250th Anniversary of Mission San Gabriel Arcángel Welcome

Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Archbishop of Los Angeles

Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
September 8, 2021

My dear brothers and sisters,

I just want to welcome all of you to Mission San Gabriel to give thanks to God on this historic night.

Special thank you to Chorus Angelorum and the California Mission Sinfonía for the beautiful musical prelude.  Thank you, too, to Chief Anthony Morales and members of the Gabrielino San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians for their blessing. 

I would also like to thank the Claretian fathers — Father John Molyneux and other Claretian fathers that are here at San Gabriel Mission — all of them. Because, as you know, the Claretian fathers have been ministering here since 1908. So I think we should give them an applause.

Two hundred and fifty years ago tonight, on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the year 1771, Mission San Gabriel Acrángel was established by St. Junípero Serra, together with Tongva natives, who were this land’s first peoples.

It is amazing to think that even before the United States of America was founded — five years before the Declaration of Independence — Catholics and native peoples were working together right here, building a multicultural community based on worship, agriculture, and the arts.

We know these beginnings were not perfect, no human endeavor can be. There were failures of judgment and cultural misunderstandings that caused much suffering and pain.

But I am reminded tonight of the words that Pope St. John Paul II when he spoke at St. Junípero’s tomb in Carmel. He said: “The missions are the result of a conscious moral decision made by people of faith. It was a decision rooted in a love of God and neighbor. It was a decision to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the dawn of a new age, which was extremely important for both the European settlers and the Native Americans.”  ¹

Mission San Gabriel marks the beginnings of the family of God here in Los Angeles, and opens a new chapter in salvation history — announcing the Kingdom of God in southern California and throughout this part of America.

How we remember the past, reflects the people we want to be in the present, and our hopes for the future.

With our prayer tonight we prepare to begin a Jubilee Year, a season of mercy and grace.

We walk forward together, conscious of our human weakness, confident in God who strengthens us, and committed to continuing the mission — of building God’s kingdom and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the people of our times.

In everything, we go always forward in the tender care of Mary, Our Blessed Mother.