On Tuesday, Nov. 22 the Vietnamese Catholic Community of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Atlantic City, celebrated the Feast of 117 Vietnamese Martyrs, commemorating the Nov. 24, 1988 canonization of Vietnamese Catholic martyrs, who worked to spread the Catholic faith for the last 400 years despite persecution. Pope John Paul II canonized the 117 known Vietnamese martyrs, and he also acknowledged that between 130,000 and 300,000 known and unknown Vietnamese Catholics were martyred from the 17th-20th centuries. During the 6:30 p.m. Mass, Vietnamese Catholics from Our Lady Star of the Sea sang, danced, and were inspired by the strength and faith of the martyrs who spread the Gospel. Afterward a reception was held in the school gymnasium/memorial hall.
Photos by Alan M. Dumoff