By Saul Perez
On Friday, the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center held its inaugural Fiesta de El Salvador del Mundo, celebrating Salvadoran and Central American heritage through music, dance, and traditional food. Organized in partnership with the San Quentin News and the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s Restorative Justice Ministry, the event honored El Divino Salvador del Mundo, a culturally significant Salvadoran holiday and Catholic feast day, while highlighting the prison’s diverse community and rehabilitation efforts.
The day began with a special Mass in the Catholic Chapel, celebrated by Father Armando Gutierrez, a proud Salvadoran of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Following the Mass, Warden Chance Andes emphasized the importance of inclusion and cultural programming, drawing a contrast between San Quentin and other facilities.
The program featured powerful testimonies, including one from Julio Escobar of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, who shared his journey in restorative justice. Escobar began his ministry in 1995, building relationships with gang members through consistent street outreach in San Francisco. “That’s what it took to do restorative justice practices—not from a book,” he said.
A panel discussion, moderated by Juan Moreno Haines, addressed the harsh reality of deportation faced by rehabilitated residents. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins criticized the punitive immigration consequences that follow incarceration. Stories from residents such as Edwin Chavez and Arturo Menendez highlighted fears of deportation to El Salvador, where tattoos and past affiliations can lead to re-imprisonment in the country’s notorious Cecot prison.
The event underscored the need for policy reform and recognized San Quentin as a model for rehabilitation and cultural healing.
Saul Perez is Social Action & Digital Media coordinator, Office of Human Life & Dignity, Archdiocese of San Francisco. He leads the archdiocesan Immigration Ministry.
