✠ Our Small Pilgrimage Tour
The River Shrines – A Two-Day Journey by Car
A Pilgrimage Close to Home
Not all pilgrimages require long roads or distant lands.
Some are hidden along the quiet shores of our own river.
The River Shrines form a sacred path on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, near Montreal—a journey where faith, history, and beauty meet.
Over two days by car, this pilgrimage invites you to slow down, to contemplate, and to encounter the spiritual heritage rooted in this land.
✠ The Spirit of the Route
These heritage gems speak—not only through words, but through:
- Sacred architecture shaped by centuries of faith
- Works of art born from devotion
- Traditions carried quietly across generations
This pilgrimage is not simply a visit.
It is an encounter with God, with history, and with those who walked before us.
✠ The Pilgrimage Route
The journey unfolds gently along the river:
From west to east:
- Sainte-Marguerite-d’Youville Sanctuary – Varennes
- Manoir d’Youville – Châteauguay
- Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Sanctuary – Kahnawake
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church – La Prairie
- Saint Anthony of Padua Co-Cathedral & Centre Marie-Rose – Longueuil
- Holy Family Church – Boucherville
✠ The Seven Sacred Stops
Each site carries its own grace:
- Varennes – The sanctuary of Marguerite d’Youville, witness of charity
- Kahnawake – The shrine of Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks
- Longueuil – A living center of mission and education
- Boucherville & La Prairie – Churches rooted in early New France
- Châteauguay – A place of retreat, silence, and beginning
Together, they form a living tapestry of faith along the river.
✠ Purpose of the Pilgrimage
This journey unites three dimensions:
- Spirituality – Prayer, silence, and encounter
- History – Stories of saints, missionaries, and communities
- Culture – Art, architecture, and sacred heritage
It is a path where the visible leads to the invisible.
✠ What You Will Experience
Along the way, pilgrims may:
- Visit exhibitions and sacred collections
- Discover unique liturgical furnishings
- Walk through peaceful shrine gardens
- Pray at places shaped by saints and witnesses
This is a pilgrimage of gentle discovery, not haste.
✠ A Living Heritage
This initiative is supported by the
Association des sanctuaires du Richelieu et du Saint-Laurent,
highlighting the rich religious heritage along the river.