OC CATHOLIC-JULY 17, 2022

JULY 17, 2022

MARIAN DAYS PAGE 8

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ORANGE n OCCATHOLIC.COM

MARIAN DAYS

PRAISING OUR LADY INAUGURAL MARIAN DAYS CELEBRATION WELCOMES NEARLY 15,000 VIETNAMESE CATHOLICS TO CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS PAGE 6

THOUSANDS OF VIETNAMESE CATHOLICS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY ATTENDED THE TWO-DAY INAUGURAL MARIAN DAYS CELEBRATION ON JULY 1 AND 2 THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE.

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July 31, August 7 and August 14

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JULY 17, 2022

CONTENTS

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PRAISING OUR LADY

The weekend-long inaugural celebration brings together thousands of Vietnamese Catholics.

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MARIAN DAYS

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AROUND OUR DIOCESE

The Marian Days celebration included dedicated events for young Catholics.

Honoring sisters’ religious jubilees and a summer music camp for aspiring organists.

ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC MISSION STATEMENT The Orange County Catholic Newspaper seeks to illuminate and animate the journey of faith for Catholics within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange – building solidarity among the faithful and inviting a deeper understanding and involvement in the mission of Christ – through the timely sharing of news, commentary and feature content in an engaging, accessible and compelling format.

ORANGE COUNTY CATHOLIC

The Official Newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange Diocese of Orange Pastoral Center, 13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove 92840 Publisher: The Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of Orange Executive Editor: Monsignor Stephen Doktorczyk Editor: Patricia Mahoney, editor@occatholic.com News Ideas: editor@occatholic.com Delivery Problems: occatholicsupport@occatholic.com

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Art Director: Kenneth Abbott

Delivered weekly to parishes and homes throughout Orange County, Calif., Orange County Catholic is published by SCNG Custom Content, a division of Southern California News Group that offers content development and design expertise to businesses and nonprofit institutions. The Orange County Catholic editorial staff and editorial council are responsible for the content contained herein.

Events and products advertised in Orange County Catholic do not carry the implicit endorsement of the Diocese of Orange or SCNG Custom Content.

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GUEST COLUMN

MARIAN DAYS

BY REV. BAO QUOC THAI

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OR THE VIETNAMESE Catholic faithful in the United States, there are several different annual Marian Days throughout the year, such as in Carthage, Missouri; Portland, Oregon; and Las Vegas, Nevada. The Vietnamese faithful in Orange County always attend Marian Days in the above-mentioned places. Being aware of this need for an opportunity closer to home, Bishop Kevin Vann and Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen felt that we should do something at Christ Cathedral campus.

Marian Days offers Catholics an opportunity to come together to pray, to walk in the Marian Procession while praying the Holy Rosary around the

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Cathedral campus and to participate in Masses with the bishops of the Diocese of Orange, along with its choir of more than 800 voices. We give thanks to God for bestowing upon us many blessings through the intercession of Our Lady of La Vang Shrine—and that is the main theme this year, “With Mary, Giving Thanks to God.” Marian Days also provides exceptional faith formation opportunities from nationally recognized speakers who address relevant topics of faith, catechesis, education, theology, Mariology, prayer and liturgy. Participants truly walk together in Faith by attending these significant keynote addresses, participating in adoration and confession in Christ Cathedral, listening to Christian musical performances and visiting the magnificent Shrine of Our Lady of La Vang and the beautiful art around the Cathedral campus.

Christ Cathedral was dedicated on July 17, 2019, after six years of renovations. Our Lady of La Vang Shrine was blessed on July 17, 2021. There were 10,000 faithful who gathered at the foot of the Blessed Virgin Mary to worship

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REV. BAO QUOC THAI. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN GEORGES/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE

their Triune God. Since then, Holy Mass has been celebrated at the Shrine on the very first Saturday of each month. There are over 1,000 faithful who attend monthly. There are 57 parishes and five centers CONTINUES ON PAGE 15

The Diocese of Orange, through OC Catholic newspaper, presents local, national and world news about the Catholic Church.

