We are pleased to welcome John Gonzalez to the Diocese of Saginaw Chancery Office.
John has accepted the position of Director of Communications for the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw. In his position, John will lead and manage a team within the Communications Office and serve on Bishop Gruss’ Mission Leadership Team to provide strategic direction and coordination for all Diocesan communications, including oversight for all diocesan media asset management and be the diocesan spokesperson handling external communications and media relations.
John earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Central Michigan University (CMU) and a Certificate in Digital Marketing from Grand Valley State University. John is a member of CMU’s Journalism Hall of Fame and serves on the Advisory Board of CMU’s College of Arts & Media.
Before accepting the Director of Communications role with the Diocese of Saginaw, John served as the Executive Director of Tri-Cities Puentes Initiative, a Latino-based nonprofit in Grand Haven. He also worked as the Strategic Content Creator in the communications department at West Catholic High School in Grand Rapids where he launched a weekly Facebook Live show and created several podcasts. Prior to that John worked for 30 years in the media business in radio, TV and print. His work has been published in the Saginaw News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press and many other newspapers across the state.
John’s freelance experience includes producing his own podcast called Gonzo Catholic Media on YouTube; creating and co-hosting “Behind the Mitten,” a statewide travel radio show and podcast; and writing stories for Pure Michigan, Detroit News, Traverse City Record-Eagle, WKTV News, Comstock Park Communicator and FAITH Magazine for the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
"I am deeply honored and excited to step into the role of Director of Communications for the Diocese of Saginaw,” said John. “I truly believe that this opportunity is a calling from God, guiding me to serve this vibrant community in a meaningful way. The mission of our Diocese—to share the love of Jesus Christ while being nourished by the Eucharist and led by the Holy Spirit—resonates profoundly with me. I look forward to working alongside Bishop Gruss and the dedicated team to amplify our message of faith, hope, and companionship on this spiritual journey. Together, we will strive to connect with and inspire our community, spreading the joy and love of our Lord in every communication."
John and his wife, Pam, have three sons and four granddaughters. John is originally from Capac. John will be relocating to the tri-city area and transitioning to his new role effective August 26, 2024.