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Letter from the Rector

With Grateful Hearts, We Say Farewell

It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praise to your name, Most High,
To proclaim your love at daybreak, your faithfulness in the night,
With the ten-stringed harp, with melody upon the lyre.
For you make me jubilant, LORD, by your deeds; at the works of your hands I shout for joy.
How great are your works, LORD! How profound are your designs!

— Psalm 92:2-6

Dear Friends in Christ,

The religious community of the Immaculate Conception gives heartfelt thanks to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary for the grace to serve in the Diocese of St. Augustine – especially at the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche – from 2012 to June 30, 2025.

We first came to know Bishop Felipe Estévez in 2008 when he was serving as auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Miami. He came to understand our Trinitarian, Christocentric and Marian charism, as well as our fraternal way of life. After his appointment as bishop of St. Augustine, he invited our community to serve in the diocese – first in Gainesville and later at the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios.

In communion with Bishop Felipe, we began several initiatives to revitalize the shrine’s spiritual life and promote devotion to Our Lady of La Leche both within and beyond the diocese. Two full-time priests were assigned to serve pilgrims in English and Spanish. Together, we fostered daily Eucharistic celebrations, the sacrament of reconciliation, spiritual direction and pastoral care.

As devotion to Our Blessed Mother deepened, so did the spiritual life of the shrine – thanks in large part to the dedication of countless laypeople and volunteers. Together, we established a wide range of ministries and activities to serve pilgrims and promote the message of Our Lady of La Leche.

Among the many initiatives begun during our time at the shrine:

  • Ministry and Service Teams
  • Sacristans and readers
  • Liturgy planning team
  • Music ministry
  • Welcome and hospitality team
  • Tour leaders
  • Church and museum volunteers
  • Confraternity of Our Lady of La Leche
  • Trinitarian Spirituality Children of the Mother of God
  • Intercessory prayer group for vocations and consecrated life
  • Spiritual Enrichment Opportunities
  • Daily Eucharistic adoration
  • Recitation of the Holy Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet
  • Monthly spiritual retreats
  • Advent and Lenten missions
  • Parish outreach and visits to promote devotion to Our Lady of La Leche

These ministries have not only strengthened the shrine’s mission but also created a vibrant community of faith centered on prayer, service and Marian devotion.

Each year, the shrine now welcomes and assists approximately 150 pilgrimage groups, a testament to how this sacred place has become a spiritual home to many.

During my seven years as rector, I have witnessed what Pope Francis beautifully described in his apostolic letter Sanctuarium in Ecclesia – that shrines are places where the faithful deeply encounter God’s nearness, Mary’s tenderness and the communion of saints. One of the most moving aspects of our ministry has been accompanying families who come in hope, asking Our Lady’s intercession for the gift of a child. Time and again, these same families return to give thanks for answered prayers.

Since the arrival of Bishop Erik Pohlmeier, I have welcomed his insights on ways to enhance the care of individual pilgrims, small groups and families – offering a model that echoes our community’s charism of receiving, living and giving Jesus Christ to each person and the broader community.

It has been a tremendous joy to witness the shrine’s growth, its designation as a national shrine, and the historic canonical crowning of Our Lady of La Leche.

As our time here comes to a close, we give thanks to God for allowing us to fulfill this mission, contributing our charism to the life of the Church and to the spiritual renewal of this holy site. We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported and accompanied us in this ministry. May the Lord reward your generosity.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we carry forward the mission entrusted to us. May the Most Blessed Virgin Mary guide us all on our journey toward eternal life.

In Christ and Our Lady,
Father Erlin Garcia, IIC
Rector