National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, St. Augustine

The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche is a historical and religious landmark. It is situated at the Nombre de Dios Mission, the site where the Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and Fr Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales, OFM, celebrated the first Mass in what would become the United States. The shrine was built in 1609 in honor of the Spanish devotion to Nuestra Señora de La Leche y Buen Parto, which depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary nursing the infant Jesus.

The shrine is home to a statue of the La Leche image, the central feature of the shrine. The original shrine was destroyed by British invaders in 1728, but it was later rebuilt in 1875. The chapel, which seats about 30 people, was constructed in 1914.

Visitors to the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios can take a walking tour of the grounds, which includes stops at various religious and historical landmarks, such as the Prince of Peace Church, the Father Lopez Statue, the Great Cross, the Mission Plaque, the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, the Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chapel of Our Lady of La Leche, and Our Lady of La Leche Shrine, and the Rustic Altar. Additionally, guests can tour archaeological excavation sites or visit the Shrine Shop.

The Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios is a popular destination for tourists and Catholics alike, as it is the oldest Marian Shrine in the United States. Parking is free, and the grounds are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, but only service animals are allowed on the grounds.