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Our Lady of Perpetual Help Vietnamese Parish Pastor Father Dominic Thuy Dang Ha, Diocesan Administrator Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald, and Father Colin Bircumshaw, pastor of St. Ann Parish, Salt Lake City, are surrounded by brightly dressed Vietnamese parishioners as they prepare to dedicate the new statue of Our Lady of Perpetual Help high atop the church in Kearns.IC photos by Barbara S. Lee

KEARNS — A Mass in honor of Mary May 7 was kicked off with the dedication and blessing of a vibrant white statue of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the patron saint of the Vietnamese Parish in Kearns.

The larger-than-life fiberglass statue was lovingly created by members of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish. Placed in a niche three quarters up the west wall of the church, the statue was blessed by Diocesan Administrator Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald, Pastor Father Dominic Thuy Dang Ha, and Father Colin Bircumshaw, pastor of St. Ann Parish, Salt Lake City, and a long-time supporter of the Vietnamese Parish.

Inside the church, the Mass became a celebration of May as Mary’s month, with liturgical dancers presenting a bas relief of the newly dedicated statue with fresh flowers.

In his homily, translated by Fr. Thuy, Msgr. Fitzgerald spoke of the growing Vietnamese Catholic community at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, recognizing old faces and pointing out new ones, too.

"Fr. Thuy tells me the dedication of this statue is his last big project," Msgr. Fitzgerald said. "I don’t believe it."

May 7 marks the Feast of the Good Shepherd, Msgr. Fitzgerald said. "The diocese is looking forward to ordaining four new priests and two new deacons. Priests come forth from our communities because of prayer, and we must pray that priests come out of the Vietnamese community as well."

Msgr. Fitzgerald thanked the Vietnamese Catholic community for their support of the Diocesan Development Drive, which helps pay for the education of seminarians and deacons.