Elba Moya is one of many moms who every Sunday attends Mass at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall chapel, but this year's Easter Sunday Mass was particularly special: Her 18-year-old son, awaiting sentencing, was baptized during the Mass.

"Maybe that will help," Moya told The Tidings minutes after the Mass.

Two young inmates were baptized and four received confirmation during Easter Sunday Mass that started at 8 a.m., with San Pedro Pastoral Region Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Salazar presiding. The Downey facility's chapel was at its capacity of more than 300, including inmates, their relatives, church volunteers, and probation officers.

"Most of you have loving moms and dads," Bishop Salazar said during the homily, after summarizing the story of St. John Bosco's successful ministry with homeless orphans.

"Most of you have people who care for you. Therefore, it is important to worship a living God," Bishop Salazar told the youth who, throughout the liturgy, were watched over by more than 20 probation officers.

"Hopefully, once you have been here you won't be back again," Bishop Salazar continued. "When you leave it would be good that you get a chain with the cross as a reminder of how much Jesus loves you. Share Him with one another and reconcile with family and friends."

Bishop Salazar --- who himself volunteered at the detention center for several years before being ordained a priest --- urged the youth to commit to God and to seek "the Way."

"Jesus is the Way, the Truth," he said. "Ask Jesus, 'Fill me with your truth,' because Jesus brings a life of freedom for our sins."

Volunteer help
María Terrazas found hope and comfort in Bishop Salazar's words. Her 17-year old brother received baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist during the special liturgy.

The teenager was incarcerated together with Moya's son, his longtime friend and neighbor. He lost his mother when he was two years old and an uncle and his siblings took turns to raise him. Throughout the years he became very rebellious, his sister said.

Stories like Terrazas' broke Haydee Bird's heart the first time she volunteered at Los Padrinos. After that first day, she admitted, she was reluctant to go back to support Religious Sister of Charity Teresa Doherty, the center's Catholic chaplain for the past 35 years. But a few days later, she said, "I remembered the Bible's verse where Jesus talks about helping those in prison, and I felt ashamed of myself."

That was 10 years ago. Currently, she leads Bible studies at one of the men's units.

"These are kids who hunger for love," she said. "They just want someone to listen to them and since their parents are not available they find response from their 'homies' on the streets."

When sharing the Gospel with the young boys, Bird said she tries to hear the young men's opinions and she makes emphasis on prayer time. For more than 20 years she has been a member of a prayer group at St. Peter Church in San Pedro.

"They [the incarcerated youth] need to know that Jesus can do everything," she said. "There's nothing impossible for Him, but they need to learn to ask Him.

"It is the enemy who wanders like a roaring lion and tricks them," said María Martínez, a volunteer at Los Padrinos for the last 14 years and a parishioner of Holy Innocents Church in Long Beach.

She enjoys volunteering at the juvenile detention center, she said, because it provides an opportunity to bring hope to the teenagers and their families.

Need for education
Moya and Terrazas said they find some relief knowing their relatives are housed at Los Padrinos, a temporary detention center where they can go to school and are not highly emotionally threatened. Nevertheless, they both worry how the boys are doing physically: if they sleep, if they eat, if they are exposed to danger every night.

The inmates' parents suffer more than their children when they are locked up, according to Javier Stauring, the archdiocesan Office of Restorative Justice co-director. He suggests that parishioners get more involved in providing spiritual and emotional support to the inmates' families.

Stauring also believes social and restorative justice education for the community and the Catholic Church is crucial. Too many Catholics, he said, "don't model the example of Jesus Christ, who had preferential love for the poor, the sinner, the leper or impure, who were hidden."

Restorative justice education "should be tied to our faith and our responsibility for the marginalized."

To volunteer at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, call Sister Teresa Doherty, (562) 940-8711 or 8712.