Upon entering its cream-colored stone interior, a visitor to Our Lady of La Vang is immediately enveloped in a feeling of airy sacredness. A mosaic of radiating tiles forms the central crucifix behind the altar, and its geometric cobbles catch the sunlight cascading down from skylights high above the sanctuary. It was a reconstruction eleven years in the making.

A Symbolic Structure and a Giving Community

Rebuilding the church on Santa Clara Street in downtown San José took then-pastor Father Loi Huynh from Vietnam to Italy in a thoughtful search for the materials to create a truly inspiring worship space.  Detailed wooden reliefs depicting the story of Catholicism in Vietnam, an impressive hand-embroidered silk thread mural from Saigon overlooking the vestibule, and an exterior 19-foot Carrara marble statue of Our Lady of La Vang, carved by Italian sculptor Greg Mussner, are all part of what resulted from that search. Its architectural shape is inspired by the legend of Lang Liêu, who once served a meal consisting of a square, green rice cake, “Bánh Chưng,” or “square earth,” and a round pearl cake, “Bánh Dày” or “round sky.” Together they symbolize harmony between earth and heaven. Viewed aerially, the square space is where the Church is situated, and the round cake is the octagonally roofed building. It seems that in rebuilding Our Lady of La Vang, Catholics in San José have harmonized heaven and earth.  

What truly shines at Our Lady of La Vang is the unwavering love, faith, and generosity of the community. Father Loi testified, “It was indescribable, profound, and awe-inspiring to see the Vietnamese people steadfast through the process.  When I saw their unconditional love and generosity, especially the elderly people who didn’t have much and gave all that they could to contribute, much like the old lady in the Gospel who gave all that she had, I was further strengthened in my resolve to pursue the herculean task to build.”  Parishioner Hieu Tran echoed these feelings of awed inspiration. “As a parishioner, I am filled with pride and gratitude. I’m proud of the fundraising efforts of the thousands of parish members. I am grateful to the parish pastor, parish leaders, and staff for their perseverance and determination.”

A Hopeful Pastor

Father Loi, who grew up in Vietnam, credits his family and early youth involvement in the Church for his vocation. As such, Father Loi hopes young people, in particular, will be inspired to become stewards of this rebuilt sacred space. He prays the new church will be passed on to future generations as a reminder of their rich Catholic history. Additionally, part of diocesan history is displayed onsite: the original bell of Saint Patrick’s church, an homage to one of the area’s first parishes established in 1872.

Father Loi also cited the reverence of the Vietnamese people for the Virgin Mary as a source of communal and deeply personal inspiration. “Our Lady represents a model of motherly love, and we have a sense of filial duty to her,” Our Lady of La Vang also played a central role in his Christian faith, priesthood, and ministry. Father Loi explained, “For me, Mary is like my own mother, whom I can readily relate to at any time.” Father Loi recalls selecting the stone for her statue from the Carrara mountains in Italy as a highlight of his travels.

A Church Rebuilt and Dedicated

In May 2023, the realization of the community’s sacrifices was on full display as Bishop Oscar Cantú blessed and dedicated the church as well as the unveiled statue. Talented and colorful choirs sang, and the Vietnamese Lasallian Youth Troupe played traditional music. Hieu Tran was deeply affected. “At one point, I suddenly realized that I was not alone and that many people around me were also moved to tears. At last, the dream of a rebuilt church, which took many years to come true, was realized. Thanks be to God!”

Sister Van Nguyen, a parishioner, spoke about how her faith has deepened in the process. “Building a physical church is just an external task, but through it, I have experienced trust and loyalty to God. At the same time, I am more convinced there is nothing that God cannot do.” Sister Van also expressed that her love for Christ and His Church has only grown amid the trials, delays, and obstacles faced in the project.

A rebuilt church is more than a new building; it is a community renewed through generosity, and the parishioners of Our Lady of La Vang have achieved something strikingly beautiful as a result. For Father Loi, “the rebuilding of the church is a manifestation of Jesus’ miracle of the five loaves and two fishes. It was the miracle of sharing in its purest form.”  The story of Our Lady of La Vang’s reconstruction, the fruit of the efforts of many through the years, invites the whole diocese both to generosity and worship in a beautiful space. As Hieu Tran put it, “I hope everyone in the diocese comes to visit the restored church of Our Lady of La Vang and that they also find a spiritual home there soon!”

Sculpting Our Lady of La Vang

Italian sculptor Gregor Mussner spoke with The Valley Catholic about creating the exterior statue Our Lady of La Vang, which was unveiled during the dedication.

Was the statue of Our Lady of La Vang one of your larger projects?

At 19 feet, this was the tallest statue in marble that we have created so far.

How long did it take to complete Our Lady of La Vang's Statue?

We worked for two years on that statue. It took us an additional six months to find the right marble block, which had to be without imperfections or cracks.

Was there anything especially impactful or memorable about the day of dedication in San José that stood out to you?

It was my first dedication with an Asian community in the United States. I very much liked the involvement of the whole parish community during the ceremony. It is a different way to celebrate a Church dedication compared to here in Europe. It was a real honor to be there.

Would you describe the work you do as a ministry or as transformative, personally?

Being a sculptor, especially if specialized in sacred art, is a big responsibility. If we create a statue for churches, we try to put ourselves in the place of those who will pray in front of it. Our goal is to bring the people to God through art.