The month of May is a time to celebrate Blessed Virgin Mary in the Catholic Church. At the St. Finbar parish in Burbank, California, the annual celebration includes vibrant gifts of flowers and choreographed dancing.
May flower ceremonies honoring Mother Mary follow a Vietnamese tradition that dates to the late 18th century. St. Finbar, which is celebrating 50 years of Vietnamese-language Masses this summer, continues to serve a flourishing Vietnamese American community in southern California.
Sr. Phuong Ha Nguyen, SP, choreographed this year’s ceremonial dances, which featured girls and women of all ages in colorful robes. A near-capacity crowd of parishioners attended the ceremonial Mass on Saturday, May 9.
Sr. Rosa Sen Nguyen, SP, is also involved in parish life at St. Finbar Catholic Church, including planning and design work for its semicentennial celebration of Vietnamese heritage.
