Originally published at Orange County Catholic
IT BEGAN WITH A procession around the church: hundreds of parishioners following the Knights of Columbus, the three bishops of the Diocese of Orange and other clergy, Vietnamese mothers, altar servers and a statue of the Virgin Mary.
PARISHIONERS CARRIED A STATUE OF THE VIRGIN MARY IN PROCESSION PRIOR TO THE START OF LA PURÍSIMA CATHOLIC CHURCH’S CENTENNIAL MASS. PHOTOS BY THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
It continued with a tri-lingual Mass in Spanish, English and Vietnamese. About 1,500 congregants filled the chapel and another 400 listened in from outdoor seating.
The event concluded with a feast and entertainment: Vietnamese lion dancers, mariachi music and folklorico dancers provided entertainment, while attendees enjoyed a variety of Latin, Vietnamese, Filipino and American food.
BISHOP KEVIN VANN WAS THE MAIN CELEBRANT OF LA PURÍSIMA’S CENTENNIAL MASS.
The Centennial celebration for La Purísima Catholic Church in Orange on Saturday, Dec. 7, was a fitting encapsulation of the parish’s 100-year history: a joyous, melding of peoples and cultures welcomed in the union of Catholicism.
Although Catholic Missions in California date back to the 1700s, La Purísima is one of the older continuously operating parishes and faith communities in Orange County. Its origins date back
