Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone returned to San Quentin’s Catholic Chapel to celebrate the traditional Christmas Eve Mass for the first time since 2019. COVID-19 restrictions prevented the Archbishop from visiting the prison in 2020 and 2021.
Attending the special mass, San Quentin residents filled the Chapel to capacity. The Archbishop told the residents he wanted to visit San Quentin during the pandemic but was unable to do so.
He said he saw many new faces, attributing the change to others being paroled.
The presence of the Archbishop awed San Quentin resident Gabriel Ordenain.
“No one at this level performs a traditional Christmas Eve Mass for incarcerated Christians. Archbishop Cordileone’s presence ensured our Christmas was with God,” he said.
Submitted by Lt. G. Barry
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