In the heart of New England lies a sacred space where healing begins, prayers rise, and thousands find renewed purpose each year. The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, Massachusetts is more than a place—it is a living ministry, rooted in Christ’s mercy and Mary’s call to reconciliation.
“Come near, my children… do not be afraid.”
These gentle words from the apparition of Our Lady of La Salette in 1846 echo through every corner of the Shrine. Her message still speaks powerfully today: a call to return to God, to find peace in His love, and to walk together in hope.
Ministries That Inspire
At the Shrine, this message takes form through ministries that serve both the soul and society. One of the most beloved is the Christmas Festival of Lights, now featuring over one million lights and recognized as New England’s largest religious Christmas display. Each year, more than 500,000 visitors pass through the grounds during the six-week celebration. Beyond the glow of lights, guests encounter a moving facsimile of the La Salette apparition, explore one of the world’s most extensive International Crèche Museums—fully renovated in 2024 with nearly 3,000 nativity scenes from around the globe—and pause before the powerful Angel Unawares sculpture by Timothy Schmalz, blessed in 2024.
But the mission of La Salette goes far beyond Christmas. Throughout the year, the Shrine welcomes pilgrims of every language and culture: Filipino, Vietnamese, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian (1 and 2), Polish, Franco-Canadian, Italian, and Malayali. Each pilgrimage is a testament to the Church’s rich universality.
Rooted in the Gospel command to serve, the Shrine also hosts a Soup Kitchen Ministry, providing over 75 hot meals weekly to neighbors in need. In the quiet of the confessional, more than 15,000 people each year rediscover the healing power of mercy and the grace of beginning again.
In response to this growing diversity, the La Salette International Committee was established in 2023. This initiative brings together La Salette Associates, Spanish, Portuguese, Cape Verdean, Malayali, Filipino, and Haitian communities who now call the Shrine their spiritual home. Emerging after the pandemic, the committee is a prophetic response to the signs of the times—affirming that our unity in Christ and the grace of La Salette are stronger than our differences. Here, every tradition is welcomed, and every culture is treasured.
Find out more about our ministries, pilgrimages, and programs at
