Faithful across Toronto and Hamilton can undertake a powerful expression of Marian devotion during this month of Mary as Canada’s Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of the Cape tours parishes across both dioceses from May 9 to 17. 

Sponsored by Canada’s National Shrine of Our Lady of the Cape in Trois-Rivières, Que., the tour will be accompanied by pilgrimage director Fr. Wedner Bérard. This month will mark 12 years since he began touring with the Pilgrim Statue, an experience that has seen him bring Our Lady far and wide, both locally and internationally. 

“While the story begins in Québec and we have gone across Canada,  I've been blessed to take Our Lady to places like Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Miami, New York, Boston, Philadelphia — even Naples in Italy. Through those visits, we have seen the result each summertime when people come to visit the shrine from all over the world to spend time with Mary,” he said. 

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Those in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas are once again able to experience the same graces, as the replica of the nationally crowned statue will visit more than a dozen parishes. Each stop is set to feature praying of the Rosary, Holy Mass, a presentation on the history and miracles of Our Lady of the Cape, the crowning of the statue, a candlelight procession and time for personal veneration.

What many faithful Ontarians may not fully realize is that Our Lady of the Cape is officially recognized as the “Queen of Canada” as our National Marian Statue. Following a national tour of the statue between 1947 and 1954, the image was solemnly crowned by Cardinal Valeri as papal delegate in 1954, consecrating the entire country to Mary under this title. 

As the replica tours, the original statue remains above the altar inside Trois-Rivières’s Old Shrine. As the story goes, it was on June 22, 1888, that the Marian statue ceremoniously relocated from the alcove to above the altar. While praying in church that evening, Fr. Luc Desilets, Franciscan friar Fr. Frédéric Janssoone and parishioner Pierre Lacroix all reported having seen the statue open its eyes and remain that way for five to 10 minutes. The two priests moved about the church to view the statue from different perspective to see whether this was an optical illusion. 

The image is also closely linked to the Miracle of the Ice Bridge. In the winter of 1879, parishioners in Cap-de-la-Madeleine needed stones from the opposite shore of the St. Lawrence River that could only be shipped across a frozen river. That winter was unusually mild and the river which refused to freeze. Desilets and parishioners turned to fervent prayer of the Rosary and promised Our Lady that if she interceded, they would rededicate their existing church to her. 

That March, large chunks of ice suddenly floated down from Lake St. Pierre, forming a solid bridge-like-connection across the river in what became known as the Rosary Bridge. Desilets kept his promise and rededicated the church to the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

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These two events would go on to establish the site as a major Canadian Marian shrine as pilgrimages increased substantially. Pope John Paul II visited the site on his 1984 Canadian tour, and the annual pilgrimages, especially for young people, birthed the tradition known as Cap-Jeunesse.

As explained by Bérard, the story of Our Lady of the Cape and encounters with its official replica, even today, continue to provide deep graces in quieter, personal ways.

“A lot of people will come and tell me that they have experienced many beautiful blessings through the visitation of the statue of Our Lady of the Cape. People still today have their own experience with Mother Mary, as everyone has their own experience of God and about their faith,” he said. 

The real fruit of these tours remains visible months later, when busloads of pilgrims, many from Toronto’s large Filipino, Italian and Chinese Catholic communities, make the journey to the National Shrine in Trois-Rivières to encounter the original statue. Bérard said upwards of 400,000 people visit the shrine each year. 

While largely available year-round, with May laying claim to the Month of Mary and October the Month of the Rosary, Bérard said many parishes specifically request these months for touring as it goes hand-in-hand with other Marian devotions and events. 

Still, any time spent with our Holy Mother is time well spent. 

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“I’ll be going to a lot of parishes in Quebec after this May as well; people are hungry and ready to listen and encounter. There is never a bad time for that,” Bérard said. “ Every time, (Mary) brings a lot of love, peace, and comfort to those people. If Our Lady can do that, it is the best thing about my job.” 

For the full schedule of the 2026 Spring Tour, see archtoronto.org.