Mission of Nombre De Dios & La Leche Shrine

Did the Lord bring me here? Came to Castillo de San Marcos nearby and parked less than a block away without realizing what a special place this is. The first Christian Church and Catholic Mission in the New World.
Gigantic cross overlooking the bay is awesome, then walking through the grounds and reading about the various parts of the site and their significance. It’s all run by volunteers and every Christian should visit, now more than ever. At 27 Ocean Ave Saint Augustine, FL 32 084

Very peaceful, not a place we planned on stopping, but were glad we did. Grounds are really nice and walked all the way to the back to the HUGE Cross. Just take your time and enjoy.
Back in September 8, 1565, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés landed and proclaimed this site for Spain and the Church, Spanish settlers began the devotion to Our Lady of La Leche. The first thing that you will see is a huge cross erected on the ground. This cross is known as the Great Cross. Made of stainless steel and over two hundred feet above the marshes of the Matanzas River. The cross was completed in 1966 and The story goes that that came from the fact that in 1565, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés placed a small wooden cross in Florida’s soil.

Wow, what a gem of a place… It’s right across from a Doubletree hotel and fairly close to the historic district. We came here in the morning before leaving the St Augustine area and the sun was glistening through the morning fog and trees, making for memorable experience. The park is very serene and you feel a sense of calm. A great place for morning stroll or for photography. The shrine itself was well maintained. We didn’t get a chance to stop the gift shop (wasn’t sure if it was opened yet) but based on other reviews, I’d would go back and check out the historical significance of the sights. Definitely worth a visit !

This wasn’t on the agenda but my hubby and I stopped by because we had extra time on our hands.
The church grounds were beautiful even though an archaeology dig was going on in various parts of the cemetery. No ghosts, however, but it was cool to see flagged posts and holes in the ground that old artifacts were found in.
The church was small and quaint. Candles were lit inside and it was comforting and peaceful. I could’ve stayed in there for hours and just slept. Very beautiful.
The museum was surprisingly small but it’s run entirely on donations, so they size is understandable. The employees were very friendly and loved to talk history.
Definitely a must see on your trip.