Once upon a time, and a happy time it was, Our Lady of Grace stood guard over the North Country of New Hampshire. She was a patron and a protector, a mother and a friend, to the once large Catholic population up in the North Country. Today though, she no longer stands tall to greet travelers as they enter into Colebrook, New Hampshire. Since 2014, the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace has been closed. Today if you were to stumble upon it you would see very clearly posted no trespassing signs, no statues, no faithful gathering to pray, and worst of all: no Lady.
Since long before I was born the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace was a place of great pride to the local people. It was built in 1948 by the Oblates of Mary in honor of the great many blessings she shined down upon them and the Great North Woods for the last 25 years they were there. It laid on a 30 acre lot, with life-size Stations of the Cross guarding its perimeter. The property totaled 50 statues of Our Lady and saints. Most notably was Rosary Lake and the great outside chapel where Mass was said every morning during the summer months.
And every year at the end of June, motorcyclists would flood the area to receive a blessing at the shrine were they celebrated mass and left with Our Lady’s blessing which guided them home. Also many faithful, both locals and visitors alike, can truly attest to the kindness and love Our Lady has given them over the many years she stood watch. It is indeed true Our Lady has never abandon us in our time of need.
Yet now the Shrine is closed, the statues redistributed, and the sacred ground that Our Lady and her beloved son once watched over is closed up. The reason for this was twofold: firstly, a simple shortage of priests, so when the pastor retired there was simply no one left to pick up the mantel, and secondly the Shrine hit hard times. People were no longer coming; pilgrimages were no longer made. The North forgot its mother.
Now four years later, the large lot which once held the shrine has been sold off to a private buyer, though despite the statues being gone, it looks much like it did. On the other side of the road sits the former meeting hall, residencies, and store which has seen little use since the closing. Rumors circle about every now and then about a possible buyer but as of now the propriety sits dormant.
For some locals, however, even though the shrine is closed their love for Our Lady is still strong. Every Sunday morning, a half hour before mass, a handful of old ladies gather at one of the last local churches and prayer the Rosary. Though most have forgotten, some still remember Our Lady of Grace in the North. God help us all when they are gone.
The Things We Wrote 