Our intention is to give our readers access to a variety of perspectives in order to help them to process the information within the framework of our Catholic faith, but also to better understand the perspectives of those with opposing viewpoints. We hope that ultimately our readers will be better equipped to have constructive conversations that further the growth of the Catholic Church.

DAILY READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

“

The marginalization of the elderly … corrupts all seasons of life

”

— Pope Francis

JULY 17, 2022 SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME PRAYER AND SERVICE

H

OW DO WE BRING balance and joy to our lives of prayer and service to our loving God? In the Gospel today, Jesus tells Martha that her concern about doing the right thing as dictated by Jewish tradition might not be the best use of her energies. Her sister, Mary, who sits in rapt attention at Jesus’ feet, should not be rebuked. Is Jesus trying to show Martha that she needs to make time for her spiritual nourishment? Abraham and Sarah in the first reading seem to be just like Martha. And yet Abraham’s eager welcome and joyful serving of his “visitors” seems almost spiritual. How like Paul, in the second reading, rejoicing in his service to the gospel!

We hear in the psalm that those who do justice will live in the Lord’s presence. Prayer and service—what greater joy could there be?

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. C

SAINT PROFILE

MARCELLINA C. 330–400

S

T. MARCELLINA WAS THE older sister of two sainted brothers, Ambrose and Satyrus. She cared for them as youths and planted in them the desire to become holy. In 353, she consecrated herself to the Lord’s service at St. Peter’s in the presence of Pope Liberius. Marcellina did not join a religious community, but lived at Rome with a companion. When Ambrose became the Archbishop of Milan, she would visit him to give him her sisterly spiritual advice. And he dedicated his treatise on the excellence of virginity to her. He once described Marcellina as “a holy sister, worshipful for her holiness, equally for her uprightness.” C

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

PHOTOS: CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE, SHUTTERSTOCK

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MI 6:1-4, 6-8; PS 50:5-6, 8-9, 16BC-17, 21, 23; MT 12:38-42

MI 7:14-15, 18-20; PS 85:2-8; MT 12:46-50

JER 1:1, 4-10; PS 71:1-4A, 5-6AB, 15, 17; MT 13:1-9

JER 2:1-3, 7-8, 1213; PS 26:6-7AB, 8-11; MT 13:10-17

SG 3:1-4B OR 2 COR 5:14-17; PS 63:2-6, 8-9; JN 20:1-2, 11-18

JER 7:1-11; PS 84:3-6A, 8A, 11; MT 13:24-30

GEN 18:20-32; PS 138:1-3, 6-8; COL 2:12-14; LK 11:1-13

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FEATURE

PRAISING OUR LADY

INAUGURAL MARIAN DAYS CELEBRATION WELCOMES NEARLY 15,000 VIETNAMESE CATHOLICS TO CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS

BY GREG HARDESTY

A

S CHRISTIAN MUSIC played from large outdoor speakers, Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen stood in the shade of the Christ Cathedral as the late-afternoon sun brightly burned.

He was joined by several thousand Vietnamese Catholics from around the country who were awaiting the start of the inaugural Marian Days, a two-day celebration that began at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 1, and continued through 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 2.

“I think the word ‘exciting’ captures the feeling now,” Bishop Nguyen said.

The event’s focus was the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine, whose dedication on the Christ Cathedral campus last July 17 culminated several years of planning and fundraising by Orange County’s Vietnamese Catholic community.

And now, the first-ever O.C. Marian Days was about to begin – two days of Masses, processions, workshops, rallies, worship, dancing, food and music centered around on the shrine’s centerpiece: a 12-foot-tall Virgin Mary statue depicting how the Blessed Mother is believed to have appeared before a group of persecuted Vietnamese Catholics in 1798 in a rainforest of Vietnam.

“The success of this event comes from the heart of the Vietnamese Catholics who love all the things related to Marian devotion,” Bishop Nguyen said. “That’s the core of this event.”

