CARDINAL MAHONY 2008 ONLINE CHAT

On Friday, March 23, 2012 at 10:15 a.m. PST Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez conducted a live online chat from the main Exhibit Hall at the Religious Education Congress in Anaheim, Calif.

The Congress Chat has been an annual event at Congress, beginning with Cardinal Roger Mahony in 1996 and now conducted by the Archbishop with school students from the archdiocese. This year the Archbishop will chat with students from St. Dorothy School in Glendora, Calif. This will be the Archbishop's second online appearance and among his events at the four-day gathering. We'd like to especially thank principal Carol Burke and Dorothy Marquez, in the computer lab, and RECongress moderator Chris Krause.

This private chat room is especially for The Archbishop Gomez Chat held Friday, March 23, 2012 with students from St. Dorothy School in Glendora.

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, just last year on March 1, 2011. .

Jackson H. joined the chat
Lauren C. joined the chat
Jasmine A. joined the chat
Remy H. joined the chat
Joe K joined the chat
Giovanna M. joined the chat
Michelle R. joined the chat
Kennedy B. joined the chat
Sabrina G. joined the chat
Claire S. joined the chat
Archbishop Gomez joined the chat

RECongress: Good Morning, Archbishop, and welcome St. Dorothy students
RECongress: The Archbishop is here in Anaheim at the Anaheim Convention Center
Lauren C.: Hi Archbishop!
Remy H.: Hi Archbishop Gomez. How are you?
Joe K: hello Archbishop Gomez.
Kennedy B.: Hello Archbishop Gomez!
Giovanna M.: Good morning Archbishop Gomez. How are you?
Jasmine A.: Good morning Archbishop Gomez
Sabrina G.: Hello. How are you?
Lauren C.: This is exciting!
Remy H.: Yay!
Archbishop Gomez: Good morning to everyone
Jackson H.: Good morning Archbishop Gomez.
Lauren C.: Hello!
Michelle R.: Good morning Archbishop Gomez

Archbishop Gomez: How is everyone doing?
Kennedy B.: Well, thanks! How are you?
Lauren C.: Great! I'm talking to the Archbishop!
Jasmine A.: Great thank you!
Jasmine A.: what was your favorite subject as a child?
Joe K: What does it take to become an archbishop?
Jackson H.: Why did you want to become an Archbishop?
Michelle R.: Fine and you?
Giovanna M.: Fine thank you. How about you?

Archbishop Gomez: I am having a great time at the Congress
Joe K: fine thank you. How about you?
Giovanna M.: That's good to hear!
Kennedy B.: We wish we were there with you!
Sabrina G.: Fine thanks! What is your favorite food?

Archbishop Gomez: I like Mexican food.
Lauren C.: COOL!!!
Remy H.: Me too!
Lauren C.: Me too!
Giovanna M.: Me too!
Sabrina G.: Me too!
Jackson H.: We all appreciate you talking to us.
Joe K: What does it take to become an archbishop?
Jackson H.: When you were a child what did you want to be.
Giovanna M.: How has becoming a priest impact on your life?

Archbishop Gomez: Becoming an Archbishop, is a call and a grace from God.
Sabrina G.: What is most inspiring to you?
Michelle R.: I know you are a very busy person, however I was wondering how you spend your free time if you have any?
Lauren C.: When did you receive God's calling to be a priest?

Archbishop Gomez: God's calling to be a priest, I first started in Catholic School and I joined the seminary after college
Giovanna M.: Were you very religious as a child?
Claire S.: What motivated you to become a priest in your childhood?

Archbishop Gomez: I am inspired by God's love for me.
Lauren C.: Were you born a Catholic?
Kennedy B.: Do you feel that God is present with you at all times?

Archbishop Gomez: Yes, I was born Catholic and I always feel God's presence in my life. How about all of you?
Jasmine A.: How did your family respond to your decision to become a priest?
Lauren C.: Yes and all the time!
Giovanna M.: I feel that God is always present in my life and has really helped spiritually!
Michelle R.: I was also born Catholic and I feel God is always in my life guiding me.
Lauren C.: Yes and all the time!
Giovanna M.: I feel that God is always present in my life and has really helped spiritually!

Archbishop Gomez: My family was happy
Joe K: I was also born Catholic and I attend mass every Sunday.
Jackson H.: Yes, I was a born a Catholic and I always feel Gods presence around me.
Sabrina G.: I feel God with me everywhere I go. I am so blessed to be at a Catholic school like St. Dorothy's.
Joe K: Which seminary did you attend?

