Transcript of online session with Archbishop José Gomez and students from St. Thomas the Apostle School in Los Angeles

Friday, March 18, 2011, 10:15-11:00 a.m.

Archbishop José Gomez continues the tradition of the live online chats from the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress in Anaheim. Here is the transcript from the private chat session with students from St. Thomas the Apostle School in Los Angeles. Chris Krause moderated with the Archbishop from the Religious Education Congress at the Anaheim Convention Center. Special thanks to Principal Raymond Saborio, Vince O'Donoghue and Heidi Velasquez.
 

This is the chat room especially for The Archbishop Gomez Chat on Friday, March 18 with students from St. Thomas the Apostle School in Los Angeles – the first school ever to be involved in such an event! Just this month Most Rev. Jose H. Gomez succeeded Cardinal Roger Mahony as Archbishop of Los Angeles.

Bishop Gomez was born December 26, 1951 in Monterrey, México, and ordained a priest in Spain on August 15, 1978. From 1987 to 2000, he served as a parish priest in the Texas cities of San Antonio and Houston. In 2001 he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Denver, Colorado, and four years later he returned to Texas as Archbishop of San Antonio. He moved to Los Angeles when he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Los Angeles on April 6, 2010. And he officially became the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the nation's largest archdiocese, on March 1, 2011.

Emily joined the chat
Austen joined the chat
Julio joined the chat
Sam joined the chat
jesus joined the chat
Tanya joined the chat
Bianca joined the chat
Daisy joined the chat
neyda joined the chat
christopher joined the chat
angel joined the chat

RECongress
: Good morning all
RECongress: How are you all this morning?
Austen: good
Daisy: doing good.
Bianca: I am good and you?
Sam: Good morning. good, how about you?
neyda: I am very good
Tanya: Very good.
Emily: good morning, I’m good. how are you?
Mr. ODonoghue joined the chat

RECongress
: very good here
Julio: very well! How are you?
christopher: doing very good
jesus: good morning

RECongress
: The Opening Event just finished, where they welcomed Archbishop Gomez
angel: good morning
Mr. ODonoghue: We are excited to talk to the Archbishop

RECongress
: Did you all know he became our new Bishop just on March 1st?
Sam: no
Julio: no
Emily: no.
Bianca: no
Daisy: no.
christopher: I did not know
neyda: yes
angel: no I did not
Tanya: No.
jesus: no I did not
Austen: no really.

RECongress
: YOU are the very first to do this with him!!
Sam: cool, I am excited
Bianca: That's Awesome!
jesus: cool
Daisy: really, cool
christopher: that’s cool
Julio: really excited
Tanya: Really that’s nice..!
Austen: cool
Emily: that's really cool.
neyda: I know I am very excited can’t wait

RECongress
: The Archbishop should be here in just a few minutes
Emily: oh okay.
Daisy: ok I’m excited
Bianca: yay!
Julio: Excited

RECongress
: Has anyone met him before?
Daisy: no I haven’t
Sam: I can’t wait to talk to him
Geraldine: can’t wait
jesus: awesome!!!
Austen: how is he
Sam: no
christopher: I have not
Daisy: how would you describe him?
angel: I can’t wait to talk to him
neyda: omg I’m so exited and I’m glad to talk to u too
Tanya: Ok can't wait..!
Austen: no
Julio: no I haven’t
neyda: ahhhhhhhhhhhh
Sam: sooooo

RECongress
: He seems to have a wonderful sense of humor
Emily: that’s good.
Daisy: that’s good!
Sam: thank you
jesus: that’s good to now
neyda: that’s very good
Bianca: That’s good to know.
Julio: That's cool
angel: that’s good
Tanya: That’s awesome!
Geraldine: that’s good to know
Austen: that cool good to know

RECongress
: In fact, your principal is here and just dropped by
Bianca: Hi Mr.Saborio!
Sam: really, that is cool
christopher: tell him hi for me
Julio: Hi Mr. Saborio !
Austen: Mr soborio
Daisy: tell mr saborio daisy said hello
jesus: tell him hi
Geraldine: hi mr. saborio
angel: what is going on there
Tanya: Tell him I said Hi..!

