The Spiritual Discovery of the New World

Blessed Junípero Serra is one of the great figures in the history of the Church’s mission ad gentes — “to the nations.”

When he is declared a saint later this year, Father Serra will be the latest in a line of “missionary saints” from the Americas that Pope Francis has elevated during his pontificate.

Living as Mary did

Editor’s note: Archbishop Gomez is at the Vatican to attend a special day of reflection, “Friar Junipero Serra, Apostle of California, Witness of Holiness,” hosted by the Pontifical Commission for the Latin American and Pontifical North American College of Rome on May 2. Pope Francis will be celebrating the Mass. The archbishop is praying for the intentions of everyone in the archdiocese and his column will return next week. He has asked that this week we run the column below, originally published in the Tidings/Angelus News May 10, 2011. On May 26, Archbishop Gomez marks the fifth anniversary of his arrival to Los Angeles and this is his fourth year as archbishop. He has entrusted his ministry to Mary, Our Blessed Mother.

Be witnesses to the resurrection

In the Easter season the Church celebrates the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is a season in which we share the joy of those first apostles, who lived with the risen Lord as he taught them the meaning of the Scriptures and strengthened their faith and prepared them to go out and bear witness to his resurrection.

The mission of mercy

In this season of the Resurrection, Pope Francis has given us a great gift.

He has announced a Holy Year, an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. It will start during Advent, on Dec. 8, the Immaculate Conception, and it will continue until Christ the King Sunday, November 20, 2016.