Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré -- Quebec City, Quebec

Destination: The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, a shrine to St. Anne, mother of Mary, caught our attention when Pope Francis celebrated Mass there during his July 24-29 visit to Canada. Established in 1658, the basilica is the oldest pilgrimage site in North America. 

According to tradition, the shrine’s site marks a miraculous intervention by St. Anne. A sailing crew from Brittany, France, was caught in a storm and prayed to St. Anne, promising her a sanctuary if she saved them. 

Masses and rosaries at the basilica are said in French.  

Photos: Top -- Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré during his July 24-29 visit to Canada. (CNS photo/Chaz Muth)

Middle -- The pillars at the entrance are covered with braces, crutches and canes of those who have been healed at the shrine. (Photo/ Gone with the Family)

Why to go: The basilica has much to see for lovers of sacred art, from stained glass to statues to mosaics of St. Anne’s life that cover the ceiling. 

Many also travel to the basilica for healing, which began when a construction worker was cured of his scoliosis after helping to lay the foundation. 

The basilica holds three relics of St. Anne, portions of bone of her finger and forearm. 

Admission: No cost, though the shrine does include a store. Donations are welcome. 

Accessibility: The website illustrates that the basilica is wheelchair accessible. 

(Grand) Kid friendly: A Mass in a different language may be difficult for kids to sit through, but they may enjoy seeing the beauty of the art inside and exploring the grounds instead.

Info: Address — Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, 10018 Ave Royale, Quebec G0A 3C0, Canada
Phone — 418-827-3781
Website — https://sanctuairesainteanne.org/en

— Megan Peterson compiled this story. 
Send Destination ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

St. Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal -- Montréal, Quebec, Canada

 Destination: We suggested a visit to Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal in Montreal, Canada, in 2019 when it was to begin a $110 million (US$82 million) makeover  under a plan to make the popular site more attractive to tourists.

Now that the border is open, it may be time to plan a trip to see some items that are part of the free Year of St. Joseph exhibit at the oratory.

Masses are offered throughout the day in French and English at the oratory. Check the website for details.  

Photos: Statues (top) and tools (middle) are among the items in the basilica's Year of St. Joseph exhibition. (Observer photos/courtesy www.saint-joseph.org/en/)
Visitors (below) are seen outside St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal in 2017. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz) 

Why to go: The Oratory Museum team has gathered paintings, statues, ex-votos and other works of art representing the world of St. Joseph and reveals the ties that unite the Congregation of Holy Cross to the patron saint of the universal Church. The oratory was founded in 1904 by St. Andre Bessette, known as Brother Andre. 

Accessibility: Elevators and reserved parking make it accessible to people with limited mobility.

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.

Info: Address — Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal, 3800 Queen Mary Road, Montréal (Quebec) Canada, H3V 1H6
Phone — 514-733-8211 
Website — https://www.saint-joseph.org/en/

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Rockies -- Canmore, Alberta, Canada

(CNS photo)

Destination:  The Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Rockies is a new church for the parish, which dates back to the 1800s, and the first Marian shrine in the Diocese of Calgary in Canada. Pilgrimages, conferences and other events are planned once pandemic restrictions are eased.

Masses at the shrine, as at so many places right now, require reservations. That may change by the time you plan your trip to Alberta. Check the website for updates.

Why to go: The Virgin Mary is sitting with her son Jesus in a lush Alberta forest, surrounded by deer drinking from a gurgling stream, with the majestic Three Sisters peaks in the background.

“The window cries out to you ‘Rocky Mountains,’ and there is Our Lady in the midst of that,” said Father Nathan Siray, pastor of Our Lady of the Rockies Parish. “That’s kind of our No. 1 devotional image to Our Lady of the Rockies that is completely unique to this building.”

The powerful image is set in custom-made stained glass, one of the focal points of the new $20 million (US$14.8 million) church in the mountain community of Canmore, about 15 miles southeast of Banff. Bishop William McGrattan dedicated the new 17,000-square-foot church May 30, during a Mass that was livestreamed on the Diocese of Calgary’s Facebook page because of the restrictions. The first public Mass in the new church was celebrated June 8.

The new church is at the edge of town, off the Trans-Canada Highway, and figures prominently when motorists arrive.

The exterior design reflects a European-style alpine church. That was the vision of Father Bryan Frank, a former pastor of Our Lady of the Rockies, and Guy Turcotte, a parishioner and the developer of Silvertip Resort in Canmore, who donated the roughly three-acre property for the church.

Accessibility: Precautions because of COVID-19 are limiting tours to 10 people who must wear masks and sign-up in advance. Details are on the sign-up page. Find the link on the home page.  

(Grand) Kid friendly: All ages are welcome.

Info: Address — Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Rockies, 2 Silvertip Trail, Canmore, AB  T1W 2Z7

Phone — 1-403-678-5022

Website — https://www.rockiesparish.com/

— Andrew Ehrkamp, CNS; Sharon Boehlefeld contributed this story

Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

St. Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal -- Montreal, Quebec, Canada

(CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)

