BENEDICT, bishop,
Servant of the Servants of God:

To the Venerable Brother
JOSÉ HORACIO GOMEZ,
until now Archbishop of San Antonio,
appointed Coadjutor to the Metropolitan Church of Los Angeles:
greetings and Apostolic Blessing....

* * *

Cardinal-Archbishop: My dear brothers and sisters, are you willing to support Archbishop José Gomez with your cooperation and prayers as he begins his ministry among us?

Assembly: We are.

Cardinal: "On behalf of the entire Archdiocese of Los Angeles,
I welcome you,
Archbishop José Gomez,
as our Coadjutor Archbishop of Los Angeles.
Be assured of our prayers and support as you join me
in continuing the work of the Gospel...."

* * *

For the nation's largest local church -- 5 million members and growing -- it's a day that hasn't been seen in a quarter-century.

For a Hispanic bloc quickly becoming a majority of the 68 million strong Stateside church -- and, indeed, for American Catholicism, all told -- it's an epic, unprecedented moment.

Long in the making, the day is here... the time has come.

Welcome to history, folks.

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