GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (June 15, 2022) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange is pleased to announce the inaugural Marian Days celebration, a two-day event on July 1 and 2 that is expected to draw thousands of the faithful from around the region and country to the Christ Cathedral campus for Masses, processions, workshops, rallies, worship, dancing, food and entertainment.

Marian Days, themed as “With Mary, Giving Thanks to God,” will feature a festival-like environment and guest speakers for youth and adult parishioners on topics such as catechesis, education, theology, Mariology, prayer and liturgy. There will also be an informational booth area with representatives from various Diocese of Orange parishes, ministries and other Dioceses.

“It is with great joy and excitement that the Diocese of Orange and Christ Cathedral host our first-ever Marian Days, which we hope will become an annual tradition for Catholics throughout our Diocese and our region,” said Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen. “Throughout our celebration, we will keep in our hearts the theme of ‘With Mary, Giving Thanks to God,’ for we continually give thanks for the gift of life, the gift of parish family and Diocese community, and the gift of faith. As we approach the Fourth of July, we will especially partake in the gift of our country’s religious freedom.”

Members of the media are invited to visit the campus on June 22 at 9 a.m., in advance of Marian Days, to hear Bishop Nguyen and others talk about the two-day event and its inspiration. The presentation will include a visit to the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine. Interview opportunities will be made available.

Members of the media are asked to RSVP by contacting Bradley Zint, assistant director of communications, at [email protected] or (714) 282-6052.

Marian Days background
The Diocese of Orange’s celebration was inspired and modeled after the annual Marian Days of Carthage, Missouri. That pilgrimage-style festival has been in place since 1978, drawing tens of thousands of attendees, particularly Vietnamese Catholics, to the Midwest to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Orange County’s Marian Days will include a focus on the cathedral’s Our Lady of La Vang Shrine, which was blessed before a crowd of more than 8,500 in July 2021. The nearly $13-million shrine’s centerpiece is a 12-foot-tall Virgin Mary statue depicting how the Blessed Mother is believed to have appeared before a group of persecuted Vietnamese Catholics in 1798 in a rainforest of Vietnam.

The shrine, which is still being completed in phases, has been a major source of reverence, joy and inspiration to visitors of the Christ Cathedral campus since its blessing. The shrine hosts monthly Masses and other observances, particularly for Orange County’s large Vietnamese Catholic community.

“With Mary, we are grateful to God for His gifts, especially the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine that has drawn many pilgrims to visit this holy site throughout the past year,” Bishop Nguyen said.

Added Bishop Kevin Vann, “Marian Days will offer all Catholics an opportunity to come together, to walk in the Marian procession while praying the Holy Rosary around the cathedral campus, and to participate in Masses with the bishops of the Diocese of Orange. Our Catholic community will truly walk together in faith through the keynote addresses, participating in adoration and confession in Christ Cathedral, listening to Christian musical performances, enjoying our beautiful campus art and visiting the magnificent Our Lady of La Vang Shrine.”

Event breakdown
For The celebration begins at 6 p.m. on July 1, with a drum group and 250 singers performing before the opening Mass in front of the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine. Bishop Timothy Freyer will be the celebrant. Concurrently, there will be a teen session featuring songs, cheers and preaching elsewhere on the campus.

By 9 p.m., the first of several youth adult events will begin, and it will include a candlelight procession to the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine.

On July 2, the day begins with an 8 a.m. Mass inside Christ Cathedral, with Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen as the main celebrant. The Mass includes a 100-person choir.

Throughout the day the campus will host various workshops and sessions geared for adults and teens. There will also be a booth area with church representatives, food and live entertainment.

Marian Days continues around 4:30 p.m. on July 2 with a rosary procession. Then, thousands of the faithful will spill out onto the streets around the Christ Cathedral campus, walking a path that ends at the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine.

Once at the shrine, around 6:15 p.m. there will be a prelude and liturgical dance featuring more than 200 dancers, a 500-member choir and orchestra. At 7:30 p.m., Bishop Vann will be the main celebrant of the Mass, with Bishop Nguyen as the homilist. During the Mass, the dates for Marian Days 2023 will be announced.

For a complete schedule of events, please visit mariandays.www.rcbo.org.

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For Media: Major Visuals
6 p.m., July 1: Drum group, 250 singers before opening Mass in front of Our Lady of La Vang Shrine. Mass starts at 7:30 p.m.
6 p.m., July 1: Youth rally in the Christ Cathedral Academy gym
9 p.m., July 1: Choir and candlelight procession from the gym to Our Lady of La Vang Shrine
4:30 p.m., July 2: Rosary procession around the Christ Cathedral campus and onto the streets
6:15 p.m., July 2: Prelude and liturgical dance with 200+ dancers
7:30 p.m., July 2: Mass with Bishop Kevin Vann, 500+ choir singers and orchestra console.

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Press Credentials for Marian Days
What: Press credentials are required to cover the Diocese of Orange’s Marian Days for reporting, videography and photography.
When: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., July 1 — 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., July 2
Where: Christ Cathedral campus, 13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove CA 92840
RSVPs: Please contact Assistant Director of Communications Bradley Zint, [email protected], (714) 282-6052

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Marian Days Media Preview Day
What: Members of the media are invited to visit the campus in advance of Marian Days to hear Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen and others talk about the two-day event and its inspiration. The presentation will include a visit to the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine. Interview opportunities will be available.

When: 9 a.m. June 22, 2022
Where: Large Gallery, Christ Cathedral campus, 13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove CA 92840
RSVPs: Please contact Assistant Director of Communications Bradley Zint, [email protected], (714) 282-6052

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About the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange
With 1.3 million Catholics, 57 parishes, five Catholic centers and 35 schools, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange is one of the largest and most diverse faith communities in the United States. The Diocese empowers Catholics across Orange County to have an active life of faith that is integrated and woven into the fabric of their daily lives through the community and sacramental life of the Church. Under the leadership of Bishop Kevin Vann, the Diocese works to establish and support dynamic, vibrant parishes and schools welcoming all to live the Gospel with faith, joy, charity and unity. Christ Cathedral, the spiritual home of the Bishop of Orange, was dedicated in July 2019. Learn more about the Diocese of Orange at www.www.rcbo.org.