The Our Lady of La Vang Foundation, commonly known as the OLLV Foundation, is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 2022, dedicated to building and developing spaces of faith and cultural value at Christ Cathedral in the Diocese of Orange, California. The organization’s mission focuses on creating sacred spaces, nurturing community connection, and preserving the faith heritage of Vietnamese Catholics for future generations.
One of the OLLV Foundation’s most significant achievements is the Shrine of Our Lady of La Vang at Christ Cathedral. The project began in 2016 and completed its first phase in 2021. On July 17, 2021, the shrine was formally dedicated before nearly 9,000 people, becoming a place that binds together the faith and culture of the Vietnamese Catholic community in Orange County.
A highlight of the shrine is the statue of Our Lady, carved from white Carrara marble from Italy, depicting Our Lady of La Vang as she appeared in the 1798 story. Our Lady is portrayed wearing the traditional Vietnamese áo dài and khăn đóng, holding the Christ Child. Behind the statue is a structure with three pillars evoking the three banyan trees from the La Vang story. The site also features around 400 steel panels, 80 skylight glass panels, and an area honoring 117 Vietnamese Catholic martyrs.
Alongside the shrine, the OLLV Foundation has developed several other projects to expand spaces that serve the community, including Marian Gardens, a garden located behind the shrine, and the Wall of Martyrs, designed with four prayer areas tied to the four mysteries of the Rosary. The organization has also supported the St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts project at Christ Cathedral.
Beyond its architectural projects, the OLLV Foundation also produced the documentary Our Lady at the Center, in partnership with the Diocese of Orange. The film tells the story of Our Lady of La Vang from 1798 and the journey of building the shrine at Christ Cathedral. The work took more than two years to complete, was filmed in multiple countries, and features dozens of testimonies and stories from a range of individuals. The film premiered at Christ Cathedral in May 2025 and, as of March 26, 2026, has been released on Catholic platforms for both individual viewers and community screenings.
Behind these projects lies a desire to create a space where the faith, culture and memory of the Vietnamese community can carry forward. For the OLLV Foundation, the Shrine of Our Lady of La Vang is not only a landmark in California but also a symbol of the journey of the Vietnamese-American community — from difficult years to a new life, where faith, culture and community spirit continue to be nurtured.
From its projects at Christ Cathedral to its cultural, fundraising and film work, the OLLV Foundation is steadily building a legacy of lasting value. It is the story of how a community preserves its memory, while opening spaces for today’s and future generations to continue finding connection with their faith, Vietnamese culture and their own community.