RECongress
: He's going to be watching the chat from here too
Emily: tell him I said hello .
neyda: tell mr.  saborio I said hi and we miss him
Sam: sup Mr. Saborio

RECongress
: The Archbishop is approaching!!
Austen: ok that nice
jesus: dude

RECongress
: I'll log him on...
Bianca: yay! Im excitied
Julio: ok
Geraldine: yay
Bishop Gomez joined the chat
Daisy: good morning!
Emily: Good morning.
neyda: Good morning
Bianca: Good Morning.!
christopher: good morning
Geraldine: good morning
Julio: Good Morning Bishop!
jesus: good morning
Tanya: Good morning.!
Austen: Good morning!
angel: good morning
RECongress: Archbishop Gomez is with us now

Bishop Gomez
: Good morning to everyone!!!
neyda
: What is your inspiration?

Bishop Gomez
: What do you mean by inspiration?
neyda
: Who inspired you to become bishop?

Bishop Gomez
: First, I became a priest because I felt a call from God.
Bianca
: What is your favorite sport and/or sports team?

Bishop Gomez
: I like all sports. My basketball team is now the Lakers.
Daisy
: who is your favorite player from the Lakers?

Bishop Gomez
: My football team is the Superbowl Champions, Green Bay Packers!
Austen
: yay

Bishop Gomez
: Kobe Bryant is my favorite player
Geraldine
: have you ever met a president of the United States?

Bishop Gomez
: No, not President Obama, but I have met President Bush a number of times.
Julio
: How do you feel about becoming Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles?

Bishop Gomez: I am very happy. Humbled and privileged by the Holy Father's appointment and I hope to be of service to you and all the People of Los Angeles.
Tanya
: What are some of your goals as Archbishop?

Bishop Gomez
: My main goal is for people to know Jesus better so that they can love Him more.
Bishop Gomez: How do you like your school?
Emily
: We have many different sports, we have a new campus, many activities after school, and we are always learning.
jesus joined the chat

Bishop Gomez
: Great. I am very happy that you can attend a Catholic School. I also went to a Catholic School when I was your age.
Sam
: where did you go to junior high and high school?

Bishop Gomez
: Junior High I also went to Catholic School in Monterrey, Mexico and I attended a public high school
Bishop Gomez: How often do you have religion class?
Austen
: everyday
jesus: what do you remember about growing up in Monterrey

Bishop Gomez
: I had a lot of fun growing up in Monterrey. I played sports. I had a great family life and a lot of friends!
Bishop Gomez: What are you learning these days?
Sam
: we are learning about the sacrament of marriage

Bishop Gomez
: The Sacrament of Marriage is a great blessing for the Church and society.
angel
: we are also learning about the saints

Bishop Gomez
: My favorite saint is the Blessed Virgin Mary and then St. Joseph. Who is your favorite saint?
Sam
: Saint Nicholas
Austen: saint Peter
neyda: St. Thomas
Julio: St. Patrick
Emily: my favorite saint is St. Thomas.
christopher: st. thomas
Daisy: my favorite saint is saint thomas
Bianca: Saint Lucy
angel: st. thomas
jesus: st. peter
Geraldine: st. ruth
Tanya: My favorite Saint is St. Patrick.

Bishop Gomez
: Do you ask your favorite saint to help you in your studies and daily life?
jesus
: sometimes
Sam: sometimes
Geraldine: sometimes
Daisy: sometimes. I ask God for help in my prayers
Austen: ya sometimes
Tanya: Yes I do ... Sometimes!
christopher: sometimes
Julio: not really
Emily: I ask God to help me.
Bianca: Most of the time.
angel: sometimes
neyda: sometimes
Julio: I pray to god
christopher: how did your parents influence you?

Bishop Gomez
: My parents taught me to love God and others, and they wanted me to study a lot so that I can be successful
jesus
: me to
Austen: my parent too
Sam: it looks like you had great parents
Bianca: My parents are similar to that.
angel: my parents do the same
Daisy: my parents too
Sam: same here

Bishop Gomez
: It is great that you pray to God and ask the intercession of your saints.
Julio
: My parents help me and teach me about God
Geraldine: my parents too
christopher: my parents encourage to do what I love
Emily: my parents also, they help me and want me to be successful.
neyda: My parents work hard for me to go to a good school and want the best for me .
Tanya: My parents too.
Sam: what are your favorite foods?