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YOUNG WOMEN WALK IN A PROCESSION CARRYING BOUQUETS OF FRESHLY CUT RED ROSES TO THE OUR LADY OF LA VANG SHRINE DURING THE MARIAN DAYS EVENT HELD ON SATURDAY, JULY 2. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSHUA SUDOCK/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE

VOLUNTEERS READY THE OUR LADY OF LA VANG FLOAT IN PREPARATION FOR THE MARIAN DAYS PROCESSION ON SATURDAY, JULY 2. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

OLD FRIENDS

A few minutes later, 14 Vietnamese women and men made a beeline to Bishop Nguyen.

They arrived in Orange County on June 28 from Jacksonville, Fla., where for 17 years Bishop Nguyen served as parochial vicar and pastor of their parish, Christ the King Catholic Church.

“We love Bishop Thanh,” said Christ the King parishioner Sheila Ta-Nguyen. “He’s a humble person and we came here to enjoy this special experience. We’re very excited.”

At Christ the King, before his move to Orange County in 2013, Bishop Nguyen helped lead an effort to build a Vietnamese center and to preserve Vietnamese cultural traditions.

Now, he once again found himself surrounded by Vietnamese Catholics whose reverence and joy were palpable.

“I heard that some people came all the way from Vietnam to be here,” Bishop Nguyen said.

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CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

BISHOP KEVIN VANN GREETS A YOUNGSTER AFTER CELEBRATING MASS ON SATURDAY, JULY 2. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

FEATURE INSPIRATION

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange’s Marian Days (“Marian” refers to things relating to the Virgin Mary) was inspired and modeled after the annual Marian Days of Carthage, Mo. That pilgrimage-style festival has been in place since 1978, drawing tens of thousands of attendees, particularly Vietnamese Catholics, to the Midwest to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Orange County’s July 1 and 2 event, themed as “With Mary, Giving Thanks to God,” featured a festival-like environment and guest speakers for youth and adult parishioners on topics such as catechesis, education, theology, Mariology, prayer and liturgy.

The outdoor-indoor celebration also included informational booths with representatives from various Diocese of Orange parishes, ministries, and other dioceses.

Some 2,000 people volunteered for Marian Days, and 10,000 white chairs were set up facing the outdoor shrine.

“Orange County is the hub of Vietnamese people in the United States, so this is very special,” Bishop Nguyen said.

Father Brandon Dang, vocations director for the Diocese of Orange, staffed a booth outside Christ Cathedral.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for us to gather as Catholics,” he said. “And it’s very significant in terms of Vietnamese culture and these grounds, where we now have the Our Lady of La Vang shrine. This event is all-encompassing.”

BISHOP THANH THAI NGUYEN JOINS A PROCESSION DOWN TO THE OUR LADY OF LA VANG SHRINE FOR A MARIAN DAYS MASS ON JULY 2. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

DRUMMING AND SINGING

Father Vincent Pham, director of the Vietnamese Catholic Center in Santa Ana, got things rolling at the Garden Grove campus with a countdown.

“Happy Marian Days!” he declared.

“Ave Maria!” the crowd roared.

July 1 happened to be the first official workday in his new role for Father Bao Thai, the new rector of Christ Cathedral who replaced longtime rector Father Christopher Smith.

“Fantastic!” he declared when asked how CONTINUES ON PAGE 16

BISHOP THANH THAI NGUYEN ADDRESSES ATTENDEES DURING MARIAN DAYS ON JULY 2. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE J U LY 1 7 2 0 2 2 n O C C AT H O L I C

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FEATURE BISHOP TIMOTHY FREYER, BISHOP THANH THAI NGUYEN AND FR. BRANDON DANG WALK IN A PROCESSION TOWARD THE OUR LADY OF LA VANG SHRINE ON SATURDAY, JULY 2. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARISA TRUJILLO/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE

ALTAR SERVERS LEAD A PROCESSION TOWARD THE OUR LADY OF LA VANG SHRINE DURING THE INAUGURAL MARIAN DAYS CELEBRATION AT THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS ON FRIDAY, JULY 1. PHOTO COURTESY OF DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

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THE FAITHFUL WALK IN A ROSARY PROCESSION AROUND CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS ON SATURDAY, JULY 2 DURING THE MARIAN DAYS CELEBRATION. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

