Pilgrimages

Walking sacred paths that draw us closer to Christ.

What is a Pilgrimage?

A pilgrimage is a journey made to some place with the purpose of venerating it, or in order to ask there for divine aid, or as a religious obligation. When we travel, “we do not only change place physically, but we also change ourselves.” – Pope Francis

Annual Local Pilgrimages

Each year, the Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese are invited to gather for several local pilgrimages. These are moments of prayer, healing, and community, where individuals and families can step away from daily life and walk together in faith.

  • Lac Ste Anne Pilgrimage:  A long-standing pilgrimage of faith, reconciliation, and healing, drawing pilgrims from across Western Canada and beyond.

  • Skaro Shrine Pilgrimage: A rural pilgrimage that includes prayer, evening candle procession, and Mass at the historic Marian shrine in Skaro.

  • St. Albert (Mary’s Grotto) Pilgrimage: A local pilgrimage inviting the faithful to honour Our Lady and reflect on God’s presence in everyday life.

For current dates, times, and detailed schedules, please consult our Events Calendar, parish bulletins, or contact your local parish office.

Travel Pilgrimages

In addition to local gatherings, various parishes and Catholic organizations periodically organize travel pilgrimages to significant sites such as the Holy Land, Marian shrines, and other places of historical and spiritual importance.

These journeys offer an opportunity to deepen one’s relationship with Christ, encounter the universal Church, and pray in the places where saints have lived and where key moments of our faith have unfolded.

Any upcoming travel pilgrimages are shared below, as well as through parish bulletins, the Archdiocesan Events Calendar, and other official communications. Please contact your parish or the organizing agency directly for full details, itineraries, and registration information, or click on any calendar listing.

  • Lac Ste Anne Pilgrimage – Opening Day

    Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage Site Comp 33, Site 114, RR 1, Lac Ste. Anne, AB, Canada

    We look forward to seeing you in 2026 from July 18–23
    Whether there’s rain or sunshine, we’ll be there together!

  • Lac Ste Anne Pilgrimage – Day 2

    Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage Site Comp 33, Site 114, RR 1, Lac Ste. Anne, AB, Canada

    We look forward to seeing you in 2026 from July 18–23
    Whether there’s rain or sunshine, we’ll be there together!

  • Lac Ste Anne Pilgrimage – Day 3

    Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage Site Comp 33, Site 114, RR 1, Lac Ste. Anne, AB, Canada

    We look forward to seeing you in 2026 from July 18–23
    Whether there’s rain or sunshine, we’ll be there together!

  • Lac Ste Anne Pilgrimage – Day 4

    Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage Site Comp 33, Site 114, RR 1, Lac Ste. Anne, AB, Canada

    We look forward to seeing you in 2026 from July 18–23
    Whether there’s rain or sunshine, we’ll be there together!

  • Lac Ste Anne Pilgrimage – Day 5

    Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage Site Comp 33, Site 114, RR 1, Lac Ste. Anne, AB, Canada

    We look forward to seeing you in 2026 from July 18–23
    Whether there’s rain or sunshine, we’ll be there together!

  • Lac Ste Anne Pilgrimage – Final Day

    Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage Site Comp 33, Site 114, RR 1, Lac Ste. Anne, AB, Canada

    We look forward to seeing you July 23
    Whether there’s rain or sunshine, we’ll be there together!

  • SKARO SHRINE Annual Pilgrimage 2026

    Skaro Shrine 570010 Alberta 831, Star, AB, Canada

    FRIDAY August 14 6:30 p.m. - Reconciliation 7:00 p.m. - Rosary 7:30 p.m. - Vespers 8:00 p.m. - Mass at the Grotto Solemn Mass Presided by His Excellency Most Rev. Bishop Stephen Hero The Blessed Sacrament Procession with lit candles will follow the blessing of the religious articles. SATURDAY, August 15 10:00 a.m. - Mass at the Grotto with the Sacrament of the Sick The Blessed Sacrament Procession with lit candles will follow the blessing of the religious articles.

  • SKARO SHRINE Annual Pilgrimage 2026 – Day 2

    Skaro Shrine 570010 Alberta 831, Star, AB, Canada

    SATURDAY, August 15 10:00 a.m. - Mass at the Grotto with the Sacrament of the Sick The Blessed Sacrament Procession with lit candles will follow the blessing of the religious articles.

