San Quentin Rehabilitation Center / Adobe Stock
The San Quentin Rehabilitation Center will host a Feast of Divine Savior of the World celebration that will include a Mass and other festivities.
The feast day, Aug. 6, is not widely celebrated in the US, but it is “the most important religious celebration in El Salvador,” according to the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s event announcement. The Mass will be offered for all those who have been killed due to gang violence in El Salvador and “in solidarity with those seeking redemption within the prison system,” according to the event’s flyer.
El Divino Salvador del Mundo, as the feast is known in Spanish, honors Christ in His role as savior, El Salvador’s namesake. According to the archdiocese’s announcement, the feast’s history dates back to 1526, just a year after the founding of the capital city of San Salvador.
The Mass will be offered by Rev. Armando Gutierrez. The event will also include “Salvadoran food, guest speakers, and folkloric dances from Central and South America.”
The event is a part of the archdiocese’s Restorative Justice Ministry, which works to “provide healing and rehabilitation opportunities to those affected by crime—both victims and offenders—within our communities,” according to its mission statement.
“The [celebration] is more than a religious observance—it is a profound act of faith, healing, and human dignity,” says Julio Escobar, the Restorative Justice Coordinator for the ministry. “Rooted in the principles of restorative justice, this celebration offers incarcerated individuals a rare and powerful opportunity to reconnect with their spiritual heritage, reflect on their journey, and find hope in the promise of redemption.”
Escobar says that this is the first time the Restorative Justice Ministry has held a Mass for this feast, though previous events have greatly helped both the imprisoned and victims of crime.
In addition to working with those currently incarcerated, the Restorative Justice Ministry also helps those who have returned to civilian life. Its largest annual event, the Reentry Conference & Expo, is now in its 13th year and will be held Sept. 26. This year’s theme is “Rooted in Justice, Rising in Hope: Together We Are Stronger.”
“Ultimately, the [Restorative Justice] Ministry bears the fruit of restored lives and renewed hope—reminding us that no one is beyond grace, and that justice can be both healing and holy,” Escobar said. “When we are in communion, at that moment, it makes a normal day for everyone, those incarcerated and those visiting.”
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