Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Stored: Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Diocese: Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Status:
Rite:
Type:	Archdiocese
Ecclesiastical Province:
Suffragan Dioceses:
Metropolitan Archdiocese:
Country:	United States
Region:	California
Bishop:	José Horacio Gómez Velasco
Website:	https://lacatholics.org/
Newspaper:	https://angelusnews.com
Catholic Percentage:	%
Catholic Elementary Schools:
Catholic High Schools:
Deaneries:
Priests:
Existence:	–
Predecessor Diocese:
Successor Diocese:
Catholic Hospitals:
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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, 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.[](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 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
• Santa Barbara
• Ventura

The archdiocese is divided into five pastoral regions: Our Lady of the Angels, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Pedro, and Santa Barbara.[](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.[](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.[](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Los_Angeles)

Past Bishops

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.

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.[](https://media.la-archdiocese.org/demographics/)[](https://www.linkedin.com/company/archdiocese-of-los-angeles)

Parishes

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Archdiocese of Los Angeles
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This map created from a Cargo query ()

The diocese serves over 5000000 Catholics through its 287 parishes and 278 Catholic schools. Please use Form:Parish to create parishes. The list of it's parishes can be found at https://lacatholics.org/parishes/.

Parish Name	City	Website
Our Lady of the Angels Parish	Los Angeles	Our Lady of the Angels
St. Monica Catholic Community	Santa Monica	St. Monica
St. Paul the Apostle Parish	Los Angeles	St. Paul the Apostle
St. Joseph Parish	Carpinteria	[No website available]

• 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.[](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.[](https://www.lacatholicschools.org/)

Catholic Schools

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

School Name	City	Type	Website
Bishop Alemany High School	Mission Hills	High School	Bishop Alemany
Chaminade College Preparatory School	West Hills	High School	Chaminade
St. Bernardine of Siena School	Woodland Hills	Elementary	St. Bernardine
St. Mary’s Academy	Inglewood	High School	St. Mary’s

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.[](https://lacatholics.org/archdiocesan-departments/)

External Links

• Angelus News – Diocesan newspaper
• Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
• Catholic Charities of Los Angeles