Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, sheriff’s officials and Archbishop Jose Gomez celebrated Christmas Day mass with female inmates at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, as part of the first new Religious and Volunteer Services Office program.
The service provided a “meaningful and impactful” opportunity for inmates to pause, reflect and participate in a shared, spiritual moment offering hope, comfort and a sense of dignity during the holiday season, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Officials said the Religious and Volunteer Services Office was created to administer the Jail Chaplaincy Program. “The program coordinates all religious activities within the county’s custody facilities and ensures that inmates have access to ministers of their own faith,” the department said in a statement.
“Assisting RVS in this task is the Religious Advisory Council. This council consists of six liaison chaplains representing the Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, Christ Scientist, and Jehovah’s Witness faiths,” the agency added.
Sheriff’s officials said all walks of religious practices were represented in custody, including Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Protestant, Orthodox Jewish, Reform Jewish, Buddhist, Jehovah’s Witness, Christ Scientist, Latter Day Saints and Muslim.