We Would Love
to Keep in Touch!
The words "Come nearer, my children" are not only those Mary spoke at La Salette in 1846. They are the motto that has been lived each day at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, Mass., for almost 70 years.
Our Welcome Wreath indicating the 175th anniversary of the La S alette Apparition (1846-2021)On Sept. 19,1846, the Blessed Mother appeared to two shepherd children, Maximin Giraud and Melanie Calvat, in La Salette, France, and left them with the message of reconciliation to be spread to all people in the world. Six years later, the apparition of Our Lady in La Salette led to the founding of a Religious Order, the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, founded to serve as a perpetual remembrance of Mary’s merciful apparition.
A long history of Missionary service
Two La Salette Missionaries originally settled in Hartford in 1892 but later the La Salette Missionaries bought the Attleboro property in 1942 to be used as a Major Seminary. In 1952, construction for the Shrine on that property began and officially opened on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, 1953.
The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette discerns new opportunities to make Mary’s message of hope and reconciliation known to those who visit. “It is an amazing place to minister as a priest,” says Father Flavio Gillio, M.S., Shrine Director. “It is a very creative place to minister and the only limit this place has is its own creativity.”
2020 Christmas Festival of Lights
An annual highlight of La Salette is its Christmas Festival of Lights, which attracts thousands of people each year. The theme for the 67th Christmas Festival of Lights, “Light from Afar,” speaks about the One who is the “light of the world” (John 8:12), Jesus the Christ
Our Lady speaks with Maximin and Melanie during the Apparition“A light from afar is all that we need to keep on walking through our life’s journey. A light from afar was enough for the Three Wise Men to embark on a life-changing journey. A light from afar led the shepherd of Bethlehem to witness a transforming encounter. A light from afar gives a sense of direction and hope. We need to be reminded that, despite these challenging times we are experiencing, the light from afar is still shining ahead of us all,” Father Gillio says.
During this daily celebration of lights, visitors will be welcomed by more than 400,000 lights that will “brighten your spirit and remind you that, despite these challenging, uncertain and unprecedented times, we are not left alone: the light of Christ, our Emmanuel — God with us— is in our midst to guide us, to inspire our lives, and to keep our hope alive,” Father Flavio adds. “Join us and let the light from afar shine in your heart and around you.”
Everyone is welcome!
The Christmas lights celebration, which is spread out across more than ten acres, will run through Jan. 3, 2021. In September, La Salette began decorating for the Christmas Festival of Lights, which attracts hundreds of thousands of people annually, mainly from the New England States. Some of the activities will be curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s Christmas craft fair is canceled, but the gift shop is open. An International Creche Museum with more than 2,000 pieces from around the world will be visible from outdoors.
The Coronavirus and the La Salette Ministry
Life-sized Nativity SceneLa Salette was shut down from March 17 through May 31 because of the pandemic. Since reopening, Masses and confessions were reinstituted but large gatherings and events have been canceled. Several programs, including Bible sessions, prayer groups, memorial services and retreats, have taken place online. “It has been a period of great, great struggle but despite the struggle this period brings, we began online programs and livestreamed our liturgies,” Father Flavio says. “They have been very well received.”
Our Schedule and Offerings
Our Welcome Center is open every day, 10 am to 5 pm. Daily Masses have taken place in an outdoor chapel, weather permitting. Our outdoor Stations of the Cross, Holy Stairs and our Rosary Pond may be visited any time on the sprawling grounds. The Sacrament of Reconciliation takes place indoors, seven days a week. Visitors may light a Votive Candle in the indoor Chapel of Lights. A candle request also can be made at lasaletteattleboroshrine.org/candle-requests.
The La Salette experience includes the La Salette Retreat & Conference Center, also on the property. For more information, visit lasaletteretreatcenter.com. The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette is located at 947 Park St., Attleboro, Mass. For more information or to review the schedule, call 508.222.5410 or visit WWW.Lasaletteattleboroshrine.org .
View from across the Rosary Pond to the Shrine Church and the Statue of Mary in the center of the Pond