Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez Named Recipient of 2026 Encuentros Award for Hispanic Ministry
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Subcommittee on Hispanic/Latino Affairs announced on October 23 that Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles has been named recipient of the 2026 Encuentros Award, recognizing his significant contributions to Hispanic/Latino ministry in the Catholic Church in the United States. The announcement was made by Bishop Oscar Cantú of San José, chairman of the subcommittee, during the annual conference of the National Catholic Association of Diocesan Directors for Hispanic Ministry.
Cantú said Archbishop Gomez has advocated for the Hispanic community for decades and has been a tireless champion for the Catholic Church, and specifically for Hispanic Catholics, highlighting the gifts they bring to the Church in the United States, adding that the award recognizes his work and expresses heartfelt appreciation for all he has done across many years. Gomez served as president of the USCCB from 2019 to 2022.
Established in 2023, the Encuentros Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the development, leadership and accompaniment of Hispanic and Latino ministry in the Catholic Church in the United States. Previous recipients include Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley, Bishop Gerald R. Barnes, Sister Norma Pimentel, Sister Ana Maria Pineda, Carmen Aguinaco and Ken Johnson-Mondragón.
Cantú will present the award to Gomez at a reception during the U.S. bishops' annual plenary assembly in Baltimore, scheduled for November 16–19, whose public sessions will be livestreamed. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is one of the largest Catholic archdioceses in the United States, and Hispanic faithful make up the majority of Catholics there.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 洛杉矶天使之后主教座堂外观（Daniel L. Lu 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons；Gomez 任洛杉矶总主教）