Bishop Gomez
: I eat everything except milk and cheese because I am allergic to it.
christopher
: I am to
Sam: me 2
Austen: Have you ever met the pope?

Bishop Gomez
: Yes, I have. He is a wonderful person!
Sam
: really, I went to meet him one day
Julio: Which popes?
Daisy: which popes did you meet?
jesus: me to
Sam: I meant want
neyda: me 2
Geraldine: me too
Bianca: same here

Bishop Gomez
: I met Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, and Pope Benedict XVI. I am going to invite Pope Benedict to come to Los Angeles.
jesus
: can we come!!!
Bianca: We would love to meet him!
Daisy: can you please invite him to St Thomas the apostle school
Tanya: No way!
Austen: wow that awesome
neyda: yay I would love to meet him
Julio: We would like to meet him

Bishop Gomez
: Let's pray that he accepts the invitation.
Emily
: yes, I would pray for that.
Julio: Yes we will
christopher: we will also pray
Emily: I meant we
jesus: yes
Bianca: I Hope!
Daisy: yes we will pray.
Tanya: Yes that would be awesome..!

Bishop Gomez
: I am going to Rome next month. Would you like me to say something to the Pope?
Geraldine
: yes we will pray for that
neyda: yes of course
Austen: yes we will.
Bianca: Yes Please!
Tanya: Yes!!!!!!!
Tanya: Please!
Austen: yes please!!
Daisy: tell him that daisy says if he can please bless my friends and family.
jesus: can you tell him I said hi
neyda: yes yes yes tell him if he could pray for all of us here
Geraldine: if he can pray for my uncle who is in the hospital
Bianca: can he please pray for my uncle to find a job.
Julio: Ask him to pray for my family and for everyone who is going through hard times
Sam: can you tell him to pray for the people in Japan

Bishop Gomez
: I am happy to tell him to pray for your intentions.
Bianca
: Thank You!
Emily: thank you.
Julio: Thanks
neyda: thank you
Daisy: thank you!
Geraldine: thank you
Sam: thank you
christopher: thank you
jesus: thank you
angel: do you speak other languages besides English?

Bishop Gomez
: I speak Spanish and some Italian.
Tanya
joined the chat
angel: thank you
Austen: Thank you
Julio: I would like to learn Italian
Tanya: Thank you!
christopher: do you have any pets?
Sam: what places would you like to visit in the world?

Bishop Gomez
: No, but in my house, Cardinal Mahony has two cats, Gabriel and Raphael, and Msgr. Kostelnik has a dog named Joaquin.
Julio
: cool
Daisy: those are very unique names
Emily: Great names!
Sam: awesome
christopher: those are cool names
Tanya: Very unique..!
Austen: cool I like cats.
jesus: my uncle's name is Joaquin
Sam: I also like cats
neyda: oh that is so cool I have a fish named Strawberry
angel: those are good names
Geraldine: what do you like to do in your free time?

Bishop Gomez
: I like to visit the Holy Land and Africa. In my free time, I like to play sports and read books.
Bishop Gomez: What do you do in your free time?
christopher
: I play soccer
Daisy: I like to play sports too!
Julio: I like playing basketball
jesus: I play soccer too
Sam: I play basketball and xbox
angel: I play soccer too
christopher: and football
neyda: I love playing soccer
Geraldine: I do tae kwon do
Austen: I play basketball
Daisy: I like playing volleyball and softball!
Emily: I play volleyball and softball.

Bishop Gomez
: I am retired from soccer, but I like to play basketball.
neyda
: me 2
angel: me to
christopher: what about football?
Sam: coool, what books do you like to read?
Tanya: Really do you still play now?

Bishop Gomez
: I played flag football when I was in high school.
Julio
: I played too

Bishop Gomez
: I like to read history books.
Sam
: cool, what position did you play
christopher: I played too

Bishop Gomez
: Yes, I still play basketball and I play guard.
Sam
: cool
Sam: me 2
Bianca: nice
neyda: awesome
Tanya: Wow ... Awesome.

