Get your Holiday(s) on! LaSalette Shrine, the BIG spirit of the season

In the past two years, we have lived through unprecedented times. We’ve witnessed natural disasters, civil and political divisions, and mourned those whom we lost during the pandemic. Despite all of these challenges, however, LaSalette Shrine says of their 2021 Christmas Festival: “This reminds us that God still springs forth hope in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ.”

And so begins the website of LaSalette Shrine as it embarks on its 2021 Festival of Lights. During the Christmas Celebration (November 25 through January 2, 2021), they are open EVERY NIGHT from 5-9:00 pm.

LaSalette suggests people schedule mid-week visits to avoid crowds in traffic and people.

Please take time to review safety precautions before visiting!

• DUE TO THE HIGH AMOUNT OF VISITORS TO THE SHRINE DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON, MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES WHILE INDOORS.
• While on our property, please be mindful of social distancing.
• All buildings open to the public will close promptly at 9:00pm. If you are planning on visiting the Religious Article Store, please plan accordingly

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These are the photos of Robert Gillis; you can view more photos of LaSalette & Robert’s work:

https://www.gillisphotos.com/

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A work of faith in Foxboro

In the center of town in Foxboro, around this time of year, and for the past 70 years, a lifesize creche marked the spirit and meaning of Christmas. Without repairs for 35 years, the items were in danger of simply falling apart. But then COVID hit and who and how would the creche be restored?

The brothers of LaSalette just happened to have some woodworkers and craftsmen with time and talent and hearts wide open for a project that spoke to their skills and their religious passion. Taking the lede was Brother Donald Wininski, an artist at the Shrine, and for the Jaycees, member Susan Gillis.

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First was a basic question that proved a formidable challenge. How would they transport the larger than life (some weighing over 400 lbs) statue pieces to LaSalette? But, as everything else about this project went, Foxboro just happens to be the home to two brothers who are power lifting title holders. Everyone was hunkered down for COVID protection so their schedules were wide open. Zach and Nick Hadge, two super-strong Foxboro natives who are world champion title holders in weightlifting, were quarantining in the same Foxboro family home together, and eager to help. What seemed to be yeoman’s work looked like a piece of cake for these two strong young men, and with a little maneuvering the items were transported to LaSalette.

After a few months the items were rejuvenated. The work entailed even doing some research, for instance, on just what a lamb’s eye looked like in detail, and what was the accurate color for the trim on a robe. Brother Wininski said, “First, I was honored that I was asked to restore the Nativity figures,” he said. “There were 13 figures. Over the years, they became damaged and the paint faded. It took months to complete the restoration work. The figures were brought back to life and their former glory. It makes me happy to know that when people look at this Nativity scene, their spirits will be moved in some fashion,” he said. So this year when you visit the Foxboro park, just know that a little spirit of LaSalette is within each statue.

While the Shrine in Attleboro is a religious facility at its core, it is far more than that as it helps out on a daily basis with so much for the local and far-reaching communities and even nationally and internationally. The shrine does not receive help or funding and have to be completely self-sustaining in raising funds for such projects. The Shrine expenses for all the activities they offer to the public and community, exceed the donations received.

Now their latest project has been completing a house for the Nuns and have them all moved in. The small house is across the street from the Shrine. Currently, these Nuns work at the shrine during the week and they volunteer their time 2 days a week to a number of local nursing homes and shelters and the like. They live at the shrine but only in rooms with no real place to call their own or be comfortable in. This house will be their permanent housing. Someplace that is theirs. The house is old and had to be completely gutted out as it was not habitable.  It was taken down to its is studs, needed complete rewiring and plumbing, a kitchen, roofing, and every detail of home building.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF LA SALETTE

The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, is a regional landmark on Park Street in Attleboro, Massachusetts that has been serving the community, immediate and extended for over 60 years. It is a place where hundreds of thousands of people of all faiths and believes visit every year. People’s religion and faith (or lack of it) makes no difference. Those that visit are offered peace and serenity and healing by just walking in the holy grounds, with never an entrance fee. It’s free all year-round. People also come for the countless services, programs, concerts, soup kitchen and so much more.  The Catholic priests, brothers and sisters that run La Salette are always welcoming and helpful to anyone that is in need.

The shrine is one of a very elite small number of shrines in the world that have been given the title “National shrine” Only 100 Shrines in the world have this title. It was given this designation due to the extraordinary works it does in the community, the state, nationally and internationally. 

La Salette Shrine is a jewel of a place that is mostly known for its spectacular holiday lights festival but it offers far more than anyone can imagine to the community and anyone in need. At its core, it is a place of serenity, love, community, faith and healing. 

La Salette also helps in the local community by opening up their facilities during hurricanes and other emergencies, where the Red Cross is able to station their supplies for local needs as well as use for temporary shelter. It is also a shelter designation for Attleboro and surrounding towns. The shrine also houses perishables and non-perishables supplies for the Council of Churches that runs six soup kitchens and pantry, as well as a kids summer lunch program throughout the area.

Among the countless works it does to help the community, it offers its own soup kitchen ministry, feeding well over 150-200 people every Monday.  La Salette also invites people to enjoy family events such as a yearly Easter egg hunt, carnival with rides and games, all kinds of shows throughout the year, concerts, movies for kids, events for families, youth groups, car shows and car and motorcycle blessings, farmers market, circus, Animal blessings, International cuisine, Indian Pow-wow, horse show, it offers Loss and bereavement counseling, marriage counseling and so much more.  

La Salette Shrine is far more known as one of New England’s largest Christmas lights display for over 60 years now. Always completely free to the public. For 46 days, during the holiday season, they put on the most dazzling panorama of 350,000 gorgeous lights.

The shrine is visited by over a million people during the Holiday season alone and another million in pilgrimages and tours and just people visiting year round.

For the past few years, the shrine has been collecting redeemable soda cans and bottles to help them convert the Holiday light display to all LED to help save cost on their electric bill. In doing so, for every thousand cans they collect, they save the tops and this offers a free dialysis treatment to one person who cannot afford it. They have helped over 125 people receive dialysis treatments.

Please consider helping La Salette shrine in any way you are able to.