LAMBERTIAN MINISTRY CENTER
On Saturday, Oct. 9 the Lovers of the Cross inaugurated the Lambertian Ministry Center in Garden Grove. Bishops Kevin Vann, Timothy Freyer and Than Thai Nguyen attended the event. The bishops blessed the center which is located in the Little Saigon area of the city. Facilities include Sacred Heart Chapel, Bishop Lambert Hall and Lambees Preschool. The center offers spiritual and social assistance to the local community including a food pantry, after school program, Respect Life assistance and a yearly Mission of Love to Vietnam.
OKTOBERFEST
On Saturday, Oct. 16, San Francisco Solano Catholic Church celebrated its second annual Oktoberfest. The evening was filled with fun for the whole family and featured Oktoberfest-themed meals, a pie-eating and stein holding contest, a train ride and pumpkin decorating stations for kids and more.
MARIAN DAY CELEBRATION
St. John the Baptist parish in Costa Mesa welcomed Bishop Than Thai Nguyen, Auxilary Bishop of Orange, on Oct. 9 for the final day of the parish’s Marian Days celebration. Bishop Nguyen participated in the Marian Procession, which included clergy, religious sisters, religious education students, members of the Knights of Columbus, the Legion of Mary and many parishioners. Bishop was also the principal celebrant for a tri-lingual Mass. A traditional Vietnamese meal followed the Mass.
CONGRATULATIONS!
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is honoring the Diocese of Orange’s health and well-being consultant Linda M. Gigliotti — MS, RDN, CDCES, CSOWM, FAND — with one of the academy’s 2021 Medallion Awards. The awards, which have been distributed since 1976, recognize outstanding service and leadership in the Academy and the nutrition and dietetics profession.
A recently wed Orange County couple on their honeymoon in Italy recently received a dream wedding gift from none other than Pope Francis himself. According to Rome Reports, while at the Vatican, Kevin and Ivy Nguyen met the Holy Father during his Papal Audience. The couple was wearing traditional Vietnamese wedding outfits as he blessed their marriage. The couple said that being able to meet and speak with the Pope was very special – a dream come true.