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Dear Friends,
As we continue our journey of faith and professional excellence, I want to reflect on a profound message from a great shepherd and a spiritual father to many of us: Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, one of our three ecclesiastical advisors at Tepeyac Leadership.
Archbishop Gomez frequently reminds us that the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe is not just an event of the past; it is an ongoing call to action for the Catholic laity today. In his beautiful reflections on the patroness of the Americas, he states, “Guadalupe is our story — it is the story of America and the Americas.”
When the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Juan Diego in 1531, she asked him to build a temple. But as Archbishop Gomez so eloquently points out, the physical structure in Mexico City was only the beginning of her request. "The temple that Our Lady wants is a spiritual temple that is built out of the 'living stones' of our lives," he writes. "You and I, each one of us, is called to bring Jesus Christ into the world, into every area of our lives, by the way we live and by the way we love."
This message perfectly encapsulates the mission of Tepeyac Leadership. Our apostolate exists to form those "living stones." Our calling is to equip Catholic professionals to step boldly into the public square and lead in civil society. We, the Church, must get out of the parish walls; and into the boardrooms, the courtrooms, our schools, healthcare, and the halls of government.
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.
When Archbishop Gomez challenges us to bring Christ into every area of our lives, he is speaking directly to the unique vocation of the laity. We are the ones uniquely positioned to transform the secular culture from the inside out. "Through our little efforts, day by day, loving others and trying to live as Jesus taught... this is how we build the temple that Our Lady of Guadalupe wants us to build," the Archbishop notes.
This mission has taken on an unprecedented level of urgency and grace right now. I am thrilled to share the incredible news that Pope Leo XIV has just granted an extraordinary Guadalupan Jubilee Year for the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. This is a monumental gift to the Church and a profound spiritual catalyst for our work at Tepeyac Leadership. In this Jubilee Year, the Holy Father is inviting us to renew our commitment to the evangelization of culture, leaning on the maternal intercession of the Empress of the Americas.
There has never been a more providential time for us to answer this call. That is why I want to renew my invitation for you to join us for our upcoming The Hour of the Laity 2026(THL2026) pilgrimage in Mexico City.
At THL2026, we will gather Catholic professionals from across the nation to discern how we can better serve as the living stones of Our Lady’s spiritual temple. Inspired by this extraordinary Guadalupan Jubilee Year, we will dive deep into what it means to lead authentically in civil society. We will equip ourselves to face the cultural challenges of our day with the same courage and fidelity demonstrated by St. Juan Diego.
Archbishop Gomez reminds us that Mary looks at us with motherly love and says, "Am I not here, I, who am your mother?" Let us find our courage under her mantle. Let us go out and transform the world.
I look forward to seeing you at The Hour of the Laity 2026!
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?
