Saints Among Us: Relics visit St. Albert the Great & Tsuut’ina Nation

For the first time in history, 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—are traveling across Canada. These relics, which have been housed at the National Shrine to the Canadian Martyrs in Midland, Ontario, are embarking on a nationwide tour to offer Canadians a chance to venerate them and seek spiritual graces.

Joining the relics of the Canadian Martyrs is the relic of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Indigenous North American saint, canonized in 2012. St. Kateri holds a special place in the hearts of First Nations communities, and her presence emphasizes the tour’s focus on healing and reconciliation.
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The tour began in late December 2024, starting in Western Canada. It will continue through Eastern Canada in the fall of 2025. The purpose of the tour is to bring these sacred relics closer to Canadians who may not have the opportunity to visit the Martyrs' Shrine, offering moments of grace, prayer, and healing for individuals, families, and communities.

A Moment of Grace in Calgary

The relics visited Calgary as part of the National Visitation. On Saturday, Jan 4, the relics were hosted at St. Albert the Great Parish for veneration, reconciliation, and prayer ministry throughout the day. Bishop McGrattan celebrated Mass at 5:00 pm, followed by a short talk by Fr. John O'Brien, Director and Jesuit Superior of the Martyrs' Shrine in Midland, Ontario. 

​Mathieu Couture, a parishioner of St. Joseph in Calgary who visited the relics at St. Albert the Great, reflected on the experience: “What stood out to me was that St. Jean de Brébeuf and St. Kateri Tekakwitha came from two very different worlds. Despite their differences, they were united in their love for Christ. Both endured great suffering for their faith, and through this shared suffering, they found unity.” He added, “I believe this is a message our world needs to hear again. In a time when society faces increasing division, we should remember Christ’s vision of unity: that we are one people in Him.”

​The relics tour offers opportunities for personal prayer and reflection. Attendees are encouraged to bring written prayer intentions, which will be taken back to the Martyrs' Shrine. Holy cards, rosaries, and medals can also be pressed to the reliquaries to create spiritual keepsakes.

A Moment of Grace in Tsuut’ina Nation

A highlight of the tour was their stop at the Tsuut’ina Nation on Jan 5, where events unfolded at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex & Jim Starlight Centre. The day opened with a Traditional Ceremonial Welcome of the relics, followed by Holy Mass celebrated by Bishop William T. McGrattan.

Fr. Cristino Bouvette, who coordinated the visit, shared his reflections: “Hearing the sound of the drum and traditional singing accompanying the relics as they entered the auditorium on the traditional lands of the Tsuut’ina Nation deeply moved me. To imagine that nearly 400 years ago, similar sounds, smells, and sentiments would have accompanied those same people as they walked in their flesh was a profound experience.”

The schedule included a Jesuit-led program highlighting the historical and spiritual significance of the relics. Educational exhibits explored early relationships between Indigenous peoples and Catholic missionaries, as well as stories of Indigenous Catholics with open Causes for Canonization. A special exhibit also featured memorabilia from the 2022 Papal Visit to Canada.

The visit to Tsuut’ina Nation offered a tangible step toward Truth and Reconciliation. Fr. Cristino noted, “An important part of the work of Truth and Reconciliation is not to focus exclusively on the worst part of our shared history, as important as it is to confront, but to look far enough back to the countless instances of harmonious relationships shared between Indigenous Peoples and the Church in Canada.”
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The presence of the relics from both the Canadian Martyrs and St. Kateri Tekakwitha served as a reminder of this shared history, inspiring hope for ongoing reconciliation efforts. 

​One particularly moving story shared by Fr. Cristino involved a local Indigenous elder who had missed the opportunity to greet Pope Francis during the Papal Mass in Edmonton due to illness. “To see her today leading the procession of the relics on to her traditional territories and helping to represent the Chief and Council on behalf of her whole Nation felt like she got to make up for that earlier disappointment,” he said.

As the relics continue their journey across Canada, they invite all people—Catholic and non-Catholic alike—to experience moments of grace and reconciliation. Whether through prayer, reflection, or learning about the history of the saints, this tour offers a unique chance to connect with Canada’s spiritual heritage.

The relics made a brief stop to Our Lady of Peace Church at Tsuut'ina Nation