By Cathy Harasta
The Texas Catholic
KERENS — Worshipers gathered from all over the United States and Vietnam for the sixth annual Blessed Sacrament Day celebration June 4-7 at the Benedictine Monastery of Thien Tam (“Heavenly Heart”) in Kerens, located about 80 miles southeast of Dallas.
Chris Richmond, an organizer of the event and the assistant to monastery Prior Father Dominic Hanh Nguyen, estimated the attendance at about 4,000 over four days of Masses, conferences in Vietnamese and English, youth activities and music.
“The event went very well,” Richmond said. “Many spent time in group prayer and also individual adoration to the Blessed Sacrament, praying to Our Lady of Fatima.
“It was wonderful to see so many gravitate towards the Blessed Sacrament, humbly praying and praying to Our Lady.”
Many who attended the event camped on the monastery’s 297-acre property.
Parish groups, families and individuals came from parishes in the Diocese of Dallas and throughout the state of Texas as well as Washington, Michigan and Nevada.
Those gathered had opportunities to pray the Rosary, attend communal Adoration and make their confessions.
Dallas Bishop Kevin J. Farrell’s reading of a decree following a Mass of Dedication in 2009 permitted Thien Tam’s establishment.