FEATURE

CHILDREN PERFORM A LITURGICAL DANCE PRIOR TO MASS AT THE OUR LADY OF LA VANG SHRINE ON SATURDAY, JULY 2. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

A YOUNG DANCE PERFORMER IS SHOWN DURING A MARIAN DAYS PERFORMANCE ON SATURDAY, JULY 2. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARISA TRUJILLO/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

BOOTHS FEATURING TRADITIONAL VIETNAMESE FOOD WERE ON HAND DURING THE MARIAN DAYS CELEBRATION AT THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS ON JULY 1 AND 2. PHOTO COURTESY OF KIERNAN COLIFLORES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE J U LY 1 7 2 0 2 2 n O C C AT H O L I C

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FEATURE WELCOMING OUR YOUTH

MARIAN DAYS

YOUTH RALLY ATTENDEES PLACE CANDLES IN FRONT OF THE OUR LADY OF LA VANG SHRINE DURING THE MARIAN DAYS CELEBRATION HELD ON FRIDAY, JULY 1. PHOTO COURTESY OF DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

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BY LOU PONSI

W

HEN PLANNING FOR the Diocese of Orange’s first ever Our Lady of La Vang Marian Days celebration, the planning committee concluded that including a full schedule of activities for youth and young adults was essential, said Laura Schuberg, coordinator of youth ministry and confirmation for the Diocese.

Judging by the enthusiasm displayed by attendees at the youth and young adult sessions, the Diocese made the right call.

Six sessions geared towards the under-30 age group drew hundreds of participants over the two days of the festival, which was held at Christ Cathedral on July 1-2.

Thousands of Vietnamese Catholics turned out to celebrate the Virgin Mary, who is said to have appeared in the Forest of La Vang in Vietnam in 1798, a time when Catholics were being persecuted and killed.

“The committee was really forward-thinking in realizing that if we really want to continue to pass along our faith, we need to make sure that there is a place for (youth and young adults) to be known and to be loved and for people to speak their language and get to know them at a place just for them,” Schuberg said. “For me, what I was really excited about especially, was that this is a place for all youth, but in a particular way, we wanted the Vietnamese youth to feel like they are home.”

Father Ben Tran and Sister Kimberly Nguyen kicked off the first youth workshop in the gymnasium on Friday, July 1 with ice-breaking activities that included games titled “Anti-Boomer Trivia,” “Stuff Teens Know but Adults Do Not” and “All About Mary.”

Fr. Tran, who serves at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in San Clemente, then CONTINUES ON PAGE 11

FEATURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

shared his thoughts on Mary’s significance in the Catholic faith.

“The beautiful thing about Mary and Jesus is they are always connected,” Fr. Tran said. “It’s said that behind every good man is an amazing woman. With Jesus, behind him from the very beginning was Mary. Jesus is part of her very flesh.”

Paul J. Kim, a noted youth and young adult Catholic speaker, author and musician, gave talks on Friday and Saturday, sharing about his own transformational experiences as a hard partying but conflicted college student at UCLA before one day feeling the “the presence of Mary” guiding him to become closer to Jesus.

Kim then began a regular routine of prayer and reflection “I felt more peace, joy and purpose from 25 minutes of prayer than from than a whole month’s worth of screwing PAUL J. KIM, AN INSPIRATIONAL CATHOLIC SPEAKER FROM TEXAS, TALKS TO THE YOUTH ATTENDEES OF THE INAUGURAL MARIAN DAYS CELEBRATION AT THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. PHOTO COURTESY OF KIERNAN around,” Kim said. “She was leading me CONIFLORES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE closer to Christ. She led me to confession. She led me closer to the Eucharist.

She led me to Mass. It was all through this motherly, gentle, beautiful, silent presence of Our Lady.”

Joseph Nguyen, age 18 from Garden Grove, came with members of the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement, a group of youngsters from churches throughout the county.

“I never really thought about venerating Mary, but (Kim) gave me a different view,” Nguyen said. “There is a younger way of looking at things. I liked his enthusiasm.”

