National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette

History & Heritage of the Shrine

La Salette's spiritual mission stretches back to September 19, 1846, when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared weeping to two shepherd children, Maximin Giraud and Mélanie Calvat, in the hamlet of La Salette in the French Alps, entrusting them with a message of reconciliation 'to all her people.' From that apparition grew the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette (M.S.), founded in 1852 in France to be a 'perpetual remembrance of Mary's merciful Apparition.' Two M.S. missionaries arrived in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1892, beginning the order's North American presence. After long negotiations in 1942 the Missionaries purchased the former Solomon Sanatorium in Attleboro — a 135-acre wooded property whose Victorian-era buildings had served variously as a private sanatorium (1901–1919) and Attleboro Springs Sanatorium (1919–1938). They opened the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette on December 8, 1953, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, deliberately timed to coincide with the Marian Year proclaimed by Pope Pius XII. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops formally recognized the site as the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette on November 15, 2003.

The Solomon Sanatorium and the 1999 Fire

Long before crosses and Rosary beads rose on the property, the land was the dream of James Solomon — a self-styled 'Dr.' Solomon who peddled herbal cancer remedies. With backing from a local businessman, the Attleboro Sanatorium rose in 1901, requiring 475,709 bricks, 309 windows (3,254 panes), 21 fireplaces, 200 rooms, and 27 miles of electrical wire. It was inaugurated on the night of September 25, 1902 with 1,800 electric lights outlining the building and a searchlight visible for four miles; a band concert on Attleboro Common was followed by a parade to the grounds. The sanatorium changed hands several times, was acquired in 1919 by the Methodist Church as 'Attleboro Springs,' and closed in 1938. After the Missionaries bought it in 1942 and converted it into their major American seminary and the heart of the Shrine, the original 1901 brick structure stood for more than half a century. On the night of November 4–5, 1999, a tragic fire consumed the building and claimed the life of Carmelite Father Paul. The Missionaries rebuilt; the current Shrine Church was dedicated on September 19, 2000, the anniversary of the apparition, and a new Welcome Center followed in 2007.

Shrine Facilities & Grounds

The Shrine occupies roughly 200 acres of wooded grounds in northern Attleboro. Central to the visitor experience is the Shrine Church, dedicated in 2000, which seats the daily and Sunday Masses and the monthly healing services. The Welcome Center (opened 2007) houses the Shrine's 600-seat concert hall (subdividable into three state-of-the-art conference rooms), spiritual-direction and counseling rooms, the Shrine Bistro, the Religious Article Store (the largest standalone Catholic bookstore in New England), accessible restrooms, and direct access to the Shrine Cafeteria. Across the grounds, pilgrims encounter the Grotto with the venerated image of Our Lady of La Salette, the 28 Holy Stairs, the Rosary Walk, fourteen outdoor Stations of the Cross, a replica of the Holy Mountain of La Salette, Rosary Pond, and the Outdoor Crèche of Bethlehem — with the candle lit each evening from a flame flown from Bethlehem. The 200-acre campus is also home to the separate La Salette Retreat & Conference Center (508-222-8530) and the International Crèche Museum gallery.

The Christmas Festival of Lights

The annual Christmas Festival of Lights, begun on December 8, 1953 with the Shrine's opening, has grown into one of the most beloved Advent traditions in New England. From 'maybe 10,000 lights' in the early years (per longtime director Fr. Andre Patenaude), the display has expanded to more than 300,000 LED lights across about 10 acres, drawing an estimated 250,000–500,000 visitors each season (the Providence Journal and Rhode Island Catholic report 'upwards of a half million pilgrims' annually). Each festival adopts an annual theme; the message 'MAKE IT KNOWN' blazed in white lights atop the church during the 2016 festival, for example, and 'Jesus Light of Life' (John 8:12) was the 2014 theme. Visitors may drive or stroll through the display, attend Father Pat concerts at 3 PM and 7 PM each Friday–Sunday, ride hayrides and trolleys or take a turn on the old-fashioned carousel, view the Outdoor Crèche of Bethlehem (lit from a flame flown from Bethlehem), climb the Holy Stairs on their knees, walk the Stations of the Cross, and pray the Rosary along the Rosary Walk beside Rosary Pond. Admission and parking are free.

