BY KATHI STEARNS

Staff Writer

RIVERDALE--Five hundred Vietnamese families, who worked and prayed over the years for a church which reflects their culture, have a new home to call their own.

A former Baptist church was reborn as Our Lady of Vietnam Catholic Church when Archbishop John F. Donoghue celebrated a Mass of dedication there Nov. 29.

The 17-acre site on Valley Hill Road houses the church, a gymnasium, a social hall and an educational building with 14 classrooms. The buildings and property were purchased from the Bible Baptist Church for $800,000 in 1995. When the Vietnamese community took possession of the site in May 1997, renovations were made in the sanctuary and more parking was added.

The Mass of dedication was concelebrated by Msgr. Francis Pham Van Phuong, pastor, Msgr. Henry Gracz, pastor of St. James the Apostle, McDonough, Father Richard Morrow, parochial vicar at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, Father John Koziol, OFM Conv., parochial vicar at St. Philip Benizi Church, Jonesboro, Father Peter Vu, parochial vicar at Holy Cross Church, Atlanta, Father Tuan Quoc Tran, parochial vicar at St. Joseph, Marietta, and six other priests who are dedicated to serving the needs of the Vietnamese community. Deacon Whitney Robichaux was the master of ceremonies.

Special guests included Anno Hardage, chancellor for development and operations, Pam Buckmaster, executive director of Catholic Social Services, Dr. Everett Gill, state refugee coordinator and Sisters Gaynel and Amabella, MC, both of whom serve at the Gift of Grace House.

The colorful celebration, which could not be dampened by the rainy weather, began outside with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and handing over of the church keys to the archbishop, who in turn entrusted them to Msgr. Phuong. Vietnamese children wearing native dress and holding freshly cut flowers led a procession into the new church.

Msgr. Phuong introduced the archbishop to a congregation numbering over 2,000. Once the church was filled, participants overflowed into the gymnasium and watched the three and one-half hour Mass of dedication on two large television screens.

"As you may know, without the kindness and approval of the archbishop, we would not be able to move into this new church," Msgr. Phuong said. "We are honored to have him attend the blessing and dedication of our new church and facilities."

"We are thankful to our God for the many blessings he has given us as a community and for the gift of the church itself," he said. "This is the material foundation upon which one collective spirit of love and responsibility will flourish. This is the place that gives us the opportunity to interact, to pray, to teach and develop our friendship with God and with his people. This is the good soil that will provide the growth for many harvests in the future."

After the archbishop greeted the congregation he blessed water symbolic of baptism and processed through the church, sprinkling the congregation and the altar, praying that the word of God would always be heard in this place.

Parishioners Hung Viet Huynh and Phuong Thanh Le presented the archbishop with the Lectionary. The Gospel was proclaimed by Deacon Richard Beckman in English and Deacon Gan Minh Nguyen in Vietnamese.

During his homily the archbishop thanked members of the community for including him in the celebration.

"I am so happy to be here with you today to celebrate this very important event in the life of the Vietnamese Catholic community, a dear and beloved member of the Catholic Church in North Georgia, and a faithful and supportive friend to me and to all who labor here in the vineyard of the Lord," the archbishop said.

The archbishop encouraged the congregation to remember the people who have contributed to bringing life into their community and whose efforts resulted in this special day.

The archbishop singled out Msgr. Phuong, the elders of the parish community, the heads of families, parents and their children for being the foundation of the church.

"These are the living stones that make up Our Lady of Vietnam's Catholic family here in Atlanta--the ancestors, the elders, the mothers and fathers and children, and the priests who are at the service of all," the archbishop said. "We could not fairly bless this building today if we did not pause to remember each and every one of you and praise God for the wonderful work that He has revealed through your faith and commitment."

The archbishop said that unless Jesus is at the center of the church the facility will never be filled with true life.

The archbishop encouraged the congregation to "draw near to the Source--to the stone of salvation from whom the waters of baptism have flowed; to the Victim on the cross from whose wounds the blood of salvation has poured forth, and to the risen Lord who stretches out His hands from the sacraments we are about to receive to welcome us into this home, to welcome us into His living body."

Before the dedication rite began, Father Vu led the congregation in the Litany of the Saints.

Archbishop Donoghue then anointed the altar, the symbol of Christ, the anointed one, with chrism.

Incense, which signifies that the death of Christ remains the perfect offering for sin, was then wafted through the church and sanctuary. The table of the altar was wiped, covered with cloth and decorated with flowers as it was prepared for the sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ.

Archbishop Donoghue then presented a burning candle to Father Vu who lighted candles surrounding the altar and throughout the church as a symbolic reminder that Christ is "a light to the nations."

The gifts were brought to the altar by the children who had led the procession into the church. The bread and wine were surrounded by the flowers of the children. Incense surrounded the offering.

After the eucharistic celebration Msgr. Phuong consecrated the parish to the care and protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. A group of Vietnamese children danced before the altar preceding the Consecration and then knelt as Msgr. Phuong prayed.

Before the final blessing Tam Van Bui, chairperson of the parish council, spoke to the congregation, thanking all those who had helped make this project such a success. "Archbishop Donoghue, without your support, we could not have this church in which to worship our Lord and this facility to nurture our faith, to maintain our culture, to teach our children," he said. "On this occasion we would like to thank you for the special concern you have shown for the needs of the Vietnamese community in Atlanta, and we are honored by your presence here with us."

Awards were presented to several parish leaders who had served with great sacrifice to make the dedication of the church possible. The celebration concluded with a dinner for those in attendance which showcased traditional Vietnamese entertainment including native music and dancing.

"It was a time for celebrating," Msgr. Phuong said. "We were finally home."

Kermit B. Marsh served as the architect for the project and Contemporary Construction, Inc., was responsible for the interior design and renovations.

The congregation formerly worshipped at Our Lady of Vietnam in Forest Park which was purchased by the Vietnamese Catholic community with the assistance of the Archdiocese of Atlanta in March 1989. The church was dedicated Sept. 3 of that year by Archbishop Eugene Marino, SSJ. From 1976-1989 members of the Vietnamese community had worshipped at St. John the Evangelist Church, Hapeville, where Msgr. Phuong served as the administrator of the Vietnamese apostolate.