  • St. Albert Parish 88th Pilgrimage – Aug. 15 & 16

    St. Albert Parish 7 St Vital Avenue, St. Albert, Alberta, Canada

    Celebrating the Feast of the Assumption of Mary at 3 pm on Saturday, August 15 until Lunch on Sunday, August 16.

  • Marian Pilgrimage and Journey with the Saints Aug. 24 – Sept. 6, 2026: Italy, France, & Spain

    Deposit: $700.00 Jan 15, 2026 2nd Payment: $1,500.00 Feb 14, 2026 3rd Payment: $2,000 Apr 30, 2026 Final Payment: $1,295.00 Jun 10, 2026 ($2,795.00 for Price B) Late on Payment: $150.00 penalty For credit card payments, 5% fee applies. Please make cheque payable to Explore Sea 2 Sky Travel Ltd. attach this Registration Form and mail to: Explore Sea 2 Sky Travel Ltd., 8120 169B Street, Edmonton, AB, T5R 2X7 For e-transfer payments, please send to our e-mail address: sales@exploresea2sky.ca

  • Pilgrimage to Lithuania & Poland – Sept. 27-Oct. 8, 2026

    A Personal Invitation From Father Roger Day 1: Sep 27 - Depart Canada Day 2: September 28th 2026 (Monday): Vilnius Arrival (D) · Arrive to Vilnius International Airport and meet your tour assistant · Claim your luggage, board the coach and transfer to the hotel · Check in at the hotel · Celebrate Welcome Mass at local church (subject to confirmation, time permitting) · Welcome dinner at the hotel, Overnight at the hotel in Vilnius Attention: Schedule on this day is subject to change depending on flight details. Day 3: September 29th, 2026 (Tuesday): Vilnius - Trakai - Vilnius (B,-,D) Today we visit the Divine Mercy Shrine in Vilnius, where we will see the original image of the Merciful Jesus, painted under the guidance of St. Faustina and now venerated by pilgrims from around the world. We will celebrate Holy Mass at the Shrine of Divine Mercy (subject to confirmation). We will then meet our local guide for a tour of Vilnius Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rich Christian history and beautiful architecture. Highlights include the Cathedral of St. Stanislaus, the historic Gediminas Tower (exterior view), and the stunning Gothic Church of St. Anne. We will also visit the Gate of Dawn, home to the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Lithuania. Our tour continues with the famous Baroque Church of St. Peter and Paul, known for its remarkable interior decorations, as well as the Bernardine Monastery and the House of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, where St. Faustina once lived in this wooden house during her time in Vilnius. Lunch will be on your own. In the afternoon we drive to Trakai, a picturesque lakeside town, to visit the impressive Trakai Castle, a 14th-century Gothic fortress built on an island in Lake Galvė and once an important residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania (entrance included). We return to Vilnius for dinner at the hotel and an overnight stay. Day 4: September 30th, 2026 (Wednesday): Vilnius (B,-,D) After breakfast at the hotel, we travel to Šiluva, one of Lithuania’s most important Marian pilgrimage sites. Here we will visit the Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where in 1993 St. John Paul II prayed during his historic visit to Lithuania. The chapel housing the revered image of Our Lady of Šiluva is beautifully decorated with frescoes and paintings, and the miraculous image is traditionally concealed behind a painting depicting the apparition of the Blessed Mother. We will celebrate Holy Mass at the Basilica (subject to confirmation). We then continue by motorcoach toward the city of Šiauliai, with lunch on your own en route. Near Šiauliai we will visit the famous Hill of Crosses, a powerful symbol of faith and resistance. Covered with thousands of crosses of all sizes and styles, this sacred site has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries. Even after being destroyed several times during the Soviet era, the crosses were repeatedly rebuilt by the faithful, making it a remarkable testimony of devotion and perseverance. After our visit, we return to Vilnius for dinner at the hotel and an overnight stay. Day 5: October 1st, 2026 (Thursday): Vilnius – Bialystok - Warsaw (B,-,D) After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, we depart for Warsaw, the capital of Poland. Along the way we stop in Białystok, often called the City of Divine Mercy, as it was here that Blessed Fr. Michał Sopoćko, the spiritual director and confessor of St. Faustina, lived and helped spread the message of Divine Mercy. We will visit the Shrine of Divine Mercy and celebrate Holy Mass (subject to confirmation). Lunch will be on your own before we continue our journey to Warsaw. Upon arrival, we check into our hotel, followed by dinner and an overnight stay. Day 6: October 2nd, 2026 (Friday): Warsaw (B,-,D) After breakfast at the hotel, we travel to St. James Church, where we will celebrate Holy Mass (subject to confirmation). This church is closely associated with the life of St. Faustina, who attended Mass here during her time in Warsaw. We will then enjoy a guided tour of Warsaw’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its colorful buildings, cobblestone streets, and remarkable reconstruction following the devastation of World War II. Highlights include the lively Market Square, the historic Barbican fortifications, and the Warsaw Ghetto Monument, which commemorates the heroic Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 (exterior views). Lunch will be on your own. In the afternoon, we visit St. Stanisław Kostka Church, where we will see a special exhibit dedicated to Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko, a courageous priest who became a symbol of faith and resistance during the communist era and was tragically murdered in 1984 (entrance included). The balance of the day will be at leisure before returning to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. Day 7: October 3rd, 2026 (Saturday): Warsaw – Lichen Stary – Warsaw (B,-,D) After breakfast at the hotel, we travel to Licheń Stary, one of the most important Marian pilgrimage sites in Poland. Upon arrival, we will celebrate Holy Mass at the Shrine (subject to confirmation) and visit the impressive Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń, one of the largest churches in Poland. Here we will see the Miraculous Painting of Our Lady of Licheń, a revered Marian image associated with numerous reports of grace and devotion among pilgrims. Lunch will be on your own. In the afternoon, we will explore the older part of the Sanctuary with a local guide and visit Grąbliński Forest (entrance included, approximately 2-hour tour), the site connected to reported Marian apparitions in 1850. During our visit we will also see St. Dorothy Church, the tomb of Tomasz Kłossowski, Mikołaj Sikatka, and the Chapel of the Holy Cross, all important elements of the history and devotion associated with the shrine. After our visit, we return to Warsaw for a late dinner at the

