The Marie Reine du Canada pilgrimage to Canada’s national Marian shrine, Notre Dame du Cap, took place from September 3-5 this year. (Due to pandemic restrictions, the pilgrimage was a one-day event in 2020 and 2021). A lay-led endeavour based out of the FSSP’s apostolate in Ottawa, St Clement’s Parish, the pilgrimage is an annual, three-day 100 km (62 miles) trek in the footsteps of the North American Martyrs along Quebec’s north shore of the St Lawrence River. Much like the Pentecost pilgrimage to Chartres, pilgrims walk in chapters and carry banners while singing and praying, chaplains provide confession and spiritual direction en route, and all participants camp in tents. Priests celebrate Mass each day of the pilgrimage in parish churches along the route: in Berthierville, Yamachiche, and in the historic old shrine at Notre Dame du Cap, where upon the high altar stands the miraculous statue of Our Lady of the Cape, which opened its eyes on June 1888, in the presence of (later Blessed) Fr. Frederic Janssoone, Fr. Luc Desilets, and a layman, Pierre Lacroix. Next year will be the pilgrimage’s 20th anniversary.
