Archbishop Gomez to be recognized for his work in U.S. Hispanic ministry

Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles will receive the Encuentros Award, an honor presented by the Subcommittee on Hispanic/Latino Affairs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) that recognizes individuals who “have made significant contributions to Hispanic/Latino ministry” in the country.

In an Oct. 23 statement, the USCCB noted that the award was announced by Bishop Óscar Cantú of San José, California, chair of the USCCB’s Subcommittee on Hispanic/Latino Affairs, during the 2026 annual conference of the National Catholic Association of Diocesan Directors for Hispanic Ministry.

The conference, held Oct. 20–23 in Anaheim, California, brought together hundreds of leaders in Hispanic ministry from dioceses across the United States.

According to the statement , Cantú noted that Gomez “has advocated for the Hispanic community for decades. He has been a tireless champion for the Catholic Church and specifically for Hispanic Catholics, highlighting the gifts that they bring to the Church in the United States.”

“With the Encuentros Award, we wish to recognize his work and express our heartfelt appreciation for everything he has done across many years,” Cantú…