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ATTLEBORO - The Rev. Andre Patenaude regularly makes music, and this Christmas he is making it new.

The singing priest from LaSalette Shrine known as Father Pat has just released his latest CD in time for the holidays.

He'll be presenting many of the songs during his Christmas concerts at the shrine that are held daily, except Mondays, through the season.

The new album includes three songs created by Father Pat and another that has his lyrics incorporated into a Mozart melody. The rest of the selections are a mix of traditional tunes such as "Friendly Beasts" that dates back centuries, and ethnic ones such as "Feliz Navidad."

The CD cover will seem familiar to frequent visitors of the shrine, since it depicts the outdoor Nativity scene. Although Father Pat no longer lives at the shrine, he is frequently there for performances at Masses and at healing services, and is now there for his seasonal concerts.

Over the years, he's produced more than 15 CDs, including the more recent ones such as "A Joyful Noise," "The Gift of Song," and "No Name Greater." All are listed and available through his Web site at www.fatherpat.org. Right now, the CDs are also for sale at the shrine church on concert days.

The concerts draw anywhere from 30 people in the afternoons to well over 100 in the evenings, and the crowds are given a taste of the new CD as Father Pat performs several of the songs as well as some from past albums and some traditional Christmas carols.

"I get people involved in singing," he said, especially with songs such as "Friendly Beast" that require the crowd to make animal sounds and join in the fun.

When he's not at the shrine, Father Pat is traveling to venues in various states to conduct parish missions, perform in concert, and lead healing services.

His project for the coming year is an ambitious one. He hopes to produce a DVD on the story of LaSalette and the apparition of Mary to two shepherd children in the French Alps in 1846.

The film is expected to include footage of the apparition site and the national shrine in Attleboro, plus interviews of people speaking about the LaSalette message and about their own experiences and connection to the shrine. An accompanying CD featuring music from the DVD is also planned.

Father Pat hopes to have both ready by the 2007 Christmas season.

Meanwhile, he continues to sing.

His concerts are performed in the shrine church at 3 and 7 p.m. daily except Mondays. He will not be performing at the shrine today because he is making a special appearance at the LaSalette center in Enfield, N.H. In his place, the shrine today is offering several visiting performers, including Seamus Byrne, a Celtic singer and flautist, at 3 p.m.; the Long Island University Chorus at the 4 p.m. Mass; Hosanna & the Lourdes Ringers at 7 p.m.; Pipers and Drummers at 8 p.m.

Father Pat's concerts will resume Sunday and continue through the Festival of Lights, which ends on New Year's Day.

For more information on shrine activities, call 508-222-5410.

GLORIA LaBOUNTY can be reached at 508-236-0333 or at glabounty@thesunchronicle.com.