As night fell, the grounds of the Skaro Shrine were lit by thousands of handheld candles as pilgrims processed in reverent silence.
Many knelt in adoration as they followed the carrying of the Blessed Sacrament, surrounded by glowing lights, soft hymns, and heartfelt prayer. The vigil concluded with a final blessing and the offering of a Jubilee indulgence to those in attendance.
For more than a century, the highlight of the Skaro Pilgrimage is the evening candlelight vigil, followed by a Eucharistic procession and adoration around the grotto at the historic Skaro Shrine northeast of Edmonton.
“It’s just magnificent,” said Audrey Erickson, a seasoned pilgrim and a parishioner at Holy Trinity in Spruce Grove. “As we drive away at the end of the night, many people leave their candles at the nearby cemetery. There’s such a connection with what’s going on now and what’s gone on in years past. It’s a truly beautiful, spiritual experience.”
Skaro is a story of immigrants who came to the district and, in 1919, used shovels and horse-drawn plows to hand-build the grotto. A century later, it stands as a testament to the faith and determination of the pioneers – mostly from Poland, but some Ukrainians too.
The Skaro Pilgrimage take place from August 14 to August 15 in celebration of the Assumption of Our Lady. This year, the liturgy was celebrated by Bishop Gary Franken of the Diocese of St. Paul and co-celebrated by Fr. Paul Kavanagh, administrator of the Archdiocese of Edmonton.
Each year, Audrey Erickson finds herself most touched by the candlelight procession. Her connection to Marian devotion goes back to childhood, when she attended the Our Lady of Lourdes shrine in Rama, Sask., built under the leadership of Father Anthony Sylla, the Oblate priest who also helped establish Skaro.
“As a child, we went every year. It’s always been a part of my life,” she said.
Now attending as an adult, Erickson still finds herself drawn each year by the feast of the Assumption and what it represents.
“It’s the beauty of what we’re celebrating—the hope that Mary’s Assumption gives us for our own journey to heaven. And there are always people to pray for.”
As they have more than a century, pilgrims from across Alberta and beyond traveled to attend this beloved Marian pilgrimage, some returning annually and others experiencing it for the very first time.
Juliet Mohanan, who came with the Edmonton Tamil Catholic Family group from St. Theresa Parish, attender her first Skaro Pilgrimage. For her, it was not just an event, it was a deeply personal and cultural homecoming.
“I first heard about Skaro through our Tamil Catholic community, who’ve been attending for years. When they described the Mass and candlelight procession, it reminded me of pilgrimages I cherished growing up in Tamil Nadu, India,” Mohanan said.
She found herself moved by the echoes of her cultural roots present in a Canadian landscape. “Singing Tamil hymns, praying together, and joining in the candlelight Eucharistic procession gave me a peace and joy that I truly treasure.”
Beyond the spiritual liturgies, the Skaro Pilgrimage was also marked by community and fellowship. Mohanan reflected on the warmth of sharing a meal at the community potluck afterward/
“That sense of togetherness added a beautiful dimension to the pilgrimage, making it more than just a personal experience. It’s a sacred space where faith, culture, and community come together in harmony.”
While Skaro is rooted in Catholic tradition, it continues to welcome pilgrims from a variety of backgrounds, including Sophie Turnbull, a Greek Orthodox Christian from Ontario, who attended while visiting family.
“Before arriving, I was curious but unsure of what to expect,” she said. “But once I stepped onto the grounds, I was in awe! The grotto, the church, the sheer number of pilgrims; it was incredibly moving. Watching the candlelight move up the grotto was absolutely beautiful.”
One of her most memorable moments was meeting a 94-year-old retired priest from Smoky Lake.
“His friendliness and conversation touched my heart. The entire pilgrimage reaffirmed my faith in people and left me filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Turnbull plans to share her experience with her parish community back home, noting the similarities with her own Easter vigil but on a much larger scale.
The Skaro Pilgrimage, now over a century old, continues to be a powerful testament to faith, community, and continuity across generations and cultures. As part of the universal Church’s Jubilee of Hope, many pilgrims left Skaro not just with memories, but with renewed hearts.
For Juliet Mohanan, that hope meant carrying forward a daily balance of “faith, culture, and community” in her spiritual life.
For Sophie Turnbll, it was the reassurance that even in a fractured world, moments of profound unity and peace are still possible.
And for Audrey Erickson, it was simple and heartfelt: “Peace in the world.”
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