Make your way to your local airport to board your flight(s) to Montreal. Arrive in the second largest French-speaking city in the world. Upon your arrival you will be greeted by your tour guide and driver, and then transferred to your hotel. Enjoy free time before celebrating Mass, dinner, and the first of two overnight stays in Montreal.

We will begin our morning with breakfast at the hotel, and then drive to the top of Mount Royal for a spectacular panoramic view of the city of Montreal. Our day will feature a visit to St. Joseph’s Oratory, the world’s largest shrine to St Joseph. The oratory was initially a modest chapel founded by St. Brother André in 1904. The simple faith of Brother André blossomed into the spectacular site we see today. The pilgrimage center now receives over two million visitors annually who come to meditate and pray for St. Joseph’s protection and intercession. The basilica's dome reaches 97 meters and is second in height only to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The construction began in 1904 and was finished in 1966 with a number of architects over the decades, resulting in representations from an intriguing variety of architectural styles. During our tour we will venerate the relics of St. Brother André and view the two great pipe organs, along with the carillon of 56 bronze bells that are played often throughout the week. We will celebrate Mass and pray the Way of the Cross on the mountainside before we continue our journey. Next we will visit the Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde (Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral), the seat of the Archdiocese of Montreal. This Basilica was visited in 1951 by Monsignor Giovanni Battista Montini, the future Pope Paul VI and in August of 1969 by Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II. He returned in 1984 as the first pope to visit Canada. Our next stop will be the 350 year old Notre Dame de Bon Secours Chapel. This chapel was built in 1771 over the site of the original stone chapel, and was often visited by sailors to pray before they were shipped out for duty. The connected Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum preserves the life and legacy of Montreal’s foremost pioneer and founder. Engage with the history of Monreal’s ancestors, centered around the incredible actions of Marguerite Bourgeoys. The tower offers a spectacular view of Old Montreal and the Old Port. Enjoy a relaxing evening with dinner on your own and a stroll through the city. We will spend our second overnight stay in Montreal.

Today we will continue exploring magnificent Montreal. We will visit a cornerstone of Montreal’s Catholic heritage, the Notre Dame Basilica. Constructed from 1824 to 1829, it dominates Old Montreal with its incredible size. The neo-gothic architecture and rich decorations stand out amongst the more modern buildings nearby. Your eyes will be drawn to the largest pipe organ in North America and to the French stained glass windows, modeled after Sainte Chapelle Cathedral in Paris, France. We will continue to Montreal’s Shawinigan region to visit Église Notre-Dame-de-la-Présentation (Church of our Lady of the Presentation), also known as Ozias Leduc en Mauricie. The Canadian artist Ozias Leduc (1864-1955) painted murals and masterpieces for more than 30 churches throughout his career. We will continue to the pilgrim house at Our Lady of the Cape Shrine, also located in the majestic region of Mauricie as Canada’s national shrine to our Blessed Mother. Standing on the shore of the St. Lawrence River, Our Lady of the Cape Shrine welcomes pilgrims from around the world to pray in the oldest standing Canadian chapel built in 1714 and in the large modern basilica which was inaugurated in 1964. The Basilica is adorned with magnificent stained glass windows and a Casavant organ with 5425 pipes, one of the largest in Canada. The shrine reveals an oasis of greenery with its tranquil gardens that overlook the river. You will be inspired to spend time in personal reflection with our Lord in this peaceful shrine and its surrounding landscape. The Way of the Cross, Adoration, a prayer walk, and a torch-lit procession (weather permitting) will all be available to you while you meditate in this serene setting. We will complete our relaxing evening with Mass, dinner, and an overnight stay at the Pilgrim House.

Today we set off for Quebec City, the cradle of French culture in North America. Enjoy a city tour entitled "The Three Founders of Quebec City," on which you will learn more about the key role of religion in Quebec’s history. Our exploration will include the Ursulines Monastery, which was founded by a missionary group of Ursuline nuns in 1639. This monastery holds the honor of being the oldest institution of learning for women in North America! This will be followed by a trip to the Centre Marie-de-l’Incarnation, celebrating the works of St. Marie Guyart of the Incarnation. This saint was a founder, educator, pioneer, and writer who loved the Lord and lived an impeccable life. Our journey will then take us to the St. Augustine’s Monastery and the Centre Catherine-de-Saint-Augustin, which commemorates the co-founder of the Canadian church who also dedicated her life to caring for the sick and destitute. Our day will also include a trip to the basilica-cathedral Notre-Dame de Quebec with a visit to the crypt and the François de Laval Center. We will celebrate Mass at Notre Dame de Quebec, after which you are free to enjoy the remainder of the day. Explore this beautiful city and have dinner at one of the many phenomenal restaurants you will find in Quebec! At the end of the evening find your way back to the hotel for the first of two overnight stays in Quebec.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the National Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre. This incredible site welcomes over a million visitors from all over the world annually. Immerse yourself in the compelling history and spiritual significance of the shrine through artistic masterpieces such as mosaics, stained-glass windows, and both stone and wood sculptures throughout its many chapels. We will enjoy a visit to the St. Anne museum as well. There will be free time to pray in the shrine with its old stone church, outdoor Way of the Cross, and Scala Santa. The Scala Santa contain artifacts from the Holy Land and are a replica of the staircase Christ walked up to speak to Pilate, which is venerated in Rome. We will celebrate Mass at the shrine before visiting the Albert Gilles Copper Art & Museum nearby. Here we will have the opportunity to learn about the art of embossing copper, and how it is extracted and used around the world. Our last adventure will take us to Montmorency Falls Park, where the waterfalls are 272 feet tall (100 feet higher than Niagara Falls)! You may admire the view from the cable car, suspended bridge, lookout points, or by climbing the stairs up the side of the cliff. This sensational park sparks reflection on God’s handiwork. Praise the Lord here by receiving His gifts to you in nature. We will then return to Quebec for a farewell dinner and our last overnight stay.

You will enjoy your last breakfast with your new friends at the hotel before checking out. We will take you to the airport for your departure, and you will arrive home with wonderful memories and a refreshed faith. Thank you for choosing us for your Canadian pilgrimage!