Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church holds mass fives times on Sunday in Spanish and once in English every week.
The historic church has been part of the surrounding Hispanic community since the Bishop of Monterey-Los Angeles converted an earlier mission into the Mexican national parish of San Diego.
“Our tradition and our reputation is set. We are an immigrant parish,” said Fr. Scott Santarosa, senior pastor. This weekend was designate by Pope Leo XIV as the Jubilee of Migrants. In San Diego, it was celebrated with a prayer procession from the church to the doors of St. Joseph Cathedral downtown.
“The jubilee and walk really celebrate the heroic journey that migrants have made. We see them also as an occasion of hope,” Fr. Santarosa said.
Rogelio Martinez stands guard at the front doors of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Sunday. He is a volunteer with the ICE Watch Team, October 5, 2025.
Our tradition and our reputation is set.
We are an immigrant parish.Fr. Scott Santarosa, senior pastor
Since January and the inauguration of the Trump Administration, there has been fear and uncertainty among many parishioners. The church pastoral team has had to develop plans to protect the community in the event of a raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) agents.
Volunteers have formed a community watch team guarding the main entrance to the church sanctuary and placing people nearby at every mass.
Kimberly Morales is one of the team’s coordinators. “Being part of this community as a young adult, I have a big responsibility in speaking up for those who can not at this moment,” she said. The mission is personal to Morales who has loved ones who are undocumented.
Denise Harder is a retired educator who has been a church member more than 25 years.
“We do workshops on knowing your rights and helping people become citizens,” Harder said. She supports migrants in ways to survive the current federal immigration enforcement crackdown.
She told NBC 7, “they (migrants) are very strong and ready to do whatever it takes. They are ready to work and always thinking about how they can help the other people they left behind.”
M.G. Perez
M.G. Perez
Kimberly Morales (standing on patio) welcomes parishioners to mass on Sunday. She is one of the coordinators for the parish ICE Watch team, October 5, 2025.