Just when you think you know it all...

Just when I think I know it all, something happens that makes me realize that, in fact, I know very little.  

It happened to me last night.  Over a delicious rib-eye dinner with a priest-friend, he began to tell me about the Shrine of St. Anne de Beaupré.  The more he described its beauty and the peacefulness of the place, the more I realized, "Yeah, I've never even heard of that shrine."  

Interesting huh?  Especially since it happens to be one of the oldest pilgrimage sites of North America, going back to 1658.  Many miracles, officially recognized, have occurred there. Though not a big pilgrimage place to start, more than 1.5 million pilgrims make their way north of Quebec City to pray for themselves and their loved ones.  

Not only that, but from the pictures, the place is just downright beautiful.  Located on the historic St. Lawrence River, the Basilica is surrounded by some of the most beautiful country around.  The shrine can even be reached by boat from the river.  

The most popular pilgrimage season is during the summer around the feast day of St. Anne but from all the photos, I think I'd want to go in the Fall.  The many trees and rolling hills, the big skies and cliffs along the river make for something amazin' to see.  If going across the ocean isn't your thing this year, our new 7 day pilgrimage to the Catholic Shrines of Canada might be in the works for you.

You do the witnessing

CNS reports that Canada's Pro-Life movement is growing as 20-25k people peacefully marched to Parliment Hill in Ottawa, the nation's capitol.  Zenit reports that the same is true in Italy as 40k marched peacefully through Rome in support of life.  These pilgrims were surprised when another pilgrim, dressed in all white, drove up in his popemobile to join them and encourage them to continue to focus on life.  Good news out of Canada and Italy.

Though you never hear it in the national news, a few people participate in the March for Life in the United States.  In fact, this year for the 40th anniverary march, 650,000 people walked the Mall and ended up at the steps of the Supreme Court.  

That's a lot of people!

That's a lot of buses and flights.  And that's a lot of details.  So if you're planning to lead a pilgrimage  to D.C. for next year's Pro-Life March, or any other year, or you're planning on leading a pilgrimage to a World Youth Day or NCYC, give us a shout.  It's kinda what we do.  

Let us do the work.  You do the witnessing.