SAN DIEGO — The Catholic Church worldwide is celebrating the Jubilee Year with distinct populations, promoting grace, forgiveness and reconciliation. The theme of the 2025 Jubilee Year is “Pilgrims of Hope.”
The Church has designated Dec. 14 as the Jubilee for Prisoners, a time to provide spiritual nourishment for the incarcerated, promote mercy and to raise awareness of their situation.
In December, all three bishops and several priests from the Diocese of San Diego plan to celebrate Masses in the three state prisons in the San Diego-Imperial Valley region, 13 prison yards in all. The diocese’s Prison Ministry, part of the Office for Life, Peace and Justice, coordinated the Masses.
The office’s director, Deacon Robert Ehnow, said that Auxiliary Bishop Ramón Bejarano is to visit Calipatria State Prison on Dec. 16; Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Pulido is to visit Centinela State Prison on Dec. 17; and Bishop Michael Pham is to visit the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility on Dec. 20.
The office manages and supports Catholic religious services in the 24 jails, prisons and detention centers in San Diego and Imperial counties. With more than 20 chaplains and 200 volunteers, the diocese brings the “face of Jesus” to the 24,000 men and women currently incarcerated within diocesan boundaries.
At the Vatican, Pope Leo is to celebrate a special Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 14.
