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Quebec City and the Chateau Frontenac at sunset

North American Saints and Martyrs

Syracuse, Auriesville, Québec City, Trois-Rivières, Kahnawake and Montreal

Eight days from the shrine of St. Marianne Cope in central New York to the ground where the American martyrs died at Auriesville, then north into Québec and home from Montreal.

Departures

Current Tours to the United States and Canada

Upcoming departures to the United States and Canada. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Eight stops across New York and Québec

Syracuse, Auriesville, Québec City, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, the Île d’Orléans, Trois-Rivières, Kahnawake and Montreal.

Itinerary · AM_US-CA-8D-01

The North American Saints and Martyrs Itinerary

Eight days beginning in Syracuse, with three nights in Québec City and two in Montreal, following the martyrs and the first saints of North America. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Days 1–2

Syracuse and Auriesville

Saint Josephs Oratory seen from above Mount Royal in autumn
Saint Joseph’s Oratory, Montreal
Day 1

Arrival in Syracuse

We fly to Syracuse, New York, meet our escort and transfer to the hotel.Welcome dinner and overnight in Syracuse.
Day 2

St. Marianne Cope and Auriesville

The shrine at St. Anthony Convent honours the Beloved Mother of Outcasts, who left central New York to spend her life among the lepers of Molokai. At Auriesville we stand on the ground where Sts. Isaac Jogues, René Goupil and John Lalande, the only canonised American martyrs, gave their lives.Mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs. Dinner and overnight in the Albany area.
Days 3–5

Québec City

Place Royale in the old city of Quebec
Place Royale, Old Québec
Day 3

North into Québec

We travel north through the Champlain valley and across the border, then east along the St. Lawrence to Québec City, the oldest parish ground in North America.Dinner and overnight in Québec City.
Day 4

Old Québec

The Château Frontenac, the Plains of Abraham and Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, one of the oldest stone churches in North America, followed by a cruise on the St. Lawrence.Mass at the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec. Dinner and overnight in Québec City.
Day 5

Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré and the Île d’Orléans

Healings have been attributed to St. Anne, grandmother of Our Lord, at this shrine since the seventeenth century. We see Montmorency Falls, higher than Niagara, and cross to the Île d’Orléans for a Québecois feast.Mass at the Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. Dinner and overnight in Québec City.
Days 6–7

Trois-Rivières and Montreal

The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre and its gardens
Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
Day 6

Trois-Rivières and Montreal

We break the drive west at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Cape, Canada’s national shrine to Our Blessed Mother, and reach Montreal in the late afternoon.Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Cape. Dinner and overnight in Montreal.
Day 7

Kahnawake and the Basilicas of Montreal

At Kahnawake we visit the shrine and tomb of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks and the first Native American saint. We continue to Saint Joseph’s Oratory, the world’s largest shrine to St. Joseph, and to Notre-Dame Basilica with its deep blue vaulted ceiling.Mass at the St. Francis Xavier Mission. Farewell dinner and overnight in Montreal.
Day 8

Return Home

The twin towers of Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal
Notre-Dame Basilica, Montreal
Day 8

Return Home

We transfer to Montreal’s airport for our flight home, with the intercession of St. Marianne Cope, St. Kateri Tekakwitha and St. Anne.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
IMMERSIVE BAND, AURIESVILLE
AuriesvilleIsaac Jogues came back to the Mohawk country that had already maimed him. The shrine stands on the hillside where he was killed in 1646.
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
The blue vaulted ceiling inside Notre-Dame Basilica, Montreal
Inside Notre-Dame Basilica, Montreal
The gold mosaic vault of the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre
Inside the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
Old Montreal and the Bonsecours Market at dusk
Old Montreal at dusk
Saint Josephs Oratory of Mount Royal in Montreal
Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal
The Old Port of Montreal on the St. Lawrence
The Old Port, Montreal
The square before Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal
The square before Notre-Dame Basilica

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time for the North American martyrs pilgrimage?

Late spring to early autumn. The Auriesville shrine keeps a limited season, the Québec shrines are fully open, and the drive along the St. Lawrence is at its best. September adds early autumn colour through the Mohawk and Champlain valleys.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

Do I need a passport for this pilgrimage?

Yes. The route flies into Syracuse, crosses into Canada by motorcoach and flies home from Montreal, so a valid passport, or an accepted land-crossing alternative, is required in both directions. We recommend a passport for every pilgrim on this route.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to the United States and Canada?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

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    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseSomewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

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