Freedom means drawing closer to God, congress participants told

Published: 2006-04-05

ANAHEIM, Calif. (CNS) -- Catholic educators, catechists, pastoral ministers, clergy and religious from all over the world gathered in Anaheim for the annual Religious Education Congress to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and the freedom to live joyful lives of discipleship and love. "God pours light into every empty cup," said Religious Sister of Charity Edith Prendergast, archdiocesan director of the Office of Religious Education, in her March 31 opening event address on this year's theme, "Step Into Freedom." The process of becoming free, she said, includes "learning to fast from our fears and anxieties," and "drawing closer to the God within us." For the first time ever, the congress topped 40,000 people as participants hailed from 47 states and the District of Columbia and from Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe. The four-day conference at the Anaheim Convention Center started with Youth Day March 30 and continued through the weekend as workshop presenters led some 270 sessions in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

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