Monday, December 30, 2013
History of Our Lady of La Salette's Apparition and Shrine
HISTORY & BACKGROUND OF THE
NATIONAL SHRINE
OF OUR LADY
OF LA SALETTE IN ATTLEBORO , MASSACHUSETTS
Any La Salette story traces its beginnings
to September 19, 1846 when the Blessed Mother appeared to two shepherd children
at La Salette, a small hamlet in the French Alps. Through the children she gave her message of
“Reconciliation” to the world. She
insisted that this message be made known to all her people. Consequently in 1852 the Missionaries of Our
Lady of La Salette were founded to serve as a “perpetual remembrance of Mary’s
merciful Apparition.”
In 1892 two La Salette Missionaries arrived to explore possible settlement in the New World and ultimately settled in
Meanwhile, back in
On April 25, 1903 Solomon’s Sanatorium was
dedicated and the statistics in the day’s program included this
information: “Bricks – 475,709; windows
– 309; panes of glass – 3,254; fireplaces – 21; rooms – 200; electric wire – 27
miles.” The order of the day included a
band concert on the Attleboro Common followed by a parade from the center of
town. A contemporary account describes
the event: “With the coming of the dark,
Dr. Solomon’s dream sprang to life in a great blaze of electrical splendor;
1,800 electric lights outlined the exterior of the building, while an immense
searchlight mounted on the roof threw its slender, graceful finger of light
over four miles.”
Unfortunately, in the years to follow lack
of funds resulting in changes of ownership was to form a pattern. In 1919, when the Methodist Church
In 1942 the La Salette Missionaries bought
the property as a major seminary and in 1952 the construction of the Shrine was
announced. On the Vigil of the Feast of
the Immaculate Conception, December 7, 1953, marked the official opening of the
Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, coinciding with the beginning of
the Marian Year promulgated by Pope Pius XII.
Highlights of that day included a fireworks display, an outdoor nativity
scene, and the presence of 5,000 people.
Since
then the outdoor nativity display has grown to the present scope of the annual
Christmas Festival of Lights, which features 300,000 dazzling lights and
welcomes over 500,000 pilgrims.
Constant strands in the history of this Attleboro property do
seem to be: dream and struggle, hope and
healing, dark night of the search and bright lights pointing the way.
November
15, 2003 the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops notified the shrine that it
had been granted the new designation of “National Shrine of Our Lady of
La Salette.”
(Historical material on La
Salette of Attleboro
8/11/13
WISHING YOU ALL MANY BLESSINGS ON 2014!
Father,
you call each one of us by name and ask us to follow you. Bless your Church by raising up dedicated and
generous leaders from our families and friends who will serve your people as
Priests, Deacons, Sisters, Brothers and Lay Leaders. May they be inspired to heed the call of Our
Lady of La Salette to make this message
known to all her people.
Inspire
us as we grow to know you, and open our hearts to
hear
your call.
We
ask you this in Jesus’ name.
AMEN.
Our Lady of La Salette
National
Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette
Vocation Office – Rev. Fr. Dennis Loomis, M.S.
947
Park Street
Attleboro,
MA 02703-5115
Tel:
(508) 222-5410 x 238 Fax: (508) 222-6770
E-Mail: dennismsmma@aol.com
http://www.lasalette-shrine.org
Friday, September 20, 2013
Friday, July 19, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
An Invitation to everyone especially all Catechists!
In
the Year of Faith proclaimed by Pope (Emeritus) Benedict XVI, now would be a
good time to address the many misunderstandings attributed down through the
ages regarding the image of God.
Jesus,
the Word of God Spoken in time and history, and marked down to us through the
Gospels, revealed to humanity who God truly is in relation to humanity.
Led by
This
will be open to all who are interested, especially those who are involved in
religious education.
-
There
will be no cost to those attending.
- You may place your order for your Lunch with us or bring your own
- Pre-register by August 17, 2013
Rev. Fr. Dennis Loomis, M.S., Facilitator
All Catechists are welcome!
For more
details log
on to www.lasalette-shrine.org or call (508) 342-0538 (For more information on La Salette Vocation
contact
Rev.Fr.
Dennis J. Loomis, M.S., Vocation Director at (508) 342-0538)
National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette
“Celebrating our 60th Anniversary of Serving God’s People”
We are located at
947 Park Street
Attleboro, MA 02703-5115
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