ANAHEIM — The 44th annual Southern California Renewal Communities convention—the largest Catholic charismatic renewal convention in the United States and Canada—is scheduled to take place at the Anaheim Convention Center over the Labor Day weekend of Sept. 4 through 6 and will carry the theme “Rejoice and Be Glad.”
Several clergy and laypeople from the Diocese of Orange are scheduled to appear as presenters, and Bishop Kevin Vann will be the main celebrant at the closing liturgy of the weekend on Sept. 6 at 2:30 p.m.
Between 7,000 and 8,000 people are expected to attend the event, said SCRC spokesperson Barbara Lambert. The SCRC is a nonprofit organization that has supported the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement since its inception at Loyola Marymount University in 1972, said Lambert.
“There’s a lot going on,” said Lambert. “It’s like a personal retreat, more for spiritual growth and for families to come together. It’s an awesome event.”
Among the events at the convention:
- More than 40 speakers
- Daily liturgies and Saturday evening healing service
- Children’s program, teen conference and young adult conference
- Vietnamese conference on Saturday
- Conference in Spanish on Sunday
- Catholic books and gifts in the exhibit hall
- Adoration chapel available throughout the weekend
As in past years, the convention is intended “to bring people to a deeper relationship with Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit,” said Lambert. “It’s been a very powerful 44 years.”