Women carry a statue of Our Lady of LaVang from the courtyard of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport into the church for Mass Aug. 17.
By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
DAVENPORT — The Vietnamese Catholic community has shown its love at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bishop-elect Thom Hennen said during the community’s celebration of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Bishop Dennis Walsh presided at the Mass Aug. 17. The bishop-elect and six priests of Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa, concelebrated.
The celebration, which took place two days after the actual feast day, began in the cathedral courtyard with song, dance and a balloon release before processing with a statue of Our Lady of LaVang into the cathedral. A reception followed Mass.
“I love your food,” Bishop-elect Hennen told his congregation. “I love your joyful spirit. I love your commitment to family and the community. But most of all, I love your faith. You wear your faith on your sleeve. You don’t hide it,” he said during his homily. “People who visit your homes know you are Catholic. They can tell this is a Catholic home…. I love your love and devotion to Mary. You are not shy in telling her that you love her. She is a cause for joy for you.”
The Vietnamese community believes that Mary has been with them from Vietnam to the United States, Bishop-elect Hennen noted. For those who struggle or are afraid to approach Mary, “Remember her words ‘Do whatever he tells you,’” the bishop-elect said, referring to Jesus. “Mary said ‘yes’ from the manger to the empty tomb. She should be honored,” he continued. “Thank you for your unrelenting Christian hospitality and love … God bless you as we celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary – the cause of our joy.”
Trein Martin Ngo, president of the Vietnamese Catholic community, said their community has been together for 45 years in the Quad City area and 24 years at Sacred Heart Cathedral. He thanked the Diocese of Davenport and the agencies that settled the Vietnamese in the area. He thanked the cathedral community “for your presence, love and support for us.”
“The Assumption is important to many of us as the Virgin Mary’s heavenly birthday (the day that Mary was received into heaven),” he told The Catholic Messenger ahead of the celebration. “Also, Mary is considered as a patron saint of the Vietnamese Catholics. Our Lady of LaVang refers to a reported Marian apparition at a time when Catholics were persecuted and killed in Vietnam. Vietnamese Catholic communities celebrate around the world and many in the U.S.”
While many parishes in the U.S. celebrate the feast day, the biggest “Marian Days” celebration begins each year on the first Thursday in August in Carthage, Missouri. Some 50,000 to 100,000 Vietnamese Catholics travel to Carthage to celebrate for nearly a week. Marian Days also offers opportunities for individuals, family and friends to come together for a celebration, enhancing their relationship with God through reconciliation and prayers.
