Parramatta Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv joined tens of thousands of Vietnamese Catholics for the 46th annual Holy Mother’s Day celebrations in Carthage, Missouri – one of the largest and longest-running Marian gatherings in the world. Source: Catholic Outlook.
Organised by the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer, Holy Mother’s Day, or Marian Days as it is also known, draws pilgrims from across the United States and beyond for a multi-day festival of prayer, liturgy, teaching and cultural celebration.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon in 1975 – a defining moment for the Vietnamese diaspora.
For many at the festival, including Bishop Long, who himself fled Vietnam by boat at 18, it was a powerful reminder of faith, survival and the enduring strength of the Vietnamese Catholic community around the world.
Bishop Long was honoured to be the principal celebrant at one of the largest Masses of the event, which brought together bishops from across the world, as well as religious congregations, families and young people.
He described the atmosphere as like a World Youth Day for Vietnamese Catholics in America.
Held annually in early August, the festival honours Mary, Mother of God, and particularly Our Lady of La Vang, who is deeply revered by Vietnamese Catholics. The event has grown steadily since its humble beginnings in the 1970s, now attracting up to 100,000 participants each year.
This year’s program featured daily Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, youth rallies, family workshops and themed talks in both English and Vietnamese. Topics included faith and family life, Catholic identity, and the spiritual journey of Vietnamese diaspora communities.
The festival concluded with a Great Mass honouring the Immaculate Heart of Mary, celebrated by US Conference of Catholic Bishops Archbishop Timothy Broglio.
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Bishop Vincent celebrates with thousands at Holy Mother’s Day in Missouri, USA (Catholic Outlook)