Nicholas Dang, 14, from Garden Grove, said he’d been a bit distant from the church recently and came to Marian Days wanting to reconnect with his faith.

“After the first session, I was really into it,” Dang said.

In a Saturday session titled “Vice to Virtue,” young adults heard candid testimonies from Kenny Nguyen and Christian Vue, a young couple who each A FULL SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES AND WORKSHOPS GEARED TOWARDS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WAS OFFERED DURING shared about using a variety of spirMARIAN DAYS, JULY 1 AND 2 AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. PHOTO COURTESY OF DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE itual tools to emerge from addictive,

soul-crushing lifestyles.

Vue talked about being in a destructive, sinful relationship which she kept secret from her family and friends.

“Deep down, I knew it was wrong,” Vu said.

After finally ending the relationship, healing was more painful than the relationship itself, she said.

“Inside I felt that shame, that regret,” Vu said. “All the lies. All the sins. They were still part of my wounds. I still felt the emptiness, and like I was a disgrace.”

A friend suggested a Catholic YouTube video, which then led Vu to more Catholic social networking sites and apps, which she continues to use daily.

“I learned that God doesn’t love me just because I do things that are not sinful versus sinful,” Vu said. “He loves me whether I deserve it or not. So now I stand here before you, not just as Christina, but ‘Christ-ina,’ not just because Christ is in me, but that he has been with me all along.”

One participant spoke openly about his long-time addiction issues.

He said he and a friend then visited Lourdes, a town in southern France where a Marian apparition – an appearance by Mary – is said to have occurred in 1858.

Catholics make pilgrimages to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes with hopes of healing from addictions and illness.

He said he went home and after a week or so, for the first time in his life, felt a desire to come clean.

So, he went to confession and forged a close bond with a priest who told him to pray the Hail Mary whenever he feels tempted to sin.

After the coronavirus kept her isolated, Emily Dang, 18, from Garden Grove, said reconnecting with friends in the youth movement in such a large gathering was invigorating.

“I think it was nice to have something to reflect and refresh my relationship with God and deepen my faith again,” Dang said. C

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PAGE FEATURE HEADING

A JOYOUS TRIBUTE

MARIAN DAYS OFFERS MUSIC AND DANCE PERFORMANCES TO HONOR MARY

BY LOU PONSI

T

HE HIGHLIGHT OF THE Marian Days celebration at Christ Cathedral Church was a liturgical dance performed at the base of Our Lady of La Vang shrine in front of a gathering of thousands of worshipers.

Performed as an expression of adoration and gratitude for the Virgin Mary, the traditional Vietnamese dance featured more than 200 dancers adorned in vibrantly colored silk tunics with pants, called ao dai, with each color symbolizing love for Mary in its own unique way, said Julianne Nguyen, the organizer of the dance group.

Large and small drums, typically reserved for big events and celebrations, were played.

Girls, some as young as 8 years old, walked in a procession carrying bouquets of freshly cut flowers, commonly associated with Mary.

Adults walked behind the children as a show of support Some performers wore red, signifying love. Others wore blue and white, colors synonymous with Mary.

“The entire dance is meant to glorify Mary,” Nguyen said.

The dancers were selected from seven Vietnamese churches around the county, Nguyen said, and most have experience performing liturgical dances at their own churches.

Jason Bui, 22, a parishioner at Christ Cathedral, played one of the large drums. THE VIETNAMESE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY DRUM GROUP PERFORM DURING THE MARIAN DAYS CELEBRATION HELD ON SATURDAY, JULY 2 AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. CONTINUES ON PAGE 13

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PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

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FEATURE

YOUNG DANCERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE VIETNAMESE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY DO A SPECIAL DANCE ON JULY 2 IN FRONT OF THE OUR LADY OF LA VANG SHRINE AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

A PERFORMER POSES WITH MARIAN DAYS VISITORS ON SATURDAY, JULY 2. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

CHILDREN PERFORM A LITURGICAL DANCE PRIOR TO MASS AT THE OUR LADY OF LA VANG SHRINE ON SATURDAY, JULY 2. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

Bui wanted to perform in the dance to do his part for the church and honor Vietnamese Catholic tradition.