Archbishop Gomez: I studied at my seminary in Rome
Kennedy B.: That's impressive!
Jasmine A.: Wow! that's cool :D

Archbishop Gomez: What is your favorite subjects in school?
Giovanna M.: History!
Lauren C.: :D
Jasmine A.: I love art
Joe K: Math or science.
Lauren C.: History!
Kennedy B.: My favorite subject is History!
Jackson H.: I would have to say Math or History.
Michelle R.: My favorite subject is History!
Joe K: if you could become the pope would you?

Archbishop Gomez: I speak English and Spanish
Giovanna M.: Have you visited the Holy Land?
Remy H.: We are learning Spanish in school!
Lauren C.: St. Dorothy's has a great Spanish teacher!

Archbishop Gomez: History is very important, but make sure that you also learn about the history of the Church
Jackson H.: When you were a child what did you want to be?
Kennedy B.: Right now we are learning about the Crusades!
Lauren C.: We are learning of the crusades now in Religion class!
Joe K: We just learned about the crusades in religion.

Archbishop Gomez: Do you know about the history of the Church in California?
Sabrina G.: I love learning about God, and the stories of Christ in Religion class. Here at St. Dorothy we have a great Religion teacher.
Remy H.: Yes, we learned about the missions in fourth grade.
Kennedy B.: Yes, we studied the missions in fourth grade
Joe K: We studied about the missions in fourth grade.
Lauren C.: We made our missions in 4th Grade! We all learned so much and got to take a tour at California Adventure at Disneyland!
Jasmine A.: Did you grow up learning Spanish?

Archbishop Gomez: I learned English and Spanish growing up
Joe K: If you could become the pope would you?
Remy H.: If you could learn another language, what would it be?
Giovanna M.: What high school did you attend?

Archbishop Gomez: Do you know that we are getting two new American Saints?
Lauren C.: Really? Who?
Kennedy B.: Which ones?
Joe K: Who are they?

Archbishop Gomez: Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, our first Native American Saint, and Blessed Mary Anne Cope, who ministered in Molokai, Hawaii
Giovanna M.: I can't wait!
Joe K: That's really cool!
Jackson H.: Very interesting!
Michelle R.: I also know Spanish, it is an interesting language.
Sabrina G.: That is awesome!
Remy H.: Wow, that's really cool!
Giovanna M.: That is really exciting!
Jasmine A.: If you did not decide to become a bishop what would you be?

Archbishop Gomez: I also wanted to be a priest.
Sabrina G.: That's cool!
Giovanna M.: What high school did you attend?
Michelle R.: What is your favorite color?
Jackson H.: Have you ever had what you believe is a miracle happen to you?

Archbishop Gomez: I believe in miracles and I have seen spiritual and physical graces in the lives of many people
Jasmine A.: Do you think your life would be different without Christ?
Jackson H.: Thank you!
Lauren C.: We went to the Holy Childhood Mass in L.A. It was BEAUTIFUL! What's your favorite part of the Mass?

Archbishop Gomez: My favorite part of the Mass is the consecration
Kennedy B.: Same here!
Michelle R.: Me too!
Remy H.: Me too!
Jasmine A.: ME too!
Sabrina G.: Which miracle impressed you the most?
Joe K: If you could become the pope would you?

Archbishop Gomez: I am happy to do God's will, and hopefully stay as the Archbishop of Los Angeles for a long time.
Lauren C.: Will you pray for us as Student Council members and for St. Dorothy's please?

Archbishop Gomez: Yes, you are in my prayers. I am sure that you are going to do a great job!!!
Giovanna M.: What was you family's reaction when they found out you wanted to become a priest?
Jasmine A.: Thank you!
Michelle R.: Thank you very much!!!
Remy H.: Thank you so much. That means a lot!
Jasmine A.: In your free time what do you enjoy doing?
Joe K: How old were you when you decided to become a priest?

Archbishop Gomez: I started feeling the call to be a priest when I was 15
Kennedy B.: How can we help influence the other children to spread the word of God?
Joe K: That is so amazing?
Lauren C.: What advice can you give young people who are greatly influenced by society's doings?

Archbishop Gomez: My advise would be...make sure that you pray before making decisions.
Lauren C.: For our open house project we had to draw a picture of our favorite saint. I chose St. Joan of Arc! Who is your favorite Saint?
Joe K: That's good advice.
Sabrina G.: Who is your patron Saint?

