Canada's Three Shrines
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July 12, 2023It was during late January that the Redemptorist Chapter met just outside of Toronto, Ontario. 2023 looks promising based on the results of that Chapter meeting and the personnel that forms our Canadian Province.
A province of 2 languages (English and French), a province of 2 rites (Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic) and a province of 3 shrines. Blessed Vasyl rests in Winnipeg, while our next shrine - dedicated to our Mother of Perpetual Help rests in Toronto at St. Patrick's Church. The third shrine which the Canadian Redemptorists are charged to look after is the Shrine of Ste. Anne, Jesus' Grandmother. That Shrine is located near the mouth of the St. Lawrence.
The shrine of Ste. Anne is going to be talked about much in this space but at the same time it should also be pointed out that the shrine also serves as the resting place for Alfred Pompalon, a saint who has helped in the area of drug and alcohol addiction.
Blessed Vasyl is known for doing much to share the faith and the Redemptorists have done much to follow his example. There is always more that can be done but his efforts and his spirit are for ever in the heart of this former prison chaplain.
He was named the patron of all prison chaplains and as a former chaplain for the Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, I feel closely connected to him. His feast day is at the end of June (June 26). Another Redemptorist Shrine, of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, in Toronto is also celebrated at the end of June.
The third Canadian shrine, located at the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Beaupre holds her feast at the end of July. When July 26 comes around the Grandmother of Jesus is fully celebrated. She is celebrated with candle light processions, blessings and other sacramentals as well as a novena, preached in both English and French, highlighted by the closing Eucharist and blessings with her relic.
The Redemptorist work at each of these shrines is of great value. So great in fact that the Redemptorist Chapter pronounced our work at these shrines as one of our top 5 priorities for the current quadrenium.
It falls to each Redemptorist in Canada to make these 3 shrines known to all the world. These pages of Community Connections are given to share in that mission. Good Ste. Anne, her daughter Mary the Mother of Christ and Blessed Vasyl will all be talked about here.
