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AROUND THE DIOCESE

By STAFF     9/21/2021

 

THE VIETNAMESE CATHOLIC CENTER CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

The Vietnamese Catholic Center celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special Mass on Sunday, Sept. 12. The center in Santa Ana had its chapel dedicated on Sept. 14, 1996. The chapel holds 200 people for daily Mass, retreats and prayer services. Other facilities at the center include a large hall, kitchen, priests’ living quarters, library and recording studio.

The center has a history dating back to at least 1983, when Bishop William Johnson, the first Bishop of Orange, oversaw the acquisition of property in Santa Ana that served as the first temporary center. Other buildings were constructed in the years following, including the chapel that was finished in May 1996.

The Vietnamese Catholic Center has helped serve the local Vietnamese population of Orange County ever since the fall of Saigon. The Vietnamese Catholic Center is a symbol of the Vietnamese Catholic faith and their deep devotion to traditional and cultural values. It serves more than 83,000 Vietnamese Catholics and non-Catholics, as well as various Vietnamese groups and associations throughout the U.S. and abroad.

 

BLESSING OF THE CHAPEL AT HOUSE OF PRAYER

On Wednesday, Sept. 15, the House of Prayer rededicated its recently renovated Blessed Sacrament Chapel with individual and group Adoration, as well as a procession, singing, a benediction and fraternal luncheon. The House of Prayer, located on Santiago Canyon Road in the city of Orange, is a priest retreat center with eight Santa Fe-style casitas.

 

‘AMERICAN BUILT’ FEATURES CHRIST CATHEDRAL

On Monday, Sept. 20, a show detailing the history of Christ Cathedral, formerly known as the Crystal Cathedral, premiered on the Fox Business Network. The Christ Cathedral episode is the first show of “American Built with Stuart Varney,” which is now in its second season.

Fr. Christopher Smith, rector of Christ Cathedral, was interviewed for the show in February, as were members of the Schuller family, who originally founded the campus and built the Crystal Cathedral.

 

ST. THOMAS MORE CHURCH AND ST. ANNE’S CELEBRATE 9/11 MEMORIAL MASSES

St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Irvine celebrated a 9/11 Memorial Mass and special prayer service on Saturday, Sept. 11. Fr. Eugene Lee, St. Thomas More’s pastor, and Fr. Kiet Ta, its parochial vicar, led the ceremony along with members from the Knights of Columbus. Special guests included Orange County Fire Authority personnel from Station 26 in Irvine, led by Capt. Robert Smith, as well as Irvine police Lt. Frough Jahid. A memorial table included a book of remembrance that contained the names of all the 9/11 victims. The table was adorned with nine candles that were lit as each group was named. During each invocation, the bell tolled as the candle was lit.

On Saturday, Sept. 11, St. Anne’s Seal Beach celebrated Mass at 9 a.m. to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of 9/11. That evening, the parish had a spaghetti dinner to honor both clergy and parishioners who are military veterans. The dinner included inviting local first responders from the fire department and police department in Seal Beach.