Not every pilgrimage requires a plane ticket

When we hear the word pilgrimage, many of us think of Rome, the Holy Land, or the Camino de Santiago. While these sacred destinations have drawn pilgrims for centuries, a pilgrimage isn't defined by the number of miles travelled. At its heart, a pilgrimage is an intentional journey toward God.

This August, you don't have to board a plane to become a pilgrim. Marian Week in the Rockies invites you to slow down, step away from the pace of everyday life, encounter Christ amid the beauty of Canmore and Banff, and set out on a pilgrimage close to home.

There is a difference between being a tourist and being a pilgrim. A tourist moves from place to place, looking for the next sight to see. A pilgrim travels with purpose, allowing each place, each encounter, and each moment to become an opportunity to meet God. The destination matters, but so does the journey.

We know that not everyone can attend every Marian Week in the Rockies event, and that's perfectly okay. Whether you come for a single afternoon, spend an evening in prayer, or immerse yourself in the entire week, your pilgrimage is your own. There is no checklist to complete or schedule to keep. Simply come as you are and offer God the time you can.

To accompany you on your journey, we've created the Marian Pilgrimage Passport.

​Small enough to fit in your pocket, it serves as both a practical guide and a keepsake. Inside, you'll find the Marian Week schedule, the designated pilgrimage sites, and space to collect stamps as you visit each location. More than a souvenir, the passport is an invitation to journey through Marian Week and the Jubilee Year of St. Francis with intention.

Pause before the majesty of the mountains and let creation draw your heart to its Creator. Sit quietly in the Shrine Church and rest in God's presence. Pray the Rosary with Our Lady. Listen attentively to the daily talks. Be inspired by sacred music. Share the journey with your family and fellow pilgrims. Most of all, leave room for silence, because it is often there that God speaks most clearly.

As you make your pilgrimage this Marian Week, consider bringing these questions into prayer:

• Lord, what am I being invited to surrender to You?
• Where are You calling me to take my next step in faith?
• How is Mary leading me closer to her Son?

​May this Marian Week be more than a series of events. May it become a true pilgrimage, drawing you closer to Christ through the loving guidance and intercession of His Blessed Mother.

---

Marian Week in the Rockies
Join pilgrims from across the Diocese of Calgary for the annual Marian Week in the Rockies in this blessed Jubilee Year of St. Francis pilgrimage. Come for a day, a weekend, or the whole week, and build your own pilgrimage at your own pace.

• Sat, Aug 15 at  5 pm – Solemnity of the Assumption Mass (St. Mary’s, Banff) with Bishop McGrattan
• Sun, Aug 16 
  9:30 am - Sunday Mass  (Shrine Church, Canmore)
  10 am – Solemnity of the Assumption Mass (St. Mary’s, Banff) with Bishop McGrattan
  11:30 am - Sunday Mass (Shrine Church, Canmore)
  2 pm -  Concert “The Sun, The Stars, and the Queen of Heaven. A Concert with conductor Carlos Foggin - featuring chamber choir, brass quintet, timpani, organ, chant, Scripture and Marian hymns.
• Mon–Fri, Aug 17–21
  •  11 am – Mass (Shrine Church, Canmore)
  • 12 pm – Daily Talk & Devotion (bring your lunch)
  • 3 pm – Divine Mercy Chaplet
  • 6:30 pm –  Mass (St. Mary’s, Banff)
• Sat, Aug 22 at 11 am - Queenship of Mary Mass (Shrine Church, Canmore) with Bishop McGrattan.

more about the marian week