Bishop Alfred Schlert celebrated Mass for the Vietnamese Lunar New Year – Year of Dragon – with the Vietnamese Catholics on Feb. 11 at SS. Simon and Jude, Bethlehem.
Approximately 500 Vietnamese Catholics, many dressed in traditional attire, gathered on the first day of the year to give thanks to God and pray for peace.
Joining them, along with Bishop Schlert, were Monsignor William Baver, Pastor of SS. Simon and Jude and Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Allentown; Father Abraham Ha, Assistant Pastor of St. Ann, Emmaus; Father Stephan Isaac, Assistant Pastor of the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown; Father John Hutta; and Deacon Edward Girard, serving at St. Richard, Barnesville and St. John XXIII, Tamaqua.
A reception followed the Mass with food, decorations, music, games, and a Dragon Dance.
