Mass celebrated at 'Alligator Alcatraz' for detained Catholic migrants

(OSV News) --The Archdiocese of Miami celebrated the first Mass for detainees at "Alligator Alcatraz," the Trump administration's controversial immigrant detention center in the Florida Everglades.

"I am pleased that our request to provide for the pastoral care of the detainees has been accommodated," said Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski in a statement from the Archdiocese of Miami dated Aug. 1 and released Aug. 3.

The archbishop added, "Also, we were able to respond to a request to provide similar service to the staff who reside at the facility."

According to the archdiocese, the first liturgy was celebrated Aug. 2 at an unspecified time "in the afternoon," with "regular liturgical celebrations" set to continue "following the facility’s guidelines and the pastoral availability of our clergy."

According to a recent report by organizations affiliated with Catholic and evangelical Christian churches, Christians account for approximately 80% of all of those at risk of deportation. The Christians most at risk of deportation are Catholics, 61% of the total.

News of the on-site Mass comes several days after Archbishop Wenski and some 25 Knights of Columbus rode on motorcycles to pray a rosary at the gates of the facility, located some 55 miles from downtown Miami at the Dade Collier Training and Transition Airport.

The complex of tents with groups of bunk beds in cage-like units of chain-link fencing has drawn condemnation from clergy and Democratic lawmakers alike for its conditions and location -- with Trump, Homeland Security Security Kristi Noem and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis touting the hostile environment as a security feature during their tour.

"It basically is in a swamp," Archbishop Wenski told OSV News in a July 15 interview. "There are numerous alligators and pythons (and) boa constrictors, and tons and tons of mosquitoes."

Water, sewage management, power and air conditioning are supplied by portable units, according to DeSantis. The facility, estimated to hold 3,000, is set to be expanded to accommodate 5,000, a Homeland Security official told CNN.

The "breakthrough" in access to the facility for pastoral care came "after months of dialogue" among Florida's Catholic bishops, archdiocesan leadership and state correctional authorities, the archdiocese said in its Aug. 1 statement.

Now, said the archdiocese, the resulting agreement "ensures that Catholic chaplains and pastoral ministers from the Archdiocese of Miami will have full access to offer two liturgical Masses to detainees and Catholic staff inside the detention facility."

The archdiocese noted it plans to have "a successful and consistent Catholic presence" at Alligator Alcatraz -- which is within the territory of the Diocese of Venice, Florida, but relatively close to Miami -- "that will depend on effective organization and coordination."

"The goal is to ensure a stable schedule of sacramental care and pastoral ministry that meets the spiritual needs of both detainees and staff, with the support of clergy and committed lay volunteers," said the archdiocese.

Michelle Jurado, director of media relations for the archdiocese, clarified that "strict security protocols" required the archdiocese "to maintain confidentiality agreements upon entering the facility.

"As such, we are unable to share photos, names of clergy or staff, or any identifiable details regarding the location or participants," said Jurado in an Aug. 3 email. "Upholding professional and pastoral boundaries is essential to maintaining our trusted access and respectful presence within the facility."

"The Church has 'no borders' for we all are members of one human family," said Archbishop Wenski in the archdiocese's statement. "Our 'agenda' was always to announce the 'good news' to the poor."