door.