Destination:  “The oratory is one of Quebec’s best-kept secrets,” said Guy Cormier, president and CEO of Desjardins Group, who is leading a fundraising campaign for an upcoming renovation at the church. At just over 100 years old, it is one of the newest major churches in Canada.
Masses are offered in English in the crypt church Monday-Saturday at 12:15  p.m., Tuesday and Thursday at 7: 30 p.m. (19:30), and Sunday at 11:15 a.m.; Sunday Masses in the basilica are in French at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Spanish Mass is offered on Sunday in the Crypt Church at  3 p.m. (15:00) following adoration and the rosary at 2 p.m. (14:00).
Why to go: From the small Chapel of Origin to the great Basilica, the beauty and diversity in the architectural heritage of Saint Joseph’s Oratory make it worth a visit before — and probably during — the upcoming renovation.
The changes are intended to “modernize many of its infrastructures” and, in 2022, after extensive work, “give a new experience” to the 2 million visitors who visit the oratory each year, Cormier said.
St. Joseph Oratory, managed by the Congregation of the Holy Cross, was founded in 1904 by St. Andre Bessette, known as Brother Andre. The oratory is located on Montreal’s famed Mount Royal.
Among its musical treasures is its organ, built by German organ maker Rudolf von Beckerath (1907-1976), and ranked among the top 10 in the world. Some of its 5,811 pipes are as long as 32 feet. Built in 1958 and 1959 in Germany, it took seven months to install it in Montreal. On Nov. 13, 1960, the organ was blessed and played for its first recital by a famous French organist, André Marchal.
Accessibility: Elevators, reserved parking and accessible areas throughout the oratory make it accessible to people with limited mobility.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Usual church behavior is expected.
Info: Address — Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal, 3800 Queen Mary Road, Montreal (Quebec) Canada, H3V 1H6
 Phone — 1-877-672-8647
Website — https://www.saint-joseph.org/en/

— CNS, Sharon Boehlefeld contributed to the story
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Our Lady of the Cape Shrine -- Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada

(Observer phoot/www.quebecshrines.com/en/our-lady-of-the-cape-shrine/gallery)

Destination: Canada owes him the return of the Franciscans, the founding of the country’s largest Marian sanctuary, and the development of strong and lasting ties between the French Canadians and the Holy Land. Yet, 100 years after his death and though he might become Canada’s next saint, Blessed Frederic Janssoone still remains largely unknown to many people in Quebec. You can meet him at Our Lady of Cape Shrine in Trois-Rivieres (Three-Rivers), Quebec.
Masses in English are offered daily from May to mid-October. Ask for times at the information booth located between the Old Shrine and the Basilica.
Why to go: Born in 1838 in northern France, Frederic Janssoone joined the Franciscans in 1864 and was ordained in 1870. From 1876 to 1888, he was the custodial vicar of the Holy Land, assisting the custos with care of holy places. These 12 years left a strong imprint on him; he developed a deep attachment to the Holy Land as he got more and more involved in its development and renewal. He re-established the Way of the Cross processions on Jerusalem’s Via Dolorosa — a first in almost 250 years. He also built ecumenical ties with representatives of other Christian churches.
In 1888, his superiors sent him to Canada. 
The shrine with which Father Janssoone is associated stands on the shore of the St. Lawrence River. More than 500,000 pilgrims visit annually.
The historical chapel was built in 1714, the oldest church kept in its integrity in Canada. A large modern basilica was inaugurated in 1964.
Its stained glass windows are magnificent and the Casavant organ is one of the largest in Canada. With its beautiful gardens overlooking the river, the shrine reveals an oasis of greenery and inspires peace and tranquility.
Access: Plan on some walking to see all of the shrine.
(Grand) Kid friendly: There’s a spot to picnic with the family behind the Basilica along the St. Lawrence River.
Info: Address — Our Lady of the Cape Shrine, 626, rue Notre-Dame Est, Trois-Rivières (Québec), G8T 4G9 Canada n Phone — 1 819 374-2441 n Website — www.quebecshrines.com/en/our-lady-of-the-cape-shrine
— Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld; CNS contributions from Philippe Vaillancourt, editor-in-chief of Presence info based in Montreal
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

Canada’s Holy Door, Québec City, Québec

(Observer photo/Courtesy Daniel Abel)

Destination: While there are eight Holy Doors in the Rockford Diocese selected by Bishop David Malloy, the only North American Holy Door specifically approved by the Vatican is the one at Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral, which traces its roots to 1664.
Why to go: The idea of the Holy Door was conceived a few years before Notre-Dame de Québec parish’s 350th anniversary in 2014. The door was pierced into the Basilica-
Cathedral and its construction was funded by the Knights of Columbus. That year, more than 300,000 people from 42 countries, including 415 groups of pilgrims, passed through the door. More are expected this year.
In December 2015, the Holy Door was reopened for the Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis. Since pilgrimages to Holy Doors are encouraged during holy years, a whole team is ready to welcome pilgrims and visitors. A typical pilgrimage schedule includes recollection in the Pilgrims Garden, passing through the Holy Door, readings and prayers. Now a national historical monument, it was built in 1647. Notre-Dame de Québec offers a stylistic homogeneity even though it was extended, improved, bombarded, and burnt down over the centuries. After a major fire in 1922, the cathedral was restored using old plans and photographs. Among its main features are a neo-classical facade with two asymetrical towers, stained glass windows created in Munich and Paris, and three Casavant organs.   

(Observer photo/

Courtesy Daniel Abel)

(Observer photo/Courtesy Daniel Abel)

Access: The Holy Door is accessible through the Pilgrim’s Garden and up a flight of stairs. People with walkers or wheelchairs will need help.
Info: Address — Basilica-Cathedral, The Cathedral Secretariat, 16 rue De Buade, Québec (Québec), G1R 4A1 CANADA. Phone — +1-418-692-2533 Website — http://holydoorquebec.ca/en/
(Grand) Kid friendly: Yes, kids of all ages are more than welcome.
— Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld with assistance from François Miville-Deschênes of Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org