View source for Archdiocese of Los Angeles

{{Diocese
|diocese_name=Archdiocese of Los Angeles
|Type=Archdiocese
|Country=United States
|AdministrativeSubdivision=California
|Bishop=José Horacio Gómez Velasco
|Website=https://lacatholics.org/
|Newspaper=https://angelusnews.com
}}
The '''Archdiocese of Los Angeles''' (Latin: ''Archidiœcesis Angelorum in California'', Spanish: ''Arquidiócesis de Los Ángeles'') is a [[Latin Church]] [[archdiocese]] of the [[Catholic Church]] in the [[United States]], located in southern [[California]]. Established as a diocese in 1840 by [[Pope Gregory XVI]] and elevated to an archdiocese on July 11, 1936, it serves as the metropolitan see of the [[Ecclesiastical Province of Los Angeles]], overseeing suffragan dioceses in [[Fresno]], [[Monterey, California|Monterey]], [[Orange County, California|Orange]], [[San Bernardino]], and [[San Diego]]. The current archbishop, [[José Horacio Gómez Velasco]], has led since 2011. As of 2025, the archdiocese serves over 5 million registered Catholics across 287 parishes, making it the largest and most ethnically diverse archdiocese in the United States.[](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Los_Angeles)

== Establishment ==
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles traces its origins to the Diocese of the Two Californias, established on April 27, 1840, by [[Pope Gregory XVI]] through the papal bull ''Apostolicam sollicitudinem''. The diocese was created to serve the vast territory of Alta and Baja California, taken from the [[Diocese of Sonora]], with [[Francisco Garcia Diego y Moreno]] appointed as its first bishop. The episcopal see was set in [[San Diego]], with [[Mission Santa Barbara]] as the pro-cathedral.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lacatholics.org/about-us/ |title=Who We Are |website=LA Catholics |accessdate=2025-05-08}}</ref>[](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Los_Angeles)

== History ==

=== Early Period (1840–1936) ===
Initially named the Diocese of the Two Californias, the diocese covered a vast region including present-day [[California]], [[Nevada]], [[Arizona]], [[Utah]], and parts of [[Colorado]] and [[Wyoming]]. After the [[Mexican–American War]] (1846–1848), Alta California was ceded to the United States, and the diocese was renamed the Diocese of Monterey in 1848. In 1859, it became the Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles, with the episcopal see moving to [[Los Angeles]] upon the completion of the [[Cathedral of Saint Vibiana]] in 1876. The diocese split in 1922 to form the Diocese of Los Angeles-San Diego.[](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Los_Angeles)

=== Elevation and Growth (1936–1976) ===
On July 11, 1936, the Diocese of Los Angeles-San Diego was elevated to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with [[John Joseph Cantwell]] as its first archbishop. The [[Diocese of San Diego]] was created concurrently, refining the archdiocese’s boundaries. Under Archbishop [[James Francis McIntyre]] (1948–1970), the archdiocese saw significant expansion, with 82 new parishes established and the reorganization of the curia. The current territory was finalized in 1976 when [[Orange County, California|Orange County]] was split off to form the [[Diocese of Orange]].[](https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/los-angeles-archdiocese)

=== Modern Era (1976–Present) ===
In 1986, Archbishop [[Roger Mahony]] introduced five pastoral regions to manage the archdiocese’s diverse communities. The archdiocese faced challenges during the 2002–2024 clergy abuse scandal, resulting in a record-breaking $880 million settlement in 2024, totaling over $1.5 billion in payouts. Under Archbishop [[José Horacio Gómez Velasco]], appointed in 2011, the archdiocese has emphasized evangelization, diversity, and community outreach, including annual Marian processions celebrating [[Our Lady of the Angels]].[](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Los_Angeles)[](https://x.com/annawright7974/status/1918864906675216662)

== Geography ==
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles spans three counties in southern [[California]], covering a diverse region of urban, coastal, and rural areas. The counties include:

* [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]]
* [[Santa Barbara County, California|Santa Barbara]]
* [[Ventura County, California|Ventura]]

The archdiocese is divided into five pastoral regions: Our Lady of the Angels, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Pedro, and Santa Barbara.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lacatholics.org/about-us/ |title=Who We Are |website=LA Catholics |accessdate=2025-05-08}}</ref>[](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Los_Angeles)

== Mother Church ==
[[Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels]] in [[Los Angeles]] serves as the mother church of the archdiocese. Dedicated in 2002, this modern architectural landmark replaced the [[Cathedral of Saint Vibiana]] and is the seat of the archbishop, hosting major liturgies and community events.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://olacathedral.org/history |title=Cathedral History |website=Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels |accessdate=2025-05-08}}</ref>[](https://olacathedral.org/)

== Leadership ==

=== Current Bishop ===
[[José Horacio Gómez Velasco]] has served as archbishop since March 1, 2011. Born in [[Monterrey, Mexico]], he previously served as auxiliary bishop of [[Denver]] and archbishop of [[San Antonio]], focusing on immigration, evangelization, and cultural diversity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lacatholics.org/archbishop-gomez/ |title=Archbishop José H. Gómez |website=LA Catholics |accessdate=2025-05-08}}</ref>[](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Los_Angeles)