• Free admission and free parking
• Father Pat concerts — Friday–Sunday at 3 PM and 7 PM
• Hayrides, trolley tours and old-fashioned carousel
• Outdoor Crèche of Bethlehem (candle lit each evening from a flame flown from Bethlehem)
• International Crèche Museum open Monday–Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:45 PM
• Daily Mass and Confessions in the Shrine Church throughout the season
• Special La Posada (Spanish Advent devotion) and outdoor Stations of the Cross

La Salette International Crèche Museum

The La Salette International Crèche Museum, founded by Fr. Manuel Pereira, M.S. (1939–2022), a La Salette Missionary and native of the Azores, showcases nativity scenes ('crèches' or 'presépios') from around the world. The permanent collection now displays 1,561 nativity sets representing more than 100 countries, plus 90 Provençal 'Santons' and the stunning Presépio that Fr. Manuel built to evoke his native Azorean hamlet and Christmas traditions. In 2021, the Shrine received a precious collection illustrating 'Judea, Jerusalem, and Galilee at the Time of Jesus'; in November 2023, artist Alicia Crespo and Fr. Flavio Gillio, M.S., curated this collection into a panoramic exhibit that complements the global crèche display. The current permanent exhibit was reorganized over two years by artist Alicia Crespo and Fr. Bernie Baris, M.S. Fr. Flavio, a biblical scholar, is available on request to give a guided talk to groups on the 'Judea, Jerusalem, and Galilee' panorama. The museum is open Monday–Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:45 PM, with free admission and free-will donations welcomed.

• 1,561 nativity sets from more than 100 countries
• 90 'Santons' from Provence, France
• Presépio (Azores-style nativity) created by museum founder Fr. Manuel Pereira, M.S.
• Judea, Jerusalem, and Galilee at the Time of Jesus panorama — installed November 2023
• Open daily 10:00 AM – 4:45 PM; free admission; donations welcome
• Guided group talks available with Fr. Flavio (lasaletteshrinedirector@gmail.com)

La Salette Retreat & Conference Center

Sharing the 200-acre campus with the Shrine, the La Salette Retreat & Conference Center offers a quiet oasis for individuals and groups seeking spiritual renewal. Programs are led by the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette and include 8-day silent directed retreats, extended and weekend preached retreats, one-day programs, workshops, and youth retreats designed specifically for school, parish, and youth groups (one of which, La Salette Laity Retreat 2026, is scheduled for August 2, 2026). Retreatants can attend daily Mass and Confession at the Shrine Church, receive spiritual direction, and stay in comfortable accommodations with meals provided. The Conference Center in the Welcome Center can be subdivided into three meeting spaces and is available for parish days, school programs, and ministry gatherings. The Retreat Center office is open Monday–Friday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM; tel. 508-222-8530, fax 508-236-9089, email retreatcentersecretary@lasalette-shrine.org.

• 8-Day Silent Retreat (e.g., July 13–20, 2026)
• Extended and Weekend Retreats
• One-Day Programs
• Workshops
• Youth Retreats (designed for school, parish, and youth-group use)
• 2026 Laity Retreat — August 2, 2026
• Pilgrimage to La Salette & Italy — September 2–12, 2026
• Available for corporate and nonprofit use; meeting spaces for up to 600

Religious Article Store (Gift Shop)

Inside the Welcome Center sits the La Salette Religious Article Store, billed as the largest standalone Catholic bookstore in New England and one of the largest brick-and-mortar Catholic stores on the East Coast. Its thousands of products include rosaries, wall crosses, pins, pendants, medals, Bibles, devotional books, DVDs, and a used-book section, with first Communion, confirmation, ordination, baptism, and wedding sacramentals always in stock. The store operates a separate e-commerce site at lasalettereligiousas.org but encourages pilgrims to visit in person at 947 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703. Hours are Monday–Sunday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; the in-store phone is 508-236-9090, the main Shrine line is 508-222-5410.

• Rosaries, medals, crucifixes, wall crosses, statues
• Bibles, devotional books, children's books, DVDs
• Sacramentals for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Ordination, Marriage
• Used-book section
• Open daily 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Outreach & Community Service

Beyond its pilgrimage and devotional apostolates, the Shrine is a working center of Catholic social outreach in greater Attleboro. Its Soup Kitchen has served the homeless and those in need for more than a decade and is regarded by the Missionaries as an integral ministry of the Shrine. Community Collections run year-round for canned goods, school supplies, and other resources distributed to local agencies, complemented by Outreach Events that draw on the Shrine's many volunteers. The Shrine is also home to spiritual-direction and counseling services available to any Catholic seeking accompaniment.

