Every year, Marie Reine du Canada, a lay-led apostolate based at the FSSP’s parish in Ottawa, Ontario, St Clement’s, organizes an annual pilgrimage to the miraculous shrine of Notre Dame du Cap, Canada’s national shrine to the Blessed Mother. Pilgrims walk 100 kilometers (62 miles) on foot in 2 and a half days through the historic countryside of New France, following the St Lawrence River, along the route which the North American Martyrs took. Early on the first day of walking, the group stops to pray at a monument marking the spot where Ss Isaac Jogues and Rene Goupil were captured by the Mohawks.
The pilgrims are divided into three chapters, one English-speaking, one French, and one scout troop. Daily Mass is celebrated in the traditional Roman Rite. With approximately 120 pilgrims, this year’s was the largest pilgrimage to date since the first one took place in 2004. The chaplains were Father Peter Do of the diocese of Pembroke, Ontario, and Father Jacques Breton and Adrian Debow of the FSSP.
The morning Mass on Saturday, the first day of walking, was a Pontifical Low Mass celebrated by His Excellency Terrence Prendergast, SJ, the archbishop of Ottawa, who ordained Fr Debow last year in Nebraska.
Day 2
A Solemn Mass was celebrated at the shrine upon arrival on Monday, September 3.
