Young adult ministry has a lively presence at this year's Religious Education Congress through a special liturgy, a social event and numerous workshops --- many of them focusing on how music, literature and storytelling can promote a vibrant spirituality.

Young adults, singles and couples in their late teens, 20s and 30s (and older adults, too) are invited to gather for the annual Young Adult Mass April 1 at 5:15 p.m. Msgr. Ray East will celebrate the liturgy and Matt Maher will lead the music. Later that evening a Welcome Dance and Social begins at 9:30 p.m. and ends at 12:30 a.m.

During the Religious Education Congress, numerous workshops will address the spiritual and psychological formation of young adults.

Dr. Paul Ford, St. John's Seminary theology professor, will discuss the baptism of the imagination in C.S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia" (April 1, 1 p.m.). Lewis believed "we're all under the spell of worldliness and need that broken. We need the spell of heavenliness woven over us," Ford told The Tidings.

An acknowledged authority on Lewis, Ford explained that Lewis took what could be dry philosophical truths and wove enchanting stories "that makes us understand deeply the truth and meaning of those stories."

"Performing Arts as Prayer and Proclamation," led by Graziano Marcheschi and Nancy Seitz Marcheschi (March 30, 3 p.m.), will explore how to create extraordinary experiences of prayer with students through participational drama, dance, storytelling and reader's theater.

In "Women & Healing: Story, Song, Laughter and Movement" (April 2, 10 a.m.), presenters VaLimar Jansen and St. Joseph Sister of Carondelet Anne Bryan Smollin and friends will talk about how women are reclaiming their place in the community as storytellers.

Christ loved telling stories because it empowers the listener and promotes healing, said Jansen. Through storytelling listeners receive "affirmation that someone else is experiencing what I'm experiencing," she said. During the workshop a diverse group of women, including young adult women, will share vital family stories passed down from one generation of women to the next.

Mark Hart, also known by his penname "Bible Geek," will talk about how to evangelize and catechize effectively in a media-driven society in his workshop "Free Advice: Step Right In, Your Job Just Got Easier" (April 1, 1 p.m.).

Among the Spanish speaking sessions, "Cantando El Reino de Dios" ("Singing the Reign of God," March 31, 3 p.m.) presented by Francisco Javier Herrera Brambilia will explore music from Latin America that animates prayer groups and liturgies.

In "Use Their Issues, Touch Their Hearts" (April 1, 3 p.m.), Anna Scally, host of the audio show "Burning Issues," will discuss how the church can keep the attention of teenagers by talking about their specific age-related issues and showing them how to manage those successfully.

Pam Stenzel will talk about "Communicating Chastity Effectively to This Generation" (March 30, 10 a.m.). And Father John Cusick, director of young adult ministry for the Chicago Archdiocese, and Father John Wall, pastor of a thriving Chicago parish, will lead two sessions "The Making of a Parish" (March 30, 3 p.m.) and "From Good to Great" (April 1, 10 a.m.).