Archbishop Gomez: My patron saint is St. Joseph
Sabrina G.: Cool. Happy belated Saint Day!
Jackson H.: Who was your mentor or hero when you were young?

Archbishop Gomez: My mentors were my parents
Jackson H.: :)

Archbishop Gomez: Who are your favorite saints?
Lauren C.: St. Joan of Arc!!! :D
Sabrina G.: Saint Scholastica
Jackson H.: St. Peter the Rock
Joe K: St. Patrick!!! :D
Lauren C.: I also like S. Dorothy because she is the patron Saint of our wonderful school!
Giovanna M.: St. Terese
Kennedy B.: St. Thomas Aquinas, he's pretty cool! :)
Kennedy B.: Did your parents fully support your decision and help you become a priest?

Archbishop Gomez: My parents just wanted to make sure that it was my vocation, and they asked me to go to college before becoming a priest.
Joe K: What would you say was the hardest part of becoming a priest?
Jasmine A.: St. Bernadette, I feel she is inspiring to believe so much in what she believes in
Michelle R.: What would you say to young teens or adults who have turned away from God?

Archbishop Gomez: First, I will pray for them, and then I will try to invite them to learn about God's love for them.
Jackson H.: What College did you go to?

Archbishop Gomez: I went to college in Mexico City
Jasmine A.: What would you say is you favorite band or singer?
Michelle R.: What is your favorite movie?

Archbishop Gomez: My favorite movie is "A Man for All Seasons."
Kennedy B.: Is there a certain passage that speaks to you the most?
Remy H.: What is your favorite book in the Bible?

Archbishop Gomez: The Gospel of Mark is my favorite book in the Bible
Jackson H.: When was the last time you went to a movie theater?
Giovanna M.: Mark is my favorite too!
Michelle R.: I have never heard of that movie, what is it about?
Lauren C.: I think Jasmine means the movie...
Jasmine A.: The movie of coarse :"> sorry
Jasmine A.: Cool! what is it about?

Archbishop Gomez: The movie is about the life of St. Thomas More
Lauren C.: Cool
Michelle R.: Oh I will be sure to rent it.
Giovanna M.: Oh I've heard of him.
Sabrina G.: That is cool!
Joe K: When were you ordained a priest?

Archbishop Gomez: I was ordained a priest, August 15, 1978
Giovanna M.: Where do you live?

Archbishop Gomez: What are you all doing for Lent?
Jasmine A.: Do you visit your family often?
Kennedy B.: I am giving up sugar and doing good deeds
Joe K: I am giving up fighting with my brothers.
Giovanna M.: Giving up fighting with my brother
Jackson H.: I am giving up chocolate!
Sabrina G.: I gave up electronics
Jasmine A.: Soda
Lauren C.: Instead of giving up something, I chose to try to be a better person to everyone!
Remy H.: I am working on being a better person instead of giving something up.
Michelle R.: I am giving up candy and trying not to argue with my sister.
Giovanna M.: How are you planning to celebrate Easter?

Archbishop Gomez: Congratulations to you all! Lent is a beautiful time to improve our lives.
Joe K: Do you go to Stations of the Cross during Lent?
Kennedy B.: I believe we should improve our lives no matter what season :D
Lauren C.: Every Tuesday we go to Stations of the Cross and Benediction

Archbishop Gomez: I have the Easter Vigil and Easter Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
Jackson H.: Yes, at St. Dorothy's we are participating in Stations of the Cross.

Archbishop Gomez: I try to do the Stations of the Cross on Fridays during Lent.
Sabrina G.: Here at St. Dorothy's we attend Stations of the Cross, and we have Benediction. It is very cool to hear what Jesus did for us.

Archbishop Gomez: Are you looking forward to Easter?
Lauren C.: YES!!!
Giovanna M.: Oh yes!
Kennedy B.: Yes, very much!
Jasmine A.: Yes ;)

Archbishop Gomez: What do we celebrate in Easter?
Joe K: Yes, very much.:)
Michelle R.: Yes, I enjoy the Easter mass.
Jackson H.: Yes, I love going to mass at St. Dorothy.
Sabrina G.: I was born on Easter Sunday!

Archbishop Gomez: Happy Birthday in advance, Sabrina!
Sabrina G.: Thank You!
Giovanna M.: On Easter after Mass I always feel very happy and enjoy spending time with my loved ones!
Kennedy B.: When Jesus rose on the third day to grant us eternal life!
Jackson H.: We celebrate the Resurrection.
Joe K: The resurrection of Christ.
Michelle R.: When is your birthday?

