Impressive

$6.8 million dollars.
29,000 square feet.
750,000 pounds of marble and granite.

The Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church had become the the largest-capacity Vietnamese church in the United States on December 10, 2011.  Our sisters from the mother house in Việt Nam were impressed.  They weren't the only ones.

Visitors come weekly to gaze upon the harmonious interweaving of French and Vietnamese architecture.  Or ViVi's huge oil paintings of the Holy Family as Asian.  And enjoy the cool walk in the church's portico, reminiscent of ancient Greek temples.

When I first attended the Dedication Mass, I was unaware of its cost.
Thousands of dollars were poured into the candlesticks that lined the church walls.
Enough to buy ten 55-inch TVs.
Much  more was given to obtain the ornately-wrought gold tabernacle.
I marveled at the generosity of the parish's 1,250 families.

We ended the visit with dinner at the Thanh Thanh restaurant, about 10 minutes from the church.
The ten of us gathered about buttered lobster, snow fish, and rau muống xào.
And four other dishes.


Our two sisters from the mother house did not speak much.
They were exhausted from their recent stay in Houston, filled with social engagements that would ensure money will continue to flow into our work for the orphaned and handicapped in Việt Nam.

"Sister, I think you can get a law degree," Dennis said.
"Well, I was thinking that I would want to become a Hollywood movie producer," I answered.
"You have a background in English.  You can go into law," Dennis explained, a look of surprise crossing his face and his two brothers.

After Fr.  Dức Thuần, the pastor, had personally showed us around the church, Anh Dức and his family had taken us out.  The three teenage boys were immaculately polite and cheerfully charming. 

"Oh yes, I understood you.  But don't you think movies are really influencing the way so many people think?  Won't it be neat to make a difference in our society this way?" I pointed out.
"Hmmm....," Davis, his older brother nodded.

They were all going through Catholic school, K-12th. 
Davis just started his first year of college.
They had dinner every night together.
Anh Dức and Chị Thúy were both business owners, working a minimum of 12-15 hours a day.
They took family trips together every year.

Anh Dức finally remarked, "You can find us Sister, any time."
"Any time?"
"4D.  Google us.  Computer repair store."
"4D... Davis, Dennis, Douglas, and you, Dức."
"Yes, that's who we are.  4D.  That's why we do it."

I wasn't quite sure if I was more impressed with the church.
Or the 4Ds.

They say the fourth dimension is time.
I'm wondering if it may be devotion.

ps.  Photo credit:  http://fwbishop.blogspot.com/2011/12/homily-for-dedication-of-vietnamese.html

ps2.  I did find the 4D.  http://www.4doutlets.com/homeshow.aspx