“To be a part of it, you feel very holy and wholesome,” Bui said. “And it’s all about the community. And you get to worship Jesus and venerate Mary.”

The performers spent several hours practicing before Marian Days, Bui said.

“There are many different events,” he said. “Big or small, we always try to do our best.”

Sophia Nguyen, 10, said performing in such a large event was “exciting.”

“I was happy that I was helping out the church,” Sophia said. “It’s really fun. I get to talk to my friends, and I really like doing the dances.”

Cindy Tran, who leads Our Lady of La Vang parish’s Vietnamese language school in Santa Ana, was responsible for organizing the drummers and the CONTINUES ON PAGE 17

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DIOCESAN NEWS

AROUND OUR DIOCESE

BY STAFF

SISTERS CELEBRATE RELIGIOUS JUBILEES

The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, are pleased to announce the religious jubilees of two of their sisters who have ties to the Diocese of Orange.

Sister Rose Virginia Eichman is celebrating 70 years within the Congregation this year. During her time in the Diocese of Orange, Sister Rose Virginia ministered as a housekeeper at Marywood from 1967-69 and in convent service, also at Marywood, from 1977-80.

Sister Agnes Maureen Badura is celebrating 75 years with the Congregation this year. During her time in our Diocese, she ministered as a provincial treasure for the St. Michael Provincial House in Tustin from 1984-87.

SISTER AGNES MAUREEN BADURA. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SISTERS OF PROVIDENCE OF SAINT MARY-OF-THEWOODS

CHRIST CATHEDRAL HOSTS SUMMER CAMP

On June 27, the music ministry of Christ Cathedral hosted students participating in a summer camp organized by a local chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO).

The camps, which take place throughout the United States, are called “Pipe Organ Encounters.” They include visits to hear a region’s pipe organs.

The students heard all three organs on the Christ Cathedral campus: the newly restored Hazel Wright Organ (in the cathedral), the Frederick Swann Organ (located inside the Arboretum) and the Bob Tall Rodgers Organ (in the Chapel in the Sky atop the Tower of Hope).

A highlight was an hour-long concert on Hazel featuring David Ball, cathedral organist and music ministry director; Dr. Emma Whitten, associate

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SISTER ROSE VIRGINA EICHMAN. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SISTERS OF PROVIDENCE OF MARY-IN-THE-WOODS

ORGAN SCHOLAR HUBERT TRAN. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE.

organist; and Organ Scholars Hubert Tran, a senior at Mater Dei High School, and Alyce Reynaud, a first-year voice major at Irvine Valley College.

The performance also featured the inaugural use of Hazel’s second console in an organ duet since the instrument’s completed restoration. Ball played on the main console on the cathedral’s

north end while Dr. Whitten concurrently played on the second console located across the cathedral in its south balcony.

“Pipe Organ Encounters are a formulative part of youth music education for young organists,” said David Ball, music ministry director. “I went to one as did so many of my friends who are

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now cathedral and concert organists.

I’m so happy my team and I got to share Hazel with this group, especially on this historic day inaugurating the second console that was so beautifully restored by the Ruffattis. Who knows?

Years from now, one of the kids who visited could be the next Christ Cathedral organist!” C

GUEST COLUMN

CLASSIFIED ADS

FR. BAO THAI RECEIVES A GIFT FROM BISHOP KEVIN VANN ON HIS FIRST DAY AS RECTOR OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL, FRIDAY JULY 1. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

To report sexual abuse by clergy or church personnel please call: 1 (800) 364–3064 Healing and Hope After Abortion: 1 (800) 722–4356 New Hope Crisis Counseling Hot Line (24/7): 1 (714) NEW–HOPE or 1 (714) 639–4673

in the Diocese. Among them, we have 16 parishes that offer Vietnamese Masses and Ministries. Each Vietnamese community from the 16 parishes takes turn to serve the Monthly First Saturday. On July 1 and 2, all the Vietnamese in the Diocese came together with Bishop Vann, Bishop Freyer and Bishop Nguyen, to make the successful inaugural Marian Days at Christ Cathedral campus possible.

