Our Story Begins with a Message of Mercy
In a quiet mountain hamlet near the village of La Salette, France, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to two shepherd children—Maximin Giraud (11) and Mélanie Calvat (14)—on September 19, 1846. Radiant in light and filled with sorrow, she called humanity to conversion, healing, and hope. Her final words to the children were simple and profound:
“Make this message known to all my people.”
That message has become a mission for generations.
Who We Are
We are the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette—priests, brothers, sisters, and lay collaborators—bound by a sacred call to share Mary’s message of reconciliation and mercy with the world. Founded in 1852 in France, our community formed in response to Mary’s request: to proclaim the Gospel and invite all people into deeper communion with Christ.
Our Charism: Reconciliation
At the core of our vocation is the ministry of reconciliation. We live this mission by:
- Preaching the Word of God
- Celebrating the Eucharist and the Sacraments
- Healing the wounds of the heart through compassion, guidance, and presence
- Calling people to conversion and trust in God’s boundless mercy
Our emblem, the La Salette Crucifix, bears a hammer and pincers—the hammer symbolizing sin, and the pincers representing our efforts to heal and restore what was broken through love and mercy. It reminds us that our choices matter, and that grace is always within reach.
Where We Serve
From our beginnings in the French Alps, the La Salette mission has spread across continents. In 1892, two La Salette priests arrived in the United States and began ministry in Connecticut. Today, we serve across North and South America, Europe, Africa, Madagascar, the Philippines, Myanmar, Australia, and other mission territories—bringing Mary’s call to reconciliation to every corner of the world.
What We Do
Wherever we are called, we bring Mary’s message to life through:
- Parish and Shrine Ministry
- Retreats and Spiritual Direction
- Youth and Family Outreach
- Counseling and Chaplaincy
- Global Mission Support and Evangelization
We especially seek out those who feel distant from the Church or burdened by life’s struggles—because reconciliation is not just a sacrament, it’s a way of being present to one another in love, compassion, and mercy.
Why We Serve
Because Mary asked us to.
Because Christ calls us to.
Because the world still longs for reconciliation and healing.
