Looking at the Adelanto ICE Detention Center from a distance, it appeared stark and lifeless, as one might expect of a place where 1,700 detainees are confined, fenced in, and largely invisible to the outside world. Although we were not given the opportunity to speak with individuals, offering them the Eucharist allowed me to enter into communion with each person during the celebration. In that moment, I felt especially close to their reality and the weight of their circumstances.
I believe that in receiving the Eucharist, the Word made flesh, each person encountered the comforting presence of the Lord. It became a moment of silent, spiritual dialogue that went beyond words.
The posture of the detainees as they lined up to receive Jesus, and the expressions on their faces as they responded “Amen,” left a profound impression on me. It called to mind the words of the Psalmist: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Indeed, in the midst of life’s hardships, God remains our constant source of protection, strength, and hope.
This is my prayer for them:
Lord, I lift up to You our brothers and sisters held behind bars at the ICE Detention Center. In the shadows of uncertainty — where dreams are deferred and families are separated — they carry the heavy burdens of fear, isolation, and longing for home. In Your mercy, grant them the courage to face each new day, a hope that pierces the darkness, and the unshakable assurance of Your love — a love no chain can sever. Bring comfort to the weary guards and officers as well, softening their hearts and renewing them through Your grace.
Through the intercession of Mary, Mother of the displaced, and of all the saints who fled persecution, I humbly ask that You enfold them in Your loving embrace. Amen.
On December 10, Auxiliary Bishop Rey Bersabal joined several of his brother bishops from across California in a pastoral visit to the Adelanto ICE Detention Center in San Bernardino County. Together, the bishops celebrated Mass with hundreds of immigrant detainees, offering prayer, presence, and the consolation of the Eucharist to those living in confinement and uncertainty.