Title (English): Pilgrimage of Saint-Laurent-de-Grandin

Head west on the 225, then take Route 782 north to Saint-Laurent and take the ferry to reach the west shore. The Saint- Laurent ferry operates from 6:30 A.M. to 11:30 P.M. Operators typically take a meal break from 12:00 P.M. to 12:30 

P.M. and 6:00 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. 

Located on the west bank of the South Saskatchewan River approximately 1,500 meters north of the crossing, the Sanctuary of St. Lawrence has been a renowned place of pilgrimage in Saskatchewan for a hundred years. Catholics meet there every summer. The site is also an important National Historic Site for First Nations and Metis. 

The historical resources of this 32.4-hectare property include a wood-frame rectory, log church, landscaped grounds, sacred grotto and cemetery. 

The Sanctuary of Saint Lawrence is also known as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes - Saint-Laurent. Many religious miracles are said to have occurred there, giving the site its heritage value. Since 1884, people have felt cured of ailments and diseases, thanks to the spring water flowing from the hillside. In 1890, a light projection of a crucified Christ on an old convent wall was said to have lasted several days. The first official pilgrimage to the site took place in 1905. It has since been the destination of annual pilgrimages. The site was first associated with Our Lady of Lourdes in 1879 when a priest stationed there identified many similarities with Lourdes, in France, famous for its religious wonders. From then on, the site of the source became a place of prayer. A sanctuary was built in 1881, and a cave was added the following year. In 1885, a statue was donated and placed at the site in thanks for the first healing that had occurred. The statue remains an essential element of the site. The sacred cave has been rebuilt many times. The last time was in 1951. 

The Sanctuary of St. Lawrence property also has heritage value as an important Metis settlement and Catholic mission. In 1873, Father Alexis André and Metis settlers who had left Manitoba in 1870 established this settlement. In later years, the site also attracted other Metis. In the early 1880s, it represented a model parish. It became a religious center for the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and a base for the foundation of other missions in the region. As a Catholic mission, the site included a church, dormitory, boarding school, and convent. The rectory building was constructed around 1883 and is the last remaining structure from the site's missionary period. A log church was restored in 1938 but burnt down in 1990. The present church on the site is a reconstruction of the 1938 church. 

The property's heritage value is also associated with the conflict of 1885. During the battle between the local community, mostly Metis, and the Canadian army, the site was a refuge for community members. The cemetery contains the graves of several residents killed during the battle. The community upheaval that followed the 1885 conflict ultimately resulted in the mission's closure in 1894. 

For more information on the dates of the pilgrimage, call ahead.