Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
OC’s Vietnamese Catholics building new shrine to their Virgin Mary
A rendering of the shrine to Our Lady of La Vang under construction at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove.
(
Courtesy Torrence Architects
)
Listen
4:06
OC’s Vietnamese Catholics building new shrine to their Virgin Mary
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange has broken ground on a multimillion-dollar shrine at the Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove honoring their version of the Virgin Mary.
Many Vietnamese believe Our Lady of La Vang appeared in a vision to their ancestors who were fleeing religious persecution in Vietnam.
The shrine marks a major milestone for Vietnamese Catholics in Orange County, home to the largest population outside of Vietnam. Among OC’s community of 100,000 Vietnamese Catholics are those who fled the war-devastated country after the Communist takeover ended the conflict in 1975.
The new shrine acknowledges that history and the difficult journey that brought Vietnamese church members to the U.S. where they could freely practice their faith.
Aaron Schrank covers religion, international affairs and the Southern California diaspora under a grant from the Luce Foundation.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
