Bishop Vann to Lead Ceremonial Blessing for Future Our Lady of La Vang Shrine at Christ Cathedral
The event marks a major milestone for the Vietnamese Catholic community in their dream to build a shrine in the heart of “Little Saigon.”
Garden Grove, Calif., (Oct. 16, 2017) – In an elaborate ceremony accented by traditional Vietnamese dancers and a large outdoor Mass, the Most Rev. Kevin Vann, Bishop of Orange, will join thousands of Vietnamese Catholics to celebrate a major step forward in the creation of a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of LaVang.
The event marks the ceremonial blessing of the future shrine’s site on the Christ Cathedral campus, a project announced in December 2016. Since then, the design process has been completed and significant fundraising continues to fully fund its construction.
Event Details
- What: Ceremonial Blessing and Outdoor Mass for the future Shrine of Our Lady of La Vang.
- When: Saturday, October 21, 2017, at 4:00 p.m.
- Where: Christ Cathedral Campus (13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, CA 92840).
- Who: Most Rev. Kevin Vann, Bishop of Orange, Vietnamese clergy, and thousands of faithful.
A Dream Realized for the Vietnamese Community
The shrine is a deeply significant project for the local community, which is the largest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam. The Blessed Mother has provided spiritual care and protection to Vietnamese Catholics through centuries of persecution and hardship, and they carry a deep connection to Our Lady of LaVang.
Bishop Kevin Vann: “The energy and excitement within the Vietnamese Catholic community to build a shrine to the patroness of the Vietnamese people has been a blessing to our ministry at Christ Cathedral. I am pleased that the diligent efforts of the volunteers supporting this effort have reached this important milestone.”
Aaron Torrence, AIA, Torrence Architects: “Over the past year our teams of architects and designers has visited the shrine to our Lady in LaVang, Vietnam twice… We feel that we have successfully married a contemporary design ethic with the tradition and solemnity of Our Lady of LaVang and the journey of faith for Vietnamese Catholics.”
The Story of Our Lady of LaVang
The devotion to Our Lady of LaVang dates back to the late 18th century in Vietnam.
- 1798: Fearing the spread of Catholicism, the Cảnh Thịnh Emperor began a brutal persecution, forcing many Catholics to seek refuge in the rainforest of LaVang.
- The Apparition: While praying the rosary, the refugees saw an apparition of the Blessed Mother in the branches of a tree. Dressed in a traditional Vietnamese áo dài and holding the infant Jesus, she comforted them and told them to boil leaves from local trees to cure their illnesses.
- The Legacy: In 1802, the Christians returned to their villages, sharing the story of the apparition. As the story spread, many pilgrims came to the site, and a chapel was built there in 1820.
Contact Information
Pastoral Center: Communications Department 13280 Chapman Avenue, Garden Grove, CA 92840 Office: 714-282-3075 Fax: 714-282-3029