San Bernardino: In a rare and compassionate move, Bishop Alberto Rojas of the Diocese of San Bernardino has formally dispensed undocumented migrants from the Sunday Mass obligation, citing growing fear of immigration raids targeting churchgoers.
The decree, issued on July 8, 2025, comes after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entered two Catholic parishes in Montclair and Highland in June, detaining individuals on Church grounds. Among those taken into custody on June 20 was a male parishioner at St. Adelaide Church in Highland. The incident has sent shockwaves through the migrant community, intensifying fear and anxiety among many undocumented faithful.
In a public statement accompanying the decree released on July 10, Bishop Rojas acknowledged the deep concern among parishioners:
“Many are gripped by fear that stepping into any public place even to attend Mass could lead to arrest. I want our immigrant brothers and sisters to know the Church walks with them and will not abandon them.”
The Bishop emphasized that while Sunday Mass remains a central part of Catholic life, the current climate poses a “grave impediment” to many migrants' ability to fulfill this obligation safely. The decree urges those unable to attend in person to stay spiritually connected through other means, including personal prayer, Scripture reading, praying the Rosary, and watching livestreamed Masses.
Bishop Rojas’s message goes beyond the pastoral. He had previously appealed to political leaders in a June 23 letter, calling for an immediate end to enforcement practices that, in his words, “undermine human dignity and disrupt peaceful community life.”
“These are people who have lived here for years, whose only issue is their documentation status,” the bishop said. “They are workers, parents, caregivers individuals who came here to protect their families. They deserve to be treated with dignity.”
As the leader of the sixth-largest Catholic diocese in the United States, Bishop Rojas is now calling on all pastors and Church personnel to offer compassionate accompaniment to affected individuals. He has urged parishes to ensure that those unable to attend services due to fear of enforcement actions feel welcomed, supported, and spiritually nourished.
Furthermore, the diocese is encouraging parishes to explore creative solutions for continuing catechesis and sacramental preparation for those unable to participate in regular in-person gatherings.
In a climate where fear threatens to isolate the most vulnerable, Bishop Rojas’s decree serves as both a pastoral response and a prophetic stand for justice, offering hope and reassurance to communities living in uncertainty.