National Shrine Reopens Doors in 2022

MIDLAND, ON (1 April 2022) – After nearly two years of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Martyrs’ Shrine will be reopening to the public on May 7, 2022. The […]

Praying for Residential Schools

On April 1, 2022 at the Vatican, in an address to representatives of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, His Holiness Pope Francis apologized to the Indigenous Peoples. After listening to the […]

Martyrs’ Shrine Throughout the Years

Martyrs’ Shrine had evolved throughout the years and had created various branches in which to serve the community. It remains a priority commitment of the Canadian Jesuit ministry. It has […]

Opening of Sainte-Marie among the Hurons

In 1964 the Jesuits negotiated an agreement between the Upper Canadian Province of Jesuits and the Government of Ontario whereby the historic site of Sainte-Marie and adjoining land on the […]

Purchase of the Sainte-Marie Mission

At the end of the Depression, it took three years of appeals for director, Fr. Lally to collect the $4,000 purchase price of the Sainte-Marie property from a local businessman. […]

Canonization of the Canadian Martyrs

Nearly four years to the day later, on June 29, 1930, as Pope Pius XI was canonizing the eight Canadian Martyrs in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, another vast congregation […]

Completion of the Shrine Church

On June 26, 1926 in advance of Fr. Filion’s deadline, the church was finally built. It was a long fall and winter season for Fr. Filion and the tradesmen battling […]

Construction of the Church of St. Joseph

In June of 1925, Father John M. Filion, then Provincial Superior of English speaking Jesuits across Canada, felt the need for a larger shrine that would be closer both to […]

Beginnings of a Humble Shrine in Waubaushene

The Martyrs' Shrine that you see on the hill today in Midland, Ontario replaced a much smaller Shrine by the same name in Waubaushene, about 12km from the present Shrine. […]

Shrine Season Impacted by COVID-19

Tay, On (16 April 2020) – Due to the limitations on public gatherings currently legislated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Martyrs’ Shrine will not proceed with opening on 2 […]