Marian Days
Encyclopedia
The Marian Days is the main festival and pilgrimage
for Vietnamese American
Roman Catholics. The annual event in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary
has taken place the first weekend in August since 1978 on the 28 acres (113,312.1 m²) campus of the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix
in Carthage, Missouri
. Tens of thousands of attendees come from throughout the United States, while non-Vietnamese locals and some visitors from Canada and Vietnam
also attend.
. Around 1,500 Vietnamese Catholics from the Carthage area participated.
Ordinarily, Marian Days takes place without major incidents. The Carthage Police Department and event organizers enforce rules against indecency and drug use. Gang members are banned from the event, after two gangs killed a man during a fight in 2003. In 2008, 17 pilgrims died in a bus crash en route from Houston to Carthage.
Around 60,000 attended the 34th annual Marian Days August 4–7, 2011. Presiders included Bishop Johnston
and Bishop Emeritus Leibrecht
of Springfield–Cape Girardeau
, the local diocese; Bishop Tri Bửu Thiên of Cần Thơ
; and Auxiliary Bishop Nguyễn Tấn Tước of Phú Cường
.
Each day of Marian Days is highlighted by a large, outdoor Mass
on the CMC grounds. The Marian Days offer opportunities for Reconciliation
and prayer. Mass is celebrated by many priests and religious.
Pilgrims turn the surrounding area into a large campground, as many nearby residents allow pilgrims to erect tents on their lawns. Although the celebrations are centered around liturgy, they also feature a number of other events. Dioceses with large Vietnamese populations set up large tents to sell traditional Vietnamese food. Proceeds go to the parishes, orphanages, or a diocese in Vietnam such as Phú Cường
. Other organizations, such as a local Knights of Columbus
chapter, also serve food to pilgrims in tents. Each night, performers from Thúy Nga
and other groups entertain the large crowds with both folk and popular Vietnamese music
.
At the end of the Procession in honor of Our Lady of Fatima, two long firecrackers are lit, followed by a large release of blue and white balloons tied to two flags. The flags fly off into the distance; addresses are written on them, so that whoever finds the flags can return them.
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
for Vietnamese American
Vietnamese American
A Vietnamese American is an American of Vietnamese descent. They make up about half of all overseas Vietnamese and are the fourth-largest Asian American group....
Roman Catholics. The annual event in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic)
Roman Catholic veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary is based on Holy Scripture: In the fullness of time, God sent his son, born of a virgin. The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God through Mary thus signifies her honour as Mother of God...
has taken place the first weekend in August since 1978 on the 28 acres (113,312.1 m²) campus of the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix
Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix
The Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix is a religious order within the Roman Catholic Church. The order is dominated by men of Vietnamese extraction. The unofficial title Co-Redemptrix in its name refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary...
in Carthage, Missouri
Carthage, Missouri
Carthage is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 14,378 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jasper County and is nicknamed "America's Maple Leaf City."...
. Tens of thousands of attendees come from throughout the United States, while non-Vietnamese locals and some visitors from Canada and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
also attend.
History
The Congregation organized the inaugural Marian Days at its U.S. headquarters in 1978, in celebration of the Immaculate Heart of MaryImmaculate Heart of Mary
The Immaculate Heart of Mary originally The Sacred Heart of Mary is a devotional name used to refer to the interior life of Mary, her joys and sorrows, her virtues and hidden perfections, and, above all, her virginal love for God, her maternal love for her Son, Jesus, and her compassionate love for...
. Around 1,500 Vietnamese Catholics from the Carthage area participated.
Ordinarily, Marian Days takes place without major incidents. The Carthage Police Department and event organizers enforce rules against indecency and drug use. Gang members are banned from the event, after two gangs killed a man during a fight in 2003. In 2008, 17 pilgrims died in a bus crash en route from Houston to Carthage.
Around 60,000 attended the 34th annual Marian Days August 4–7, 2011. Presiders included Bishop Johnston
James Vann Johnston, Jr.
James Vann Johnston, Jr. is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the sixth and current Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.-Early life:...
and Bishop Emeritus Leibrecht
John Joseph Leibrecht
John Joseph Leibrecht is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau from 1984 to 2008.-Early life and ministry:...
of Springfield–Cape Girardeau
Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau is a Roman Catholic diocese in Missouri. It was founded on August 24, 1956. The current bishop is the Most Reverend James Vann Johnston, Jr., appointed January 24, 2008, and installed March 31, 2008....
, the local diocese; Bishop Tri Bửu Thiên of Cần Thơ
Roman Catholic Diocese of Can Tho
The diocese of Cần Thơ is a Roman Catholic diocese of Vietnam.The creation of the diocese in present form was declared November 24, 1960.The diocese covers an area of , and is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh city....
; and Auxiliary Bishop Nguyễn Tấn Tước of Phú Cường
Roman Catholic Diocese of Phu Cuong
The diocese of Phú Cường is a Roman Catholic diocese in southern Vietnam. Since 1999 the bishop of the diocese has been Pierre Trân Ðinh Tu. The diocese in its present form was founded on October 14, 1965...
.
Festivities
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
on the CMC grounds. The Marian Days offer opportunities for Reconciliation
Sacrament of Penance (Catholic Church)
In the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is the method by which individual men and women may be freed from sins committed after receiving the sacrament of Baptism...
and prayer. Mass is celebrated by many priests and religious.
Pilgrims turn the surrounding area into a large campground, as many nearby residents allow pilgrims to erect tents on their lawns. Although the celebrations are centered around liturgy, they also feature a number of other events. Dioceses with large Vietnamese populations set up large tents to sell traditional Vietnamese food. Proceeds go to the parishes, orphanages, or a diocese in Vietnam such as Phú Cường
Roman Catholic Diocese of Phu Cuong
The diocese of Phú Cường is a Roman Catholic diocese in southern Vietnam. Since 1999 the bishop of the diocese has been Pierre Trân Ðinh Tu. The diocese in its present form was founded on October 14, 1965...
. Other organizations, such as a local Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
chapter, also serve food to pilgrims in tents. Each night, performers from Thúy Nga
Thuy Nga
Thúy Nga is a Vietnamese-oriented entertainment company that produces Paris By Night, as well as music CDs, musical specials, movies and films, magazines, audio books, posters, and calendars...
and other groups entertain the large crowds with both folk and popular Vietnamese music
Music of Vietnam
Traditional Vietnamese music is highly diverse and syncretistic, combining native and foreign influences. Throughout its history, Vietnam has been heavily impacted by the Chinese musical tradition, as an integral part, along with Korea, Mongolia and Japan....
.
At the end of the Procession in honor of Our Lady of Fatima, two long firecrackers are lit, followed by a large release of blue and white balloons tied to two flags. The flags fly off into the distance; addresses are written on them, so that whoever finds the flags can return them.