The Archdiocese of Miami held its first Mass at the Everglades Correctional Institution, nicknamed 'Alligator Alcatraz'. The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski. The event was organized by the archdiocese's prison ministry. Approximately 100 inmates participated in the service.
4 months ago
The Archdiocese of Miami has successfully celebrated its first Mass for detainees at "Alligator Alcatraz," a controversial immigrant detention center located in the Florida Everglades 2 3 4. This inaugural liturgy took place on August 2, 2025, and marks the beginning of regular liturgical celebrations at the facility 2 3 4. Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski expressed satisfaction that the archdiocese's request to provide pastoral care for both detainees and staff was accommodated 2 3 4.
The detention center, nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz," is a Trump administration initiative situated at the Dade Collier Training and Transition Airport, approximately 55 miles from downtown Miami 2. It consists of tent complexes with bunk beds in cage-like units, designed to hold an estimated 3,000 people, with plans for expansion to 5,000 2. The facility has drawn widespread condemnation from clergy and Democratic lawmakers due to its harsh conditions and remote, swampy location, which is reportedly infested with alligators, pythons, boa constrictors, and numerous mosquitoes 2. Basic services like water, sewage, power, and air conditioning are supplied by portable units 2.
The agreement to provide Catholic ministry at the facility was reached after months of dialogue among Florida's Catholic bishops, archdiocesan leadership, and state correctional authorities 2 3 4. Archbishop Wenski had previously voiced concerns about the health and care of detainees and the difficulty in arranging spiritual care due to jurisdictional disputes between state and federal governments 3 4. The breakthrough 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 2 3 4.
The archdiocese aims to establish a "successful and consistent Catholic presence" at "Alligator Alcatraz," which falls within the territory of the Diocese of Venice, Florida, but is close to Miami 2 3 4. This presence will depend on effective organization and coordination to ensure a stable schedule of sacramental care and pastoral ministry 2 3 4. Strict security protocols require the archdiocese to maintain confidentiality, prohibiting the sharing of photos, names of clergy or staff, or identifiable details about the location or participants 2. Archbishop Wenski emphasized the Church's belief that it "has no borders" and its mission is "to announce the ‘good news’ to the poor" 2 3 4. Reports indicate that Christians, particularly Catholics, constitute a significant majority of those at risk of deportation 2.
What is the Church's role in caring for detainees?
The Catholic Church plays a significant role in caring for detainees, rooted in the corporal work of mercy to "visit the imprisoned" . This ministry is seen as an encounter with Christ himself, as Jesus identified with those in prison .
The Church's involvement encompasses several key aspects:
Catholic health care, including care for detainees, is responsible for treating those in need in a way that respects their human dignity and eternal destiny . Pastoral care is an integral part of this, addressing the spiritual needs that are often more deeply felt during times of illness or confinement . This includes:
The Church emphasizes that the dignity of the human person must be at the core of all efforts to improve criminal justice .
The Church encourages strengthening bonds between prison pastoral care and bishops to raise awareness of this vital mission . This ministry within the local Christian community encourages others to join in performing corporal works of mercy, enriching ecclesial life . The Church also cooperates with civil authorities to help the incarcerated rediscover a sense of purpose so they can reform their lives, be reconciled with their families and friends, and assume responsibilities within society . The Holy See expresses concern over inhuman conditions in prisons, viewing them as a reflection of a "throwaway culture" where inmates are discarded . The Church advocates for more effective detention systems that protect citizens without definitively depriving the guilty of the possibility of redemption .