DATE: Wednesday, April 30, 1997             TAG: 9704300074

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: PHOTOGRAPHY AND TEXT BY HUY NGUYEN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

                                            LENGTH:   30 lines

TWENTY-TWO YEARS AFTER THE WAR'S END, CATHOLIC VIETNAMESE-AMERICANS IN HAMPTON ROADS HAVE... A SPIRITUAL HOME

When Saigon fell 22 years ago today, thousands of Vietnamese fled their country to make a new home in the United States.

For 21 years of that time, local Vietnamese-American Catholics have borrowed church space, waiting and working for their own spiritual home.

Now they have it: Our Lady of Lavang Vietnamese Catholic Church in Norfolk.

Named after a Vietnamese basilica that was destroyed during the war, the church stands at the foot of the Campostella Bridge, a result of community effort and dedication.

In a building that once was a KFC restaurant, the church was built in 22 months almost entirely by volunteers, who donated their equipment, material, time and expertise. It opened in December and is attended by 67 Vietnamese-American families.

``This is a good chance to see friends and Vietnamese folks,'' says Mike Le, 32 of Chesapeake, who moved to the area from Vietnam at age 11.

``We feel more comfortable in our own home.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos

[HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot

For caption information, please see microfilm]

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