ST. CECILIA PARISH IN Tustin recently joined a small but very select group of Diocese of Orange sites displaying a shrine to Our Lady of La Vang.
PHOTOS BY SCOTT SMELTZER/ DIOCESE OF ORANGE
An excited crowd of over 400 parishioners, dignitaries and members of the media gathered on May 30 in front of the shrine, adjacent to the main church entrance.
St. Cecilia’s pastor, Fr. Michael Khong, led a procession to the shrine, accompanied by Fr. Hoa Tran, former parochial vicar at St. Cecilia and currently serving in the same role at Holy Spirit Parish. The onlookers joined the priests in reciting the “Prayer to Our Lady of La Vang,” which ends with the impactful words: “And after this life, bring us to dwell with you to enjoy eternal happiness in the Holy Trinity forever.”
The journey of the completed Our Lady of La Vang statue from Vietnam to Tustin is a remarkable and unlikely story, born from what many might describe as a God-inspired encounter. In 2025, St. Cecilia parishioner Huong Anh was participating in a pilgrimage with Catholics from around the country. During the trip, he assisted a fellow pilgrim from Pennsylvania and struck up a conversation with her. She shared information about a ministry that commissions Our Lady of La Vang statues in Vietnam and donates them to churches throughout the United States.
Recognizing a unique opportunity for St. Cecilia Parish, Anh contacted longtime Deacon Dong Ngo regarding receiving a statue. Providentially, this offer coincided with a parish plan, developed in August 2025, to install a small statue of Our Lady of La Vang, and Deacon Dong began correspondence with the Pennsylvania donor shortly after.
The 5-foot-tall, 630-pound statue was commissioned and created in Vietnam. The statue is made of water-resistant granite, and the base and framing are made of marble, which mirrors the look and feel of the church’s recently remodeled interior. In February of this year, the statue was shipped to St. Cecilia. Deacon Dong was intimately involved in the creation of the statue and the construction of the shrine, made possible by generous donations from the St. Cecilia Vietnamese Catholic community. The finished shrine was inspired by Fr. Michael’s vision for the project’s aesthetic elements, creating a wonderful area for all parishioners to visit, pray and reflect.
Deacon Dong reflected on the project.
“I wanted the shrine to help make our parish special, and lift up the spirits and souls of all our parishioners.”
With roots dating back to 1798, the significance of Our Lady of La Vang was best expressed by Fr. Michael.
“The Our Lady of La Vang statue is a powerful sign of faith, hope and unity for the entire St. Cecilia community. Mary reminds us that in moments of suffering and uncertainty, God never abandons His people. This statue is not only meaningful for our Vietnamese community, but for all parishioners, as we come together under the loving care of our Blessed Mother.”