Canada: Centennial Anniversary of the Martyrs Shrine

Martyrs Shrine, Wiki Image

This year, 2026, marks the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Martyrs Shrine in Midland, Ontario, Canada. It also marks the 400th anniversary since Jesuit Father Jean de Brebeuf landed in Huronia, the Land of the Hurons (now the Wendat First Nation) in 1626, to establish a mission.

Over the next 23 years they learnt the local languages, studied the local history and culture and made many converts.

Brébeuf is credited with composing the 'Huron Carol', Canada's oldest Christmas song, written around 1642.

In March 1649 Fr Jean with five Jesuit colleagues and two laymen were captured, tortured and killed by a rival tribe, the Iroquois.

Nearly 400 years have passed since St Jean de Brebeuf and his companions laid down their life for the Indigenous people and their faith. Martyrs Shrine is a National Pilgrimage site which welcomes more than 100,000 pilgrims and visitors each each year. Millions of Canadians and internationals have visited the Shrine over the years.

The Shrine opened in June of 1926, on the shores of Georgian Bay, Midland, Ontario. During the Jubilee year in 2025 for the Universal Church and during all of last year the Shrine was designated an official pilgrimage site by the Pope. That's a gift Popes gave to Martyrs Shrine and renewed by Pope John Paul II, who visited the Shrine in 1984. There were 80,000 people for his visit to the Shrine.

The Shrine is only open for six months of the year from May to Thanksgiving weekend in October. In an interview on the Registered Podcast with Mickey Conlon, Luke Mandato and Quinton Amundson, Father John O'Brien, Director of the Shrine and Superior of the Jesuits at the Shrine said: "It's North America's Holiest Shrine because of the blood shed by the Martyrs".

Fr John continued: "These are occasions of special blessings for the Church in general and for individuals who come". He also said, "You can come to the Shrine at any time and receive a Plenary Indulgence."

"It has just been announced that 1626 is the year St Jean de Brebeuf moved from Quebec to the land of the Hurons and founded its first Christian mission outside of Quebec. It was the beginning of the first native Christian community which we sometimes call the first Christian community of Canada."

Fr John added: "The Shrine will always be there to commemorate the Martyrs. The Shrine is only one and a half hours from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)". There's one hundred and fifty acres of monuments, outside Altars, Stations of the Cross, restaurants and much more.

Saturday June 27, 2026, is the big anniversary with an outdoor Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Regina, Donald Bolen. There will also be concerts and much more. If you plan a trip to Canada this year or in the near future, plan a trip to the Martyrs Shrine, a truly magnificent Shrine with a rich history.

LINKS

The Martyrs Shrine: www.martyrs-Shrine.com

Fr John O'Brien Podcast Interview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=El0DbTzhS68

Jesuits of Canada: https://jesuits.ca/

St Jean de Brebeuf anf Companions: www.indcatholicnews.com/editsaint/302