Marian Days consisted of two days, Friday and Saturday. On Friday we focused on the English-speaking faithful, especially youth and young adults. We began with a youth rally in English in the school gym, followed by opening Mass in English at the Shrine celebrated

by Bishop Timothy Freyer, and Young Adult Praise and Worship in English in the gym. We also had a keynote speaker addressing the Marian Days’ theme in Vietnamese at the Shrine to commence the inaugural Marian Days.

Additionally, people visited the food court area for their dinner and entertainment. There was music and dance performances by well-known Vietnamese singers and local organizations.

Others visited ministries and vocations’ booths for information on how to get involved.

Saturday began with the Healing Mass inside the Christ Cathedral, followed by a healing prayer service, Eucharistic Adoration and individual confessions.

The highlight of Marian Days was the Vietnamese workshop on a variety of topics for both youth and adults presented by well-known Vietnamese speakers, including professors teaching at seminary and retreat masters. Having two tracks parallel allowed parents to enjoy their Vietnamese sessions while their Vietnamese American born children attended the English ones.

The climax of the second day was the grand Marian procession around Christ Cathedral campus. We started from the Shrine, entered Chapman Avenue, and turned to the Lewis Street and back to the Shrine.

Almost 15,000 people attended Marian Days and had the opportunity to gather, renew their faith in God and review or learn the teachings of the Church — particularly the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

We look forward to your participation at the next Marian Days event on July 14–15, 2023, with the theme, “With Mary, We Journey” at the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine. C

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FEATURE CONTINUES FROM PAGE 7

his day was going before he disappeared into the throng.

A performance by the Thin Ân Drummers Group – the words mean, respectively, “Heaven” and “Blessings” in Vietnamese -- and liturgical music by the 200-member Vietnamese Youth Choir preceded an opening Mass at 7:30 p.m.

The Mass, celebrated in English in some parts and Vietnamese in others, was celebrated by Bishop Timothy Freyer.

An estimated 4,000 people attended the Mass, whose Gospel reading (Luke 2:41-51) described how Jesus, at age 12, along with his family went to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Passover.

On their way home, Jesus went missing.

Three days later, his parents found him in the temple conversing with teachers.

“Imagine the panic, the worry, the anxiety that their 12-year-old boy was lost in the big city,” Bishop Freyer said of Mary and Joseph.

After finding her son, Mary felt frustration, confusion and joy, Bishop Freyer said.

“Mary has a love for all of her children and seeks us and tries to help us,” he continued. “In 1798, when people fled into the jungle because they were being persecuted, many began to get sick and so our Lady of La Vang came to them as they were praying the rosary and gave them medicine so they could be healed.

“She came at a time of great tragedy, sadness, loss, fear, and confusion and brought comfort and release and healing not just to bodies, but to souls. And in 1975, as many fled Vietnam and were sent adrift on small boats, they began to pray to Mary and once again she found her children in need and guided them to safe shores.”

Bishop Freyer remarked how the Vietnamese have enriched the United States and other countries with their devotion to the “Blessed Mother of faith and Jesus Christ and a beautiful, vibrant, and rich culture.”

After Mass, youth and adults participated in a candlelight procession to the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine.

ROSARY PROCESSION

On Saturday morning, a crowd of

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BISHOP THANH THAI NGUYEN CELEBRATES A SPECIAL MASS FOR MORE THAN 3,000 PEOPLE IN CHRIST CATHEDRAL THE MORNING OF JULY 2 DURING THE INAUGURAL MARIAN DAYS CELEBRATION. PHOTO COURTESY OF KIERNAN CONIFLORES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

A LITURGICAL DANCE IS PERFORMED AT THE BASE OF THE OUR LADY OF LA VANG SHRINE IN FRONT OF A GATHERING OF THOUSANDS OF WORSHIPERS FOR THE INAUGURAL MARIAN DAYS ON SATURDAY, JULY 2. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

3,000 showed up for a “healing Mass” celebrated by Bishop Nguyen and featuring a choir of 100 adults.