Skaro Annual Pilgrimage

Skaro Annual Pilgrimage

  • Free to attend
  • Please bring a camp chair

The Skaro Pilgrimage is a long-standing tradition in the Archdiocese of Edmonton. 

It is held every year in mid-August (typically the 14th and 15th) at the historic Skaro Shrine — one of Alberta’s most cherished Marian pilgrimage sites.

The evening typically includes prayer, Mass, candlelight procession, and opportunities for Reconciliation.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

When does the pilgrimage take place? The pilgrimage is held annually in mid-August, typically around the 14th and 15th. Once each summer’s specific dates and schedule details are released, they are posted on the Archdiocese website’s Events Calendar.

Are any of the liturgies in Polish? Vespers are offered in Polish. Other liturgies are typically celebrated in English.

Where is the Skaro Shrine located? At the intersection of Highway 45 and Secondary Highway 831, near Skaro, Alberta.

Directions: Search “Our Lady of Good Counsel, Skaro” in your preferred maps app or visit: Open in Google Maps

Is there parking? Yes. There is ample parking on-site. Overnight camping is normally permitted as a free-will offering. (Please note: No power, water, or sewage hookups are available.)

Is bus transportation available? Some parishes may arrange buses. Please check with your local parish for availability.

What should I bring? Dress for changing weather conditions. Bring a camp chair, umbrella, blanket, water, and mosquito repellent.

Is Reconciliation offered? Yes. Confessions are typically available prior to the evening Mass.

Is there a candlelight procession? Yes. A Eucharistic candlelight procession traditionally follows the evening Mass.

Are religious articles available? Yes. Pilgrims may purchase devotional items such as candles, rosaries, and sacred images. (Cash only.)

Are washrooms available? Yes. Portable washrooms are available on site.

Is food available? A concession is typically open offering simple food and beverages.

Can I bring my pet? No. Pets are not permitted at the pilgrimage site.

If you would like to support Our Lady of Good Counsel, a collection is taken during the offertory. Donations may also be mailed to:

Our Lady of the Angels
10004 – 101 Street
Fort Saskatchewan, AB T8L 1V9