Sacraments

In the Motu Proprio Sanctuarium in Ecclesia, the Holy Father describes a shrine as a place of evangelization where pilgrims encounter God’s closeness, the tenderness of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the company of the saints—particularly through the celebration of the Mass, and most especially through Reconciliation and the Eucharist (SE 2, 4).

The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche does not take the place of a proper parish, which is the parish of one’s domicile or residence. The parish is where the faithful normally receive the sacraments. Because the Shrine is a special place of pilgrimage and prayer, it has at times been viewed as a substitute for the celebration of sacraments that are not proper to a shrine. With the exception of marriages already approved by the bishop for the Rustic Altar, other sacraments are limited to rare instances, if they occur at all.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has designated the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios as a national sanctuary of pilgrimage and prayer. The Church teaches that the sacraments are communal in nature and are most fittingly celebrated within the worshiping community of the parish. For more information, please email us or call 904-824-2809.