• Soup Kitchen (in service for over a decade)
• Community Collections (canned goods, school supplies, seasonal drives)
• Outreach Events throughout the year
• Spiritual direction and counseling in the Welcome Center

Shrine Staff & Clergy

The Shrine is staffed by the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette (M.S.), Province of Mary, Mother of the Americas. Fr. Flavio Gillio, M.S., a biblical scholar and longtime Missionary, currently serves as Shrine Director / Director of Ministries. Fr. Jack (John) Nuelle, M.S., serves as Assistant Director of Ministries. Fr. Messias Malanga, M.S., is Superior and is responsible for the Filipino community; Fr. Rosanno Soriano, M.S., is Associate Director and is responsible for the Portuguese community. Fr. Brian Schloth, M.S., directs the La Salette Retreat Center. Fr. Ted Brown, M.S., Fr. Andre 'Father Pat' Patenaude, M.S. (the renowned 'Singing Priest' who leads the English Healing Service and holiday concerts), and Brother Ron Taylor, M.S. (contact for Divine Mercy and La Salette Devotions) round out the team. Fr. Manuel Pereira, M.S. (1939–2022), founder of the Crèche Museum, and Fr. Bernie Baris, M.S., co-curator of its renewal, are remembered as part of the Shrine's recent history. Fr. Joseph Mattathilanickal, M.S., and Fr. John Sullivan have also served the Shrine community in recent years.

• Fr. Flavio Gillio, M.S. — Shrine Director / Director of Ministries
• Fr. Jack (John) Nuelle, M.S. — Assistant Director of Ministries
• Fr. Messias Malanga, M.S. — Superior, Responsible for Filipino Community
• Fr. Rosanno Soriano, M.S. — Associate Director, Responsible for Portuguese Community
• Fr. Brian Schloth, M.S. — Retreat Center Director
• Fr. Andre 'Father Pat' Patenaude, M.S. — 'Singing Priest,' leader of English Healing Service
• Fr. Ted Brown, M.S.
• Bro. Ron Taylor, M.S. — Divine Mercy / La Salette Devotions contact
• Fr. Manuel Pereira, M.S. (1939–2022) — Founder of the Crèche Museum
• Fr. Bernie Baris, M.S. — Co-curator of the renewed Crèche Museum

Sacraments

The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette offers the sacraments of the Catholic Church in the Shrine Church and through its Missionaries. Daily Mass in English is offered Monday through Saturday at 12:10 PM with a Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:30 PM (English, livestreamed). Sunday Masses include 9:30 AM in French and 12:10 PM in English (livestreamed), plus monthly healing services in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. Confessions are heard Monday through Friday (typically 1:00–2:00 PM) and before weekend Masses, with additional opportunities during the Christmas Festival of Lights. Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, Marriages, Anointing of the Sick, and sacramental preparation are coordinated through the Shrine office (508-222-5410) and supported by the Religious Article Store's sacramental inventory.

• Daily Mass — Monday–Saturday, 12:10 PM (English)
• Saturday Vigil Mass — 4:30 PM (English, livestreamed)
• Sunday Mass — 9:30 AM French, 12:10 PM English (livestreamed)
• Confession — Monday–Friday 1:00–2:00 PM and before weekend Masses
• Monthly Healing Services — Spanish, Portuguese, English
• Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick — by appointment through the Shrine office

Pilgrimages and Visitor Information

La Salette welcomes tens of thousands of individual pilgrims, families, parish groups, and school groups each year. Visitor services include year-round free parking and free admission to the grounds, the Religious Article Store, the La Salette International Crèche Museum, daily Mass and Confession, the Rosary Walk, outdoor Stations of the Cross, Rosary Pond, the Holy Mountain replica, the Grotto, the Holy Stairs, and the Outdoor Crèche of Bethlehem. The Missionaries organize pilgrimages abroad — most recently the announced Pilgrimage to La Salette & Italy, September 2–12, 2026, returning pilgrims to the original apparition site in France with side visits to Italian shrines. The Welcome Center also offers spiritual-direction and counseling rooms for one-on-one accompaniment. The Retreat & Conference Center welcomes groups for both spiritual retreats and corporate or nonprofit events.

• Free admission and free parking year-round
• Masses, Confessions, Healing Services, and devotions listed in real time on the Shrine Calendar page
• International Crèche Museum open daily 10:00 AM – 4:45 PM
• Pilgrimage to La Salette & Italy — September 2–12, 2026
• Spiritual direction and counseling appointments via the Welcome Center
• School, youth and parish group retreats available year-round