The Lac Sainte-Anne Shrine, located in Alberta, Canada, is one of the country’s most important pilgrimage sites and a place of deep significance for both Indigenous and Catholic communities. Dedicated to Saint Anne, the grandmother of Jesus, the lake—known as Wakamne in Cree—was already considered sacred by Indigenous peoples long before the arrival of Christianity.
Catholic devotion began in the 19th century with missionaries, who recognized in Saint Anne a spiritual figure resonating with Indigenous traditions. Over time, the site became a meeting point where Christian faith and Indigenous spirituality converge.
Each July, thousands of pilgrims gather for the annual Lac Sainte-Anne pilgrimage, one of the largest in North America. Many come seeking healing and take part in rituals such as immersing themselves in the lake’s waters, believed to bring blