Written by La Salette Laity Regional Representatives
Each year on September 19, the Church pauses to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of La Salette, recalling the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to two shepherd children, Maximin Giraud and Mélanie Calvat, in the French Alps in 1846. In her tearful message, Mary called for reconciliation, penance, and faithfulness—a message as relevant today as it was nearly 180 years ago.
Across the Province of Mary, Mother of the Americas, the Feast is marked with prayer, liturgy, and community gatherings that extend beyond the day itself. Each parish and shrine finds unique ways to live Mary’s call, weaving together traditions of devotion, culture, and fellowship.
In New England, the Hillside Pavilion in Enfield, New Hampshire, becomes a center of prayer as the La Salette Novena is prayed daily from September 11 through 19, accompanied by reflection and community events. A multilingual rosary, laity recognition, and an international reception underscore the universal reach of Mary’s message. Devotional displays, prayer cards, and opportunities for reflection invite pilgrims and parishioners alike to enter more deeply into the mystery of La Salette.
Farther south, in Florida, the Feast is embraced with vibrant liturgies and cultural celebrations. At Good Shepherd Parish in Orlando, the novena is enriched by guest priests, Eucharistic adoration, and a school Mass celebrated by Bishop John Noonan. Blessed Trinity Parish gathers for bilingual novenas, reflections, and even a live reenactment of the apparition—reminding the faithful that La Salette is not only history but a living call.
In the Atlanta region, parishioners and visitors gather to share meals, pray the novena, and retell the story of the apparition. Through homilies and fellowship, prayer and celebrations, all are reminded that Mary’s weeping at La Salette continues to speak to hearts today, inviting each of us to reconciliation with God and with one another.
In Texas and Louisiana, parishioners celebrate the message of La Salette with a distinctly southern spirit of food, fellowship, and prayer. Daily and Sunday Masses honor Mary, while Catholic school students bring the apparition to life through art, storytelling, and prayer. The La Salette Prayer Garden offers a quiet space for novenas and rosaries, while parish breakfasts and dinners gather the faithful around the table. Extending beyond the parish walls, outreach efforts – including food bank support – carry Mary’s message of reconciliation from 1846 into the lives of people today.
At Our Lady of the Cape Parish in Brewster, Massachusetts, the Feast is an opportunity to highlight both faith and culture. The celebration begins with World La Salette Laity Day and continues with a daily novena leading to the Feast. On September 19, parishioners honor Mary with Mass, adoration, and even a walking tour of Marian artwork within the church. The weekend brings a French-themed “Croissants and Coffee Hour,” tying devotion to the historical roots of the apparition.
The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, Massachusetts, offers a Triduum on September 19–21, inviting both La Salette Associates and lay faithful to participate fully in the prayer and festivities. The International Day of Laity is celebrated with a special Mass, while the weekend culminates in an international feast where participants share dishes from their homelands—a joyful witness to the global reach of Mary’s message.
In St. Louis, La Salette Associates gather to celebrate Mass, renew their promises, and share a meal, continuing a cherished tradition that has strengthened bonds of faith and community through the years. Even as parishes close or change, the Associates carry on the devotion to Our Lady of La Salette with deep fidelity.
Across all these places and gatherings, one truth remains constant: the message Mary gave at La Salette – of reconciliation, prayer, and conversion – continues to inspire. Each novena prayed, each meal shared, and each story retold becomes part of the living tradition of the Feast. This year, as we honor Our Lady of La Salette, may her tears move us to console her with lives rooted in holiness and committed to peace.
