Bishop Gomez blesses dormitory for Hispanic Americans in Mexico City

Denver, Colo., Feb 1, 2004 / 22:00 pm

Auxiliary Bishop José Gomez of Denver traveled to Mexico City early last month to bless a new dormitory at a seminary for Hispanic Americans, which he helped establish.

The new facility at Seminario Hispano de Santa Maria de Guadalupe, which was blessed Jan. 9, will house a dozen seminarians. It will allow the seminary to have up to 30 men in formation.

The seminary was created in August 1999 by Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, archbishop of Mexico City, with the purpose of supporting the formation of Hispanic seminarians from the United States and Canada.

According to a press release issued by the Archdiocese of Denver, the seminary already has alumni priests who are either serving in the U.S. or who are continuing theological studies.

Bishop Gomez also joined the cardinal and his six auxiliary bishops in an annual pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe Jan. 10. More than 15,000 worshippers attended the mass and filled the Plaza de las Americas outside the basilica.

The trip was aimed at strengthening the relationship between the Church in the United States and Mexico, stated the press release.