Granite grace, right before us, the Regina Pacis stands. This statue of Mary, Our Lady of Peace, graces the front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon. We are in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The statue’s story intertwines with the cathedral’s. The French expanded their presence in Saigon. Catholics needed a place to worship. Bishop Lefebvre initiated a wooden church construction in 1863. It finished two years later. It was first named Saigon Church at Kinh Lon. This was near the Charner Canal where the Sun Wah building is today. Interestingly, the church stood on a former tiny Vietnamese pagoda. The pagoda was abandoned because of wars.
As the wooden church decayed, Governor Guy Victor August Duperré launched an architecture competition. Jules Bourard won. He drew inspiration from the Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris.
Monsignor Isidore Colombert laid the cathedral’s foundation on October 7, 1877. Easter in 1880 marked a solemn inauguration. Before becoming Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, it was the State Church. France financed its 2.5 million francs cost.
In 1895, twin bell towers were added. Each tower reached 57.6 meters. Six bells found their home within. A 3.50 m high cross tops each tower. It measures 2m wide and weighs 600 kg.
Fast forward to 1958. Monsignor Giuse Pham Van Thien commissioned a statue of the Virgin Mary. It was carved from granite in Rome. Cardinal Aganiavian inaugurated it on February 17, 1959. This is the statue we admire today.
In 1960, the cathedral gained the title of Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception. The Pope granted this status. Two other cathedrals in Hanoi and Hue received the same honor.
Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the cathedral acts as a bridge. It connects Vietnamese heritage and French colonial history. The statue of Mary, known as the Peaceful Notre Dame, accentuates the cathedral’s spiritual ambiance.
Some say the statue shed tears in 2005. Thousands flocked to witness this event. It added to the site’s spiritual significance.
The statue of Mary and Notre Dame Cathedral represent peace and contemplation. They stand amidst bustling city life. They invite us to reflect on their rich past. They also embody Saigon’s cultural and religious heritage.