Archbishop Gomez: My birthday is December 26
Kennedy B.: The day after Jesus' birthday!
Jasmine A.: How cool?
Jasmine A.: Sorry how cool!!!!
Remy H.: A day after Christmas; that's cool!

Archbishop Gomez: Have you considered a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life?
Lauren C.: That is the feast day of St. Stephen the first martyr!
Michelle R.: Oh that is my cousin Alex's birthday, she is only two months old. :)

Archbishop Gomez: I am a little older than Alex
Joe K: Yes.
Remy H.: :)
Lauren C.: Hahaha! That is funny! :)
Giovanna M.: No I haven't but I feel I have a very strong relationship with the Lord
Kennedy B.: :D You made me laugh!!
Joe K: :D
Jasmine A.: How do you celebrate your birthday?

Archbishop Gomez: I celebrate my birthday by celebrating Mass and having dinner with my family and friends
Jackson H.: Yes, but I am really looking forward to going to high school and playing sports.
Lauren C.: That's a great birthday!
Sabrina G.: That is wonderful
Joe K: That's sounds like fun.
Giovanna M.: That's fun! :D
Remy H.: What is your favorite sport?

Archbishop Gomez: Your education is very important, and I love sports too!
Sabrina G.: What sport did you play?
Jackson H.: Did you play any sports? I play baseball and soccer!

Archbishop Gomez: I like all sports. I played basketball, soccer, baseball, football, everything
Kennedy B.: That's impressive!
Lauren C.: I play soccer and softball for our school. We pray before every game! It is really nice!
Remy H.: You played a lot!
Giovanna M.: Did you do track?

Archbishop Gomez: No track.
Jasmine A.: I play soft baseball too :D
Michelle R.: Cool, I play club soccer.
Sabrina G.: Do you like water polo
Kennedy B.: I play softball for our school with Lauren, also!
Lauren C.: Kennedy is really good player! Jasmine as well!
Jasmine A.: Thank you :D

Archbishop Gomez: What do you want to do when you grow up?
Remy H.: I want to be a doctor. :)
Sabrina G.: I want to be a lawyer, and play professional water polo
Giovanna M.: I want to be a doctor and a interior designer
Joe K: I want to fly for the Air Force.
Lauren C.: I want to win an Academy Award and be in lots of movies!
Kennedy B.: I would like to be neurosurgeon!
Jackson H.: I wanted to be a Professional Baseball player. But, I also wanted to be a police officer.
Michelle R.: I would like to work with mentally handicapped children. I want to be this because my friend has a little brother who has autism.
Lauren C.: That's a good job Michelle!
Kennedy B.: Do you have a Twitter account?
Joe K: Do you have a Facebook page?

Archbishop Gomez: I do have a Facebook page.
Archbishop Gomez: Please make sure that you visit my Facebook and like me
Remy H.: I'll be sure to like your Facebook page!

Archbishop Gomez: My faith, family and education help me a lot to be the person that I am.
Archbishop Gomez: I am grateful to my parents and family for their support and encouragement to be a good Catholic and go to college
Jackson H.: That's Great!:)

RECongress: I thank Archbishop Gomez for being with us today
Joe K: Can you pray for my brother who is in the Air Force?

Archbishop Gomez: I hope that you continue loving God and others and remember that God is always with you.
Michelle R.: Thanks
RECongress: Thanks you to the St Dorothy students
Sabrina G.: Thank you have a Happy Easter!
Jasmine A.: Thank you so much

Archbishop Gomez: My prayers for each one of you, your families, your school and please keep me in your prayers too.
Joe K: Thank You
Michelle R.: Thank You very much i enjoyed talking to you!!!
Lauren C.: Goodbye Archbishop! Thank you very much! It's been wonderful talking to you!
Kennedy B.: Thank you so much! This was so exciting! Have a Happy Easter!
RECongress: And Ms. Marquez
Remy H.: Thank you so much for your time Archbishop Gomez. Have a great Easter! :)
Jasmine A.: Goodbye ;)
Jackson H.: Thank you, for this once in a life time experience !
Giovanna M.: Thank you so much! I had a great time chatting with you! Have a Great Easter! :D O:-) O:-)
Joe K: Have a Happy Easter

Archbishop Gomez: Happy Easter to you all too!
Joe K: =D>
Giovanna M.: Thank you
Lauren C.: :D
RECongress: Thank you all so very much
Joe K: >:D<
Jasmine A.: >:D< good bye
Joe K: Good bye

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).