Throughout the day, the campus hosted various workshops and sessions geared for teens.

Saturday’s big event was a 90-minute rosary procession that had thousands of participants walking off the Christ Cathedral campus’ west side to Chapman Avenue, then heading east in a single lane of traffic before turning down Lewis Street to enter the campus’ east side and ending up at the shrine of Our Lady of La Vang.

Maryann Tran, 12, a parishioner at St. Columban in Garden Grove, was among several youth dancers in the procession.

“I think this is a very special event, and I’m very excited to dance,” said Maryann, wearing a blue traditional long Vietnamese ao dai dress.

Thirty Vietnamese Knights of Columbus members were at the front of the procession behind eight senior altar servers at Christ Cathedral.

Altar server Joshua Dang, a freshman at Orange Coast College, led the procession with a fellow altar server.

“It’s a great honor to be part of this procession and to lead it at a pace with everyone following me,” Dang said. “It’s a blessing and a good step forward for Vietnamese Catholic youth.”

Volunteers handed out blue fans as souvenirs and for participants to help stay cool during the long walk.

A liturgical dance featuring more than 200 people, as well as a 500-person choir and orchestra, preceded the event-concluding 7:30 p.m. Mass whose main celebrant was Bishop Kevin Vann.

‘BLESSED OPPORTUNITY’

BISHOP TIMOTHY FREYER DISTRIBUTES COMMUNION DURING THE EVENING MARIAN DAYS MASS ON SATURDAY, JULY 2. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

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The nearly $13 million Our Lady of La Vang shrine, the site of monthly Masses as well as other observances and celebrations, is nearly complete.

Still to be added behind it is a Marian garden that will stretch to Lewis Street.

Fr. Bao said he was inspired by O.C.’s inaugural Marian Days and looks forward to next year’s event, which is poised to be an annual tradition for Vietnamese Catholics everywhere.

“Marian Days were indeed the blessed opportunity for the faithful to renew their faith in Christ and learn the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the salvific plan of God for humanity,” he said. C

FEATURE

THE FAITHFUL MOVE AN OUR LADY OF LA VANG FLOAT DOWN LEWIS STREET DURING A SPECIAL PROCESSION ON JULY 2 FOR THE INAUGURAL MARIAN DAYS. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

AN ORCHESTRA PERFORMS DURING THE INAUGURAL MARIAN DAYS CELEBRATION AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS ON SATURDAY, JULY 2. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

YOUNG DANCERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE VIETNAMESE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY DO A SPECIAL DANCE IN FRONT OF THE OUR LADY OF LA VANG SHRINE ON SATURDAY, JULY 2 AT THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSHUA SUDOCK/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

BISHOP THANH THAI NGUYEN, BISHOP TIMOTHY FREYER AND BISHOP KEVIN VANN WALK IN A PROCESSION DURING THE INAUGURAL MARIAN DAYS ON SATURDAY, JULY 2. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN GEORGES/DIOCESE OF ORANGE

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girls carrying the bouquets.

Tran said she enjoys partnering with other churches to prepare for large events such as Marian Days.

“Hopefully, this is something we’ll do every year, just to highlight the culture and to honor Mary,” said Tran, who is also a U.S. Navy veteran. “We

just feel that we are fortunate to have our family and jobs and that we grew up here. We just want to give back and build a better community.”

Steven Nguyen, 9, of Garden Grove, said practicing for the performance was a bit challenging due to the enormous number of dances and the massive size of the event itself.

But Steven also said that dancing for Mary was “quite an honor.”

“It was fun to help her,” he said. “So many churches dancing in one group to dance for Mary.”

Dancer Kevin Duong, 25, of Huntington Beach, said he was grateful to be part of the first ever Marian Days celebration at Christ Cathedral.

“I love to have the opportunity to come and pay tribute to Mary,” said Duong, who is the former president of the Vietnamese of Eucharistic Youth Movement. “It’s a great way for everyone to come together, learn about Vietnamese culture and honor Mary and have fun. I think I’m still absorbing how big an event it really is.” C

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