=== Past Bishops ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Name
! Tenure
! Notes
|-
| [[Francisco Garcia Diego y Moreno]]
| 1840–1846
| First bishop; established diocese; died in office.
|-
| [[Joseph Sadoc Alemany]]
| 1850–1853
| Transferred to [[Archdiocese of San Francisco]].
|-
| [[Thaddeus Amat y Fontanals]]
| 1854–1878
| Moved see to Los Angeles; died in office.
|-
| [[Francisco Mora y Borrell]]
| 1878–1896
| Expanded parishes; retired due to health.
|-
| [[George Thomas Montgomery]]
| 1896–1902
| Coadjutor; transferred to [[Archdiocese of San Francisco]].
|-
| [[John Joseph Cantwell]]
| 1917–1936
| First archbishop; oversaw elevation to archdiocese.
|-
| [[James Francis McIntyre]]
| 1948–1970
| Reorganized curia; established 82 parishes.
|-
| [[Timothy Manning]]
| 1970–1985
| Focused on social justice; retired.
|-
| [[Roger Mahony]]
| 1985–2011
| Introduced pastoral regions; retired.
|}

<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lacatholics.org/history/ |title=History of the Archdiocese |website=LA Catholics |accessdate=2025-05-08}}</ref>

== Statistics ==
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles covers 8,762 square miles (22,693 km²). As of 2025, it serves over 5 million registered Catholics across 287 parishes, 7 missions, and 9 Eastern Catholic churches, within a total population of approximately 11.5 million. The archdiocese also oversees 225 elementary schools and 53 high schools.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lacatholics.org/about-us/ |title=Who We Are |website“Serving the Catholic community of Los Angeles |website=LA Catholics |accessdate=2025-05-08}}</ref>[](https://media.la-archdiocese.org/demographics/)[](https://www.linkedin.com/company/archdiocese-of-los-angeles)

== Parishes ==
Due to the lack of specific templates ({{Diocese map}}, {{Add parish to diocese}}, {{Diocese parish table}}), a custom table and summary are provided. The archdiocese’s 287 parishes are organized into five pastoral regions, serving diverse communities across 120 cities.

{{Diocese map|Diocese=Archdiocese of Los Angeles|Where=Los Angeles|zoom=7}}
{{Add parish to diocese|URL=https://lacatholics.org/parishes/|Catholic count=5000000|Parish number=287|School number=278}}

{| class dört="wikitable sortable"
! Parish Name
! City
! Website
|-
| [[Our Lady of the Angels Parish]]
| [[Los Angeles]]
| [https://www.la-archdiocese.org/parishes/our-lady-of-the-angels Our Lady of the Angels]
|-
| [[St. Monica Catholic Community]]
| [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]]
| [https://stmonica.net St. Monica]
|-
| [[St. Paul the Apostle Parish]]
| [[Los Angeles]]
| [https://stpaulparishla.org St. Paul the Apostle]
|-
| [[St. Joseph Parish]]
| [[Carpinteria, California|Carpinteria]]
| [No website available]
|}

<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lacatholics.org/parishes/ |title=Find a Parish |website=LA Catholics |accessdate=2025-05-08}}</ref>

*Note*: This table includes a sample of parishes due to space constraints. A complete list is available on the archdiocese’s website.

== Mission and Services ==

=== Parishes ===
The archdiocese oversees 287 parishes across five pastoral regions, serving as hubs for worship, evangelization, and community engagement. Parishes offer liturgies in 32 languages, reflecting the archdiocese’s ethnic diversity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lacatholics.org/parishes/ |title=Find a Parish |website=LA Catholics |accessdate=2025-05-08}}</ref>[](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Los_Angeles)

=== Catholic Education ===
The archdiocese manages 225 elementary schools and 53 high schools, serving approximately 95,000 students. These schools, under the Department of Catholic Schools, emphasize academic rigor, Christian values, and inclusivity, welcoming students of all faiths.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lacatholicschools.org |title=Catholic Schools |website=The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles |accessdate=2025-05-08}}</ref>[](https://www.lacatholicschools.org/)

=== Catholic Schools ===
The archdiocese oversees the following Catholic schools (sample list):

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! School Name
! City
! Type
! Website
|-
| [[Bishop Alemany High School]]
| [[Mission Hills, California|Mission Hills]]
| High School
| [https://www.alemany.org Bishop Alemany]
|-
| [[Chaminade College Preparatory School]]
| [[West Hills, California|West Hills]]
| High School
| [https://www.chaminade.org Chaminade]
|-
| [[St. Bernardine of Siena School]]
| [[Woodland Hills, California|Woodland Hills]]
| Elementary
| [https://www.stbernardineschool.org St. Bernardine]
|-
| [[St. Mary’s Academy]]
| [[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]]
| High School
| [https://www.smabelles.org St. Mary’s]
|}

<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lacatholicschools.org/schools/ |title=School Directory |website=The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles |accessdate=2025-05-08}}</ref>

=== Community Outreach ===
The archdiocese engages in extensive community service through [[Catholic Charities of Los Angeles]], providing support for the homeless, immigrants, and low-income families. Programs include housing, food assistance, and refugee resettlement, serving thousands annually across Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://catholiccharitiesla.org |title=Catholic Charities of Los Angeles |website=Catholic Charities |accessdate=2025-05-08}}</ref>[](https://lacatholics.org/archdiocesan-departments/)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External Links ==
* {{Official website|https://lacatholics.org}}
* [https://angelusnews.com Angelus News] – Diocesan newspaper
* [https://olacathedral.org Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels]
* [https://catholiccharitiesla.org Catholic Charities of Los Angeles]

== Categories ==
[[Category:Catholic dioceses in the United States]]  
[[Category:Dioceses established in 1840]]  
[[Category:Archdioceses]]  
[[Category:Catholic education in California]]