By Jim Davis - Florida Catholic

Photography: MARLENE QUARONI | FC

HALLANDALE | It's taken three decades for the archdiocese's Vietnamese community to land a home of their own. But at the dedication of Our Lady of La Vang Mission, the members joyously brushed the wait aside.

"It took Moses 40 years to reach the Promised Land; for us it was only 30 years," said Kim Tran, assistant choir director, at the event that reopened the former home of St. Charles Borromeo.

She added more seriously: "This is a very precious moment. For 30 years, we have dreamed of a dwelling place to praise God and show affection for each other. This is our home now. We are going to treasure it."

"Dream" was an oft-used word during the Dec. 14 Mass and reception. The congregation had moved from church to church, then was finally offered a chance in July to refurbish the four-acre Borromeo property — which they did, over three months of hard work.

Joining them for the rededication were top archdiocesan officials, led by Archbishop Thomas Wenski and Auxiliary Bishop Peter Baldacchino, all donning rose-colored vestments for Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday in Advent.

"You have done good work," the archbishop said in his homily. "This church is a beautiful and fitting place for the Vietnamese community to gather and worship."

Worshipers arrived more than an hour early, filled the sanctuary and an overflow room, and even sat on folding chairs in the covered porch. Cultural trappings abounded.

Women served as ushers, their tunic-and-pants garb known as ao dai colored rose and white to match the clergy's seasonal vestments. Leading the procession were parishioners carrying a statuette of the parish's patron saint, said to have appeared to refugees in the 18th century. Inside, two older members sounded a gong and drum, traditional instruments for special occasions.

Three choirs of children, adults and youths, 100 in all, sang hymns in Vietnamese, accompanied by piano, guitar and synthesizer. Eight girls did a dignified dance in white ao dais while holding glass oil lamps.

In the solemn dedication, Archbishop Wenski rubbed oil of chrism into the altar-top by hand. Then four smoking coals of incense were placed at the corners as he said a dedicatory prayer. The altar was then wiped and dressed, ready for holy Communion.

"Today, our dream has come true," said Father Joseph Long Nguyen, the mission’s administrator, in thanking Archbishop Wenski for making the new church home possible.

In his homily, the archbishop summarized the need for an ethnic church like Our Lady of La Vang.

"All God’s children should feel at home in their Father’s house, and so we can and should feel at home in any church where we worship," he said. "But, in a very special way, this particular house of God is also your home. In this house of God, your mother’s tongue is spoken."

In his own address, parish council president John Tran was already looking forward to what the faithful could do on their own four acres.

"For the first time in 30 years, the church is finally able to meet the needs of our wonderful community," he said after the homily. "Now we can have multiple Masses, language courses and children's events."

Church members then stepped forward, presenting bouquets to bishops Wenski and Baldacchino.

At the reception in the parish hall, reverence gave way to exuberance. Members dined on Vietnamese foods such as quail egg soup, and applauded a stage show of dancing children and music by the young adult choir.

"I am so happy and happy — I don't know how to explain it more," bubbled Thuy Truong, the lead usher. "This a dream come true."

In addition to the bishops, the rededication drew Sister Elizabeth Worley, archdiocesan chancellor for administration, and Msgr. Jean Pierre, head of the Ministry to Cultural Groups.

"They have transformed this place," Msgr. Pierre marveled. "It had been abandoned, and now it's totally changed. That says a lot about the Vietnamese people."

Also present was Father Lesly Jean, pastor of St. Helen Church, where the Vietnameseworshiped for five years.

"I'll miss them; they were very supportive of the parish," Father Jean said. "But I'm happy they have their own parish."

The Mass also drew two Daughters of Our Lady of Visitation Sisters, a religious order based in Hue City, Vietnam. One of them, Sister Therese Dung Thi Ngoc Vu, already teaches religion and Vietnamese language at Our Lady of La Vang. She said her order hopes to establish a convent someday in Florida.

But one of the biggest celebrities of the evening was Father Isidore Baky, judging by the many who hugged him, shook hands or posed for photos with him. He led the Vietnamese apostolate for 22 years before retiring four years ago.

"I'm overjoyed to see the community growing and in their own home," said Father Baky, visiting from his retirement home in Savannah, Ga. "It's my dream come true, too."

He's one of only three priests who have served the Vietnamese over the past three decades. Father Peter Vang served for seven years, followed by Father Baky, then Father Long.

The Vietnamese congregation saved for years to buy its own church, but found it hard during the recession. Meanwhile, St. Charles Borromeo was vacated and the congregation merged into nearby St. Matthew Church, also in Hallandale.

The Borromeo site was leased to a Baptist congregation, but when that lease expired, the archdiocese offered it to Our Lady of La Vang for a $2 million mortgage. Having already saved $400,000, the Vietnamese jumped at the offer.

When the news broke in July, "I was overjoyed almost to tears," said Tien Nguyen, a member of the young adult choir. "We've been longing for a parish for so long."

But the sanctuary, rectory and parish hall were run down and needed a lot of work. Even the landscaping, air-conditioning and alarm systems needed upgrading. Ten to 20 volunteers worked at the church every day, for about 10 hours a day or more.

"Some days I'd be here from 8 in the morning to 7 at night," said Harry Huynh, vice president of the parish council. "I feel so happy to finish."

The new church home is farther south than some of the members would like, a couple of them confided. But after traveling there often to prepare the site, they’ve gotten more used to the trip.

"I'm willing to visit God once a week," Duong Ho of Tamarac said with a smile. "We've wanted this for 30 years. It's time to celebrate."

As Father Long settled down to dine during the reception, he pronounced himself "tired but happy." Then he said it again:

"This is a dream come true."