ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ ENCOURAGED PILGRIMS TO KEEP TRUSTING GOD FOR STRENGTH AND GUIDANCE DURING A MASS TO START THE HISTORIC JUBILEE PILGRIMAGE “CAMINO: WALK WITH JESUS
April 2, 2022  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

—More than 1,700 joined Archbishop Gomez in the 10-mile walk from Mission San Gabriel Arcángel to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels as part of the yearlong celebrations of the “Forward in Mission” Jubilee commemorating 250 years of Christianity in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles — 

Archbishop José H. Gomez blessed hundreds of faithful participating in the historic Jubilee Pilgrimage, “Camino: A Walk with Jesus,” and in his homily during the Mass to start the pilgrimage this morning at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, he encouraged them to keep trusting God and asking him for strength and for guidance amidst challenges and difficulties in life, citing the courage and trust of the Tongva natives, St. Junípero Serra and the Franciscan brothers. The pilgrimage is part of the ongoing celebrations for the “Forward in Mission” Jubilee Year commemorating 250 years of Catholic faith in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The 10-mile walk will end with a closing prayer service at 3 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple Street in downtown Los Angeles, also led by Archbishop Gomez. A video of the Mass at Mission San Gabriel can be seen here. Please see full homily attached.

“The readings this morning are challenging. We are at the last week in our journey of Lent, and these readings remind us that the road is not easy,” said Archbishop Gomez in his homily. “But God goes with us, we are never alone… Let’s keep trusting in God, let’s keep asking him for strength, for guidance; let’s keep seeking his will in everything.

“Two hundred and fifty years ago, this mission was founded by St. Junípero Serra and his Franciscan brothers, together with the noble Tongva natives, who are the first peoples of this land. These men and women trusted God –completely. St. Junípero Serra and his brothers left behind their homes and families, knowing they would never be coming back. Let’s pray to have that kind of trust, that kind of courage!”

The pilgrimage, which started with a tour where pilgrims could view the progress of the renovation of the interior of the San Gabriel Mission Church damaged by arson in summer 2020, features the relics of St. Mother Teresa, Pope St. John Paul II, Blessed Mother Maria Ines Teresa, St. Junípero Serra, and St. Frances X. Cabrini, plus banners of Venerable Bishop Alfonso Gallegos, Mother Luisita, and Fr. Patrick Peyton, all of whom visited and/or served in Los Angeles and walked with Angelenos in their lifetime.

Among the more than 1,700 pilgrimage participants were representatives of the many ethnic communities of the Archdiocese, including Latinos, Vietnamese, and Koreans. The walk included stops at three parishes along the route: All Souls in Alhambra, All Saints in El Sereno, and Our Lady Help of Christians in L.A, and Cathedral High School, where free lunch will be provided to all participants.

The Jubilee Year, “Forward in Mission,” runs from September 11, 2021, to September 10, 2022, to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, the first church in what is now the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. During this special time, the faithful are encouraged to go on pilgrimage to designated sites, to pray and obtain a special blessing. The full list of pilgrimage sites across the tri-county Archdiocese including Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties is available at forwardinmission.com/pilgrimage-sites.  

“Brothers and sisters, as the saints remind us, our lives are a pilgrimage to the promise land of heaven, to our Father’s house,” said Archbishop Gomez. “This is a journey we are making, walking with Jesus. Following him. Living with him. Loving as he loved. Sharing in his mission by living his Gospel of love, by our words, by our actions.

“As we begin our pilgrimage today – from this place where the faith was born in Los Angeles, to the mother Church of the family of God today –let us renew our dedication to our mission.”

The idea of a “Jubilee Year” originally comes from the Book of Leviticus, in which God instructs Israel to observe every 50th year as a time of mercy – a time of release from debt and labor (Leviticus 25: 10-13). Since the 14th century, the Church has celebrated jubilees at regular intervals. To each jubilee, the Church attaches certain indulgences, which are opportunities for grace and mercy, they may involve pilgrimages, prayers, or works of charity.

Among other activities planned within the Jubilee Year is a young adult gathering, “Finding hope in His wounds,” an evening of prayer and fellowship with Archbishop Gomez, on April 23, 2022 at 6 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. The Jubilee Year closing Mass is scheduled for September 10, 2022 at Mission San Gabriel. For more information, visit forwardinmission.com.

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Under the spiritual leadership of Archbishop José H. Gomez, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the largest in the United States, serving the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara, covering approximately 9,000 square miles in 120 cities. The nearly 5 million Catholics in the Archdiocese come from some 70 countries and from every continent. Weekly Masses are celebrated in 42 languages throughout 288 parishes, and more than 73,000 students attend an Archdiocesan Catholic elementary or high school. For the latest news, events and to subscribe for media alerts, visit media.la-archdiocese.org