Today, Sunday, July 17, 2022, is remarkably a great day for Christ Cathedral where we celebrate the 3rd Anniversary of the Dedication of Christ Cathedral and the 1st Anniversary of the Blessing of Our Lady of La Vang Shrine. First, let us give thanks to our Almighty God for the love and blessing that he has bestowed upon us during the last 3 years. Second, we express our deep appreciation to Bishop Kevin Vann, Bishop of Orange, for his love, prayer, support, and care for us. We remember with gratitude Bishop Emeritus Tod Brown, Rector Emeritus Very Rev. Christopher Smith, parochial vicars, and all the faithful both at Christ Cathedral parish and throughout the Diocese who have built this beautiful campus and nurtured the seed of Catholic faith. May we continue to ask Our Lord to bless our priests, deacons, religious and faithful who have served our community tirelessly with its diversity of cultures and races for the greater honor and glory of God. Last but not least, I would like to wholeheartedly express my sincere thanks to Christ Cathedral Parish and Academy’s staff, faculties and students, councils, ministry leaders, volunteers, benefactors, and parishioners who have been immensely generous with their time, talent and treasure, and contributed towards its growth in various ways.
The Diocese of Orange welcomes all to visit the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine on the Christ Cathedral campus. The contemporary outdoor display, which was blessed in a special event on July 17, 2021, serves as a testament to the remarkable journey of the Vietnamese-American people – from war and persecution to a new reality where faith and community are vibrant and ascendant. The Shrine’s centerpiece is a 12-foot tall Virgin Mary statue resembling how the Blessed Mother is believed to have appeared before a group of persecuted Vietnamese Catholics in 1798 in a rainforest of Vietnam. Since then, Our Lady of La Vang has represented hope, faith, and promise to Vietnamese Catholics around the world. The Shrine’s visiting hours are the same as those of the Christ Cathedral campus, every day, from 6 am to 10 pm.
With the intercessions of St. Joseph and Our Lady of Guadalupe / La Vang, may God let our Anniversary year be a year of joy and thanksgiving and a time to receive abundant graces in our journey towards the heavenly Promised Land. As always, I am grateful to you and your family for your constant prayer and loving support for Christ Cathedral. May God reward and bless you and your family abundantly. Happy Anniversary!
With gratitude in Christ,
Very Reverend Bao Thai
Rector