The Diocese of Orange, in the famous California county, has seen a number of exciting new developments in the past months. In July 2019, the diocese celebrated the dedication of its impressive Christ Cathedral, which was once a Protestant center run by televangelist Dr. Robert Schuller since the 1950s.
MSGR. KEVIN VANN
Bishop of Orange (USA)
“So it's been a big landmark and a big center of faith really for many many years.”
For now, the Catholic cathedral is open to the public only on weekends, while the Hazel Wright organ, the third-largest pipe organ in the United States, is being installed.
MSGR. KEVIN VANN
Bishop of Orange (USA)
“Well, that had to be rebuilt as well, and that is just finishing up right now. From pipes like this big to nine feet, and those had all been in bad shape. So we sent the organ back to Padua here in Italy, where it was constructed anyway many years ago. So it was rebuilt, and it's in the process now of being voiced and tuned.”
That's not the only novelty for the diocese. This 12-foot statue of Our Lady of La Vang has finally arrived to the West Coast. Bishop Thanh made the trip to Italy last year to check on the statue's progress. He says it carries special significance for the Vietnamese Catholic community of Orange.
MSGR. THANH THAI NGUYEN
Auxiliary Bishop of Orange (USA)
'The Our Lady of La Vang shrine is not just for the Vietnamese community. This is right in the cathedral campus, so this is the place for the whole diocese, but certainly the Vietnamese community will take advantage of that, in order to have something to express their faith, especially in the Marian devotion.”
Bishop Thanh says the pope spoke of the importance of honoring the Blessed Mother when another bishop brought up the subject during their recent ad limina visit.
MSGR. THANH THAI NGUYEN
Auxiliary Bishop of Orange (USA)
“Pope Francis responded to that, and he said that we need to promote the Marian devotion to bring the maternal love back to our Catholic life.”
The bishops say the diocese is excited for the dedication of the shrine, to take place in October 2020.
Claudia Torres
