Saskatoon Eparchial Pilgrimages Invite the Faithful to Journey Together in Faith
The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon once again invites the faithful to come together in prayer and fellowship during this year’s pilgrimage season. Pilgrimages offer a unique opportunity to encounter God while celebrating the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of our Church.
Each year, men, women, and children gather at sacred sites throughout the Eparchy to pray, reflect, celebrate, and reconnect with old friends. These pilgrimages have become cherished expressions of eparchial life, bringing our people together in a visible witness of faith and unity.
Pilgrimage is among the oldest traditions of the Christian Church. From the earliest centuries, believers journeyed to Jerusalem and to the tombs of the apostles and martyrs. They did this because our faith is tangible and because grace can be encountered through holy people and places. Today, pilgrimage remains a part of our Christian identity—an opportunity to step away from daily routines, open our hearts to God’s presence, and journey together as members of the Body of Christ.
This year, pilgrims are invited to gather at the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows at Cudworth, the Shrine of the Venerable Nun Martyrs Olympia Bida and Laurentia Harasymiv, St. Laurent, Rama, and the Millennium Cross.
Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, Cudworth
June 13–14
The first eparchial pilgrimage of the season takes place at the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows near Cudworth, the oldest Ukrainian Catholic pilgrimage site in Saskatchewan.
For generations, pilgrims have gathered on this hill where, according to local tradition, the Mother of God appeared to three children as a beautiful woman clothed in white.
This year’s pilgrimage begins at Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Bodnari with the Divine Liturgy. Pilgrims will then walk to the shrine, stopping along the way for prayer and reflection. Upon arriving at the hill, participants will celebrate Vespers and pray the Stations of the Cross. On Sunday morning, pilgrims from all over Saskatchewan will gather once again for Matins, the Divine Liturgy, and a BBQ.
Bishop Michael will walk part of the pilgrimage route and will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Sunday.
For more information or to register for the long or short pilgrimage walk, visit www.hillofsorrows.ca.
Yorkton Vidpust
June 21
The annual Vidpust in Yorkton goes back many years. After a short hiatus brought on by the pandemic, the pilgrimage to St. Mary’s is returning with a Divine Liturgy being celebrated in the Church by Bishop Michael Smolinski, C. Ss. R., on Sunday June 21 at 11:30 AM followed by a lunch and Cemetery Blessings.
Shrine of the Venerable Nun Martyrs Olympia and Laurentia
June 26–27
One of the most beautiful places of prayer in our Eparchy is also among its newest. Founded in 2006, the Shrine of the Venerable Nun Martyrs Olympia and Laurentia was established to house their relics and has become a beloved place of prayer and healing for Ukrainian Catholics throughout Saskatchewan and beyond. The shrine is also home to relics of Blessed Emilian Kovch.
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the shrine’s founding.
Each year, the Sisters of St. Joseph host a pilgrimage honouring the witness of these martyrs, whose steadfast faith endured persecution and suffering under the totalitarian regimes of the last century.
The pilgrimage begins on June 26 at 6 PM with a procession of the relics, followed by a Moleben and refreshments. On June 27, Bishop Michael Smolinski, C. Ss. R., will celebrate a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 10 AM followed by fellowship and refreshments.
St. Laurent Pilgrimage
July 16
The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes at St. Laurent is the oldest Marian shrine in Saskatchewan and has deep ties to Indigenous and Métis Catholic communities. For many years, the Eparchy has maintained a special relationship with this sacred place and is resuming its tradition of celebrating an annual Divine Liturgy there.
Bishop Michael will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on July 16 at 9 AM.
Rama Pilgrimage
August 15
The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes at Rama stands as a testament to the faith and devotion of the people of the Rama district. While the shrine is primarily associated with the Archdiocese of Regina, generations of Ukrainian Catholics have felt at home in this sacred place and our Eparchy has always been grateful for the invitation to participate that Rama has so generously extended for so many years.
Honouring this longstanding connection, Fr. Ivan Simko will celebrate a Divine Liturgy in the Grotto on August 15 at 10 AM.
For more information, visit www.ramashrine.ca.
Millennium Cross Pilgrimage
September 13
The Millennium Cross Pilgrimage invites the faithful to gather beneath a powerful symbol of Christian hope and healing. Built to mark the Jubilee Year 2000, the shrine hosts its annual pilgrimage near the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross.
Traditionally the final pilgrimage of the season, it draws hundreds of pilgrims each year to pray and witness to the saving power of Christ’s Cross.
This year’s pilgrimage will take place on Sunday, September 13, and will include the Living Rosary, a guest speaker, and a community barbecue.
For more information, visit www.millenniumcross.ca.
A Call to Journey Together
These pilgrimages are grace-filled moments in the life of our Eparchy. They unite people of all ages and backgrounds in common prayer and worship, strengthening the bonds that connect us as members of the Ukrainian Catholic Church while offering opportunities for spiritual renewal, healing, reconciliation, and deeper conversion.
We warmly encourage everyone to participate in one or more of these pilgrimages. Whether attending for the first time or continuing a long-standing family tradition, pilgrims will find opportunities to encounter God’s grace, deepen their faith, and experience the fellowship of the Church.
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