Bishop Gomez
: Who wants to be a priest or a sister?
Austen
: I played a little flag football
Daisy: no not at the moment.
jesus: I don’t know
Tanya: Not at this moment.
Julio: no
neyda: no really
angel: I want to be an architect
Bianca: That has crossed my mind before.
Geraldine: I don’t know
christopher: I want to be a marine biologist
Emily: no, not that I have in mind
Sam: I am thinking of being an engineer
neyda: I meant not really
Austen: I maybe but, I really want to be a pharmacist.
Daisy: how old were you when you decided to become a priest?

Bishop Gomez
: It is a great vocation. I started thinking about my vocation to the priesthood when I was in junior high.
Bishop Gomez: I went to the seminary after college, and I was ordained a priest when I was 26.
Sam
: wow, impressive
Bianca: That's Awesome!
neyda: that’s very good
Geraldine: wow that’s awesome
jesus: cool

Bishop Gomez
: Going to college is a great thing. I hope that you all go to college.
Sam
: that is cool that you go after your goals
Austen: cool
Sam: I want UCLA
Daisy: I want to go to USC!
Geraldine: I want to go to USC
neyda: I hope to go to La Salle
Tanya: My dream is to attend USC in the future!
christopher: I want to go to USC
Julio: I am just going to go straight to university
Bianca: I want to go to Stanford.
jesus: me to
Emily: I actually want to attend USC or UCSD.
Austen: I want to go to UCLA

Bishop Gomez
: Study hard and get good grades to get into the best schools.
Daisy
: of course!
neyda: of course
Julio: I will
Emily: thank you! of course I will try my hardest.
jesus: I will try
Sam: I am trying my best
Austen: I will
Geraldine: thank you
Bianca: What is your favorite passage from the Bible?

Bishop Gomez
: My favorite passage is from Hebrews..."Let's go forth with confidence to the throne of grace." Jesus is the throne of Grace.
Bianca
: That’s cool I like Noah's Ark.
neyda: Mine is the story of creation
jesus: my favorite is David and Goliath

Bishop Gomez
: I also like the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Do you know it?
Julio
: I like the story of creation 2
Geraldine: I like when Jesus walks on water
Sam: mine is when God judges the dead
jesus: me to
Daisy: I like the passage where Jesus feeds the 5,000
Emily: no.
Austen: my favorite is when he heals ten men
Julio: no sorry
Geraldine: no
Daisy: no sorry.
Tanya: No.
jesus: me to
Sam: yes I like that one
neyda: yes
Geraldine: oh sorry yes I do
angel: yes I do it’s a good story
Austen: yes
angel: what is the best experience you have as a priest?

Bishop Gomez
: First, to celebrate Mass and then, to help people get closer to God.
Bishop Gomez: Now, that we are in Lent, it is good to think about that parable to be aware of God's love and mercy.
Sam
: yes it is
Austen: yes very true
Sam: I agree
jesus: cool
Julio: yes it is
neyda: cool
Daisy: our lenten theme is "live the love of Christ" what is yours?

Bishop Gomez: My theme for this Lent is the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
Bianca: nicee
Geraldine: nice
Daisy: I agree

RECongress: Sorry, the Archbishop needs to leave now.
RECongress: Thank you again, Archbishop Gomez
Geraldine: thank you we hope you can come to st. Thomas
Bianca: Thank you for talking to us and i hope you come and visit!
Sam: thank you we hope you can come to our school, I hope we can do this again
Julio: Thank you, we hope you can come to our school and I will pray for you
christopher: can you visit us some time and thank you for the chat
neyda: thank you so much for your time we will pray for you and pray for us
Austen: Thank you we will pray for you
Daisy: thank you we hope you can come visit St. Thomas. we will pray for you.
Austen: you
jesus: thanks you we hope you can visit us some day!!!
Sam: this was fun
Emily: thank you for your time. we would like to invite you to our school one day.

