For over 130 years, thousands of people have made their way to the shores of Lac Ste Anne each summer for the annual Lac Ste Anne Pilgrimage, making it the largest Catholic gathering in Western Canada. Before that, generations of Indigenous people had travelled to the sacred site, seeking healing, spiritual renewal, and community.
So the cancellation of the pilgrimage this year due to the pandemic came as a great disappointment to many. We are pleased to advise that for 2020, the pilgrimage will continue online.
We invite you to participate by visiting the Lac Ste Anne Pilgrimage website, where a variety of videotaped/livestreamed events will be posted each day from Saturday, July 25, through Wednesday, July 29. Priests and bishops will continue to offer masses for the intentions of pilgrims over the five days. Visit the Lac Ste Anne Pilgrimage website to send in your intentions.
The pilgrimage continues to need your financial support, especially during these challenging times. If you are able to support the pilgrimage’s ministry of healing and spiritual renewal, please make a donation online at the pilgrimage website.
The 2020 virtual pilgrimage begins at 10 a.m. Saturday with a welcome from Chief Rod Alexis, followed by pipe ceremony and flag raising.The opening Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Smith, will be posted at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, followed by his blessing of the lake at 3 p.m. All videos will also be posted on the Grandin Media Youtube Channel, and we’ll have stories at grandinmedia.ca as well.
Father Garry LaBoucane is the spiritual director of the pilgrimage. Check out his invitation video message below. We look forward to seeing you online!
Schedule of Events
Saturday, July 25 |
|
| 10 a.m. |
Daily Welcome Message • Rod Alexis, former chief, Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation |
| 3 p.m. | Pipe Ceremony and Flag Raising • Chief Tony Alexis, Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation • Father Les Kwiatkowski, Pastor, Lac Ste Anne Parish |
Sunday, July 26 |
|
| 10 a.m. | Daily Welcome Message • Yvonne Rain, Pilgrim |
| 10:30 a.m. | Opening Mass • Archbishop Richard Smith of Edmonton |
| 3 p.m. | Blessing of the Lake • Archbishop Smith |
Monday, July 27 |
|
| 10 a.m. | Daily Welcome Message • Ella Arcand, Pilgrim |
| 10:30 a.m. | Daily Mass from Yellowknife • Bishop Jon Hansen of Mackenzie-Fort Smith |
| 3 p.m. | Way of the Cross from St Theresa Point Mission, MB • Father Victor Savarimuthu |
Tuesday, July 28 |
|
| 10 a.m. | Daily Welcome Message • Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie, Emeritus, Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas |
| 10:30 a.m. | Daily Mass from St. Bernard Mission in Grouard, AB • Archbishop Gerard Pettipas of Grouard-McLennan |
| 3 p.m. | Twelve Step Pilgrimage and Pledges • Archbishop Lavoie |
Wednesday, July 29 |
|
| 10 a.m. | Daily Welcome Message • Father Les Kwiatkowski, pastor, Lac Ste Anne Catholic Parish |
| 10:30 a.m. | Daily Mass from The Pas, MB • Archbishop Murray Chatlain of Keewatin-Le Pas |
| 3 p.m. | Rosary in multi Languages • Father Susai Jesu, pastor, Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples |
| 3:30 p.m. | Final Blessing • Father Jesu |