About Us

Mr. Khamsing Singvongsa in Chicago in June, 1981. LCC is an affiliated or a partnership with the
Indochinese Catholic Pastoral Center. The Center is under auspices of the leadership of Rev.
Peter Hung, Director of Indochinese Catholic Pastoral Center. The Indochinese Catholic Pastoral
Center provides Catholic faith ministry to Cambodian, Laotian and Vietnamese Catholic
community. In terms of religion in Laos, the majority of Laotians are Buddhists, while other
small minority groups are Catholic, Christian, Muslim, Confucian and others. Buddhism has
existed in Laos for over 2000 years and almost all Lao festivities are linked to Buddhism. Today
approximately ninety five percent of the Laotian people believe in Buddha and the rest belong to
the other religions. Since 1981, LCC continues to reach out to other Catholics and non-Catholics
throughout Chicago, as well as the suburbs about the Good News of Catholicism, although
bringing Laotian people together has been a difficult task.

Nationally, the Lao are the seventh largest ethnic group within the total Asian population, which
is the one of the fastest growing minority group in the US. Illinois ranks fifth among all the states
with the greatest Asian American population, and fourth in number of Laotian refugees and
immigrants. As the community matures, the needs of the Laotian Catholic Community are
gradually increasing. LCC needs to adapt in response to changing needs. From upheaval, cultural
shock, language barrier, and dispersal of refugee dislocation, we have regrouped and
re-imagined our identity as a community of Catholic faith poised to participate positively within
the multicultural fabric of American Society.

The task at hand at this point in our history is community empowerment. Certainly our people
continue to face many daunting needs and problems, but we are committed to emphasizing,
developing and building upon our strengths and empowering our community in the relationship
with Jesus Christ

Laos is a small country situated in Southeast Asia-south of China, north of Cambodia, east of
Thailand, northeast of Burma, and west of Vietnam. Laos is about 6 million in population and it
has an area of 91,000 square miles-about the size of the State of Oregon or the State of Idaho.

Since 1975, many Laotian families have fled their own homes and country due to fear of political
persecution and human rights abuse under a Communist regime. Many Laotians came to the
United States and other countries as refugees hoping for a better life, opportunity and freedom.
There is a Laotian population of approximately 3000 residing in the metropolitan Chicago area,
5000 Laotians live in Rockford, and other 7000 Laotians live in Elgin, South Elgin,
Carpentersville, Roselle, Hanover Park. Other cities with Laotian population are Aurora, Joliet,
Springfield and part of Dupage county. To date, there are approximately 20,000 Laotians
residing in Illinois.