Bishop Gomez
: Thank you for taking the time. Be assured of my prayers for you, your families and your school. Remember that God loves you always
jesus
: I agree
Daisy: this was fun :)
neyda: this was really fun
Tanya: Thank you for chatting with us hopefully one day you can come and visit us here at St. Thomas :)
angel: thank you 4 chatting with us I hope you can visit us at school

Bishop Gomez
: Have a lot of fun! God bless you all!
Bianca
: this was great :D
Geraldine: this was fun I hope we can do this again :)
Sam: thank you we will always pray 4 you :D
Daisy: Amen!
Julio: thank
Austen: and also you
Geraldine: thank you
jesus: thanks =D> =D>
Tanya: Same to you..! :D
Sam: =D> =D> O:-) :)
Julio: =D>
Sam: =D>
Tanya: May God bless you Archbishop Gomez!!
christopher: may God bless you archbishop Gomez
Julio: May God bless you Archbishop Gomez
angel: may God bless you archbishop Gomez
jesus: may God bless you Archbishop Gomez
Daisy: May God bless you Archbishop Gomez!!
Emily: May God bless you Archbishop Gomez!
Sam: May God bless You Archbishop Gomez
neyda: may God bless you Archbishop Gomez
Geraldine: may God bless you Archbishop Gomez
Bianca: May God Bless You Archbishop Gomez!
Austen: May God bless you Archbishop
Austen: Gomez
Mr. ODonoghue: St. Thomas is so very grateful for your time Archbishop Gomez. Thank you again!


Read the transcripts from other Religious Education Congress online chats

Congress Chat History:
Beginning in 1996 on CompuServe, Cardinal Roger Mahony conducted the first nationwide, online (typing) live from Hall A at the Anaheim Convention Center. in 2001 the Cardinal suggested adding a private chat with students from a school in the Archdiocese. Since then, we have had the tradition of a private school chat.

Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez continued the tradition of a Congress Chat, and now we've expanded our chats to include regional bishops and schools from their region. This year, Bishop David O'Connell joins us for our sixth video chat with a school from his region.

 
with Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell of the San Gabriel Region

2019 (All Souls, Alhambra)

with Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez

2017 (St Francis of Assisi, L.A.)  •  2016 (St Mary Magdalen, Camarillo)  •  2015 (St Finbar School, Burbank)  •  2014 (St Columbkille School, L.A.)  •  2013 (St Bernard School, L.A.)  •  2012 (St Dorothy School, Glendora)  •  2011 (St Thomas School, L.A.)

with Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles

2010  •  2010 (St John Chrysostom School, Inglewood)  •  2009  •  2009 (St Elisabeth, Van Nuys)  •  2008  •  2008 (Sacred Heart, Covina)  •  2007  •  2007 (St Benedict, Montebello)  •  2007 (St Rita, Sierra Madre)  •  2006  •  2006 (Holy Innocents, Long Beach)  •  2005  •  2004  •  2003  •  2001  •  2001 (St Jerome, Westchester)  •   2001 (Holy Family, South Pasadena)  •  2000  •  1999  •  1998  •  1997  •  1996

with Auxiliary Bishop Edward Clark of the Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region

 2002

2016 Marks 20 Years of Congress Chats — The first (typing) RECongress chat was held on Friday, February 23, 1996 on CompuServe with Cardinal Roger Mahony. Ten years later, on Friday, March 31, 2006, the Cardinal's annual chat was conducted in a room hosted on ChurchWerks.com. The Cardinal participated in 22 Congress chats (both nationwide and with schools) over 14 years.

At Congress 2016, Archbishop José Gomez has continued the tradition of (now, video) chats with school students from the Archdiocese. This was his sixth Congress chat (and fourth video chat) conducted from the Tech Center, located in the center of Exhibit Hall A at the Religious Education Congress. The RECongress chat are now continued through the regional bishops, while the Archbishop now holds an event on Facebnook Live.

Beginning on CompuServe, the RECongress nationwide chats have been hosted by AOL Live! (1997-2000), Beliefnet (2001), CatholicWeb.com (2002-2003), and ChurchWerks.com (2004-2010). The school chats have been conducted on AOL (2001-2006), Yahoo (2007), Chatzy (2008-2012), Skype (2013-2014) and Google+ (2015-2016).


 


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