The major relics of the Canadian Martyrs, including the skull of St. Jean de Brébeuf and bones of St. Charles Garnier and St. Gabriel Lalemant, have been travelling across Canada for the first time. The relics have resided principally at the National Shrine to the Canadian Martyrs in Midland, Ontario for the past hundred years. The three Jesuit saints are among the eight French missionaries who first brought the Gospel to Canada and were martyred during the Huron-Iroquois Wars of the early 1600s. Joining them is the relic of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first indigenous North American saint, who was canonized in 2012 and is a beloved patron of the First Nations peoples.

The purpose of the devotional tour was to bring the relics to parts of Canada for those who cannot easily visit the Martyrs' Shrine in Midland, Ontario. It is an opportunity for Canadians to encounter these great saints and receive the graces of healing and reconciliation for themselves, their families, and our country.

The tour began in December 2024, touring western Canada first and then returning to the Canadian Martyr's Shrine for the summer season. The tour will continue in eastern Canada in the fall of 2025.

The visitation to the Shrine of Blessed Bishop and Martyr Vasyl Velychkovsky was not a part of the planned tour. However, a last-minute response to an invitation from our Shrine enabled the Holy Martyrs to meet. It was wonderful to see the earthly remains together in the same room, knowing that they are joined together in the Kingdom of God. A little heaven on earth.

It was a holy encounter to have the Relics together in the Shrine Chapel for a few hours. The experience began with a community prayer extolling the Martyrs, venerating their Relics and prayerfully acknowledging the sacrifice they made as missionaries. The Shrine volunteers were able then to spend personal time in the Chapel.

Pilgrims often describe the Blessed Vasyl Chapel as a place of great peace and comfort. During this brief visitation, this was elevated. The encounter with the five Holy Relics transformed the Chapel into a serene space filled with a sense of greatness. In spending time with the Holy Relics, there was great gratitude, knowing that through their martyrdom and canonization, we have been blessed in Canada with the gift of their powerful intercession.

Thank you to Fr. Edmund Lo, SJ, Theresa Anderson and Julie Kautz for praying with our community at the Bishop Velychkovsky National Martyr's Shrine.

"Let us turn to our Canadian Saints and Blessed Vasyl for their intercession to grant us the graces we need to imitate their lives. May we embrace humility, love and a missionary spirit to care for those in need.”