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On the evening of July 31, 1926, every single Catholic Church in Mexico was filled, maxed out to capacity. The women were crying. Children were being baptized, men were on their knees. In the first hour of August 1, the next day, a government decree would take effect, and Catholicism was to become outlawed. Starting the next day, Masses, weddings, and every form of Catholic worship was forbidden. It marked the beginning of the Cristero War in Mexico.
Perhaps as you read this from Mexico you remember stories of the Cristero War passed on through your family. Because if you went to public school in Mexico this chapter of the country’s history was and still is missing.
On this 100th anniversary of the Cristero War, I invite you to travel with your imagination to a Church in Mexico City on the night of July 31, 1926. The night before the Masonic-influenced government declared war on the Catholic Church. Try to observe the candle lights, the artwork, and the anguished faces of the faithful.
That place and time seems distant, unlikely, improbable in our times. Or does it?
Ad: Discover the place where Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to St. Juan Diego. See her image. And join Archbishop José Gómez, Bishop Thomas Olmsted and Bishop Timothy Freyer for The Hour of the Laity 2026 in Mexico City.
Today, as we look around the world, we see growing pressures against religious freedom, moral truth, and traditional values. The secular currents of our age seek to marginalize the faithful, pushing God out of the public square just as decisively as the laws of a century ago. The methods have evolved, but the underlying challenge to Christian witness remains strikingly similar.
Standing firm requires more than passive belief; it demands courageous, informed, and organized leadership. This is the mission to which Tepeyac Leadership is called. We exist to bring integrity, excellence, and Christian principles into the professional and civic spheres, ensuring that our values are not silenced.
As we reflect on the sacrifices of the approximately 90,000 lives lost during the Cristero War, let us recommit ourselves to defending our faith today. Let us take up this mantle together as we look forward to gathering and strengthening one another at our upcoming The Hour of the Laity 2026 conference in Mexico City, where we will continue this vital mission hand in hand.
Together, let’s continue transforming lives, building up the community and the Church by investing in tomorrow’s lay Catholic leaders for the world.
Sincerely yours in Christ and Our Lady of Guadalupe,
P.S. Join Archbishop José Gómez, Bishop Thomas Olmsted and Bishop Timothy Freyer for The Hour of the Laity 2026 in Mexico City. In the videos bellow you will see what they have to say about THL2026.
Ad: Tepeyac Leadership’s Leadership for the World is a $2 million, three year mission to form lay Catholic leaders for the public square. Without formation, others fill the void. Will you step in or step aside now, when it matters most?
