National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche

For centuries, pilgrims from across the globe have traveled to The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine, Florida—America’s oldest Marian Shrine. Generations have gathered on these holy grounds to pray, reflect, and grow closer to God through our Blessed Mother!

This year, your #iGiveCatholic generosity will directly fund the critical preservation and beautification of two sacred areas on our grounds:

• The Fr. López Statue Platform: We will remove deteriorated tile and add beautiful, durable granite enhancements to honor the platform of America's first parish priest.
• The Rosary Garden: We will replace aging, weathered wooden structures with permanent granite enhancements to ensure a lasting, beautiful space for prayer.

Your gift preserves our sacred heritage, creates welcoming spaces for future pilgrims and visitors, and allows you to leave a lasting legacy on the "Sacred Acre."

Why Your Support Matters:

• PRESERVE THE SACRED SPACE - Protect and renew one of the Mission & Shrine’s most treasured Catholic pilgrimage spaces: the Fr. Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales Historic Platform, listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 5, 2012.

• BEAUTIFY THE MISSION & SHRINE - Replace deteriorated tile and aging wood with granite enhancements in both locations to preserve its beauty and enhance the pilgrim experience.

• LEAVE A LEGACY - Enhance further the Rosary Garden with other priority improvements and increase awareness of existing memorial walls and plaques, offering families meaningful opportunities to honor loved ones and leave a legacy of faith and remembrance.

  • • Will You Be Our Matching Donor This Year?  Last year, a generous donor offered a $20,000 matching challenge, doubling every gift up to $20,000!  Will you help us do it again? A $50 gift becomes $100, and a $250 gift becomes $500! Your generosity multiplies the impact of this project and helps unlock the full match. Interested? Contact Roberta at rwente@missionandshrine.org.

• Early Giving begins November 16, 2026!   Give today: https://www.igivecatholic.org/organization/national-shrine-of-our-lady-of-la-leche or https://mtyc.co/jirv0f.

• Every Gift Makes a Difference! Be part of our Mission & Shrine. Give generously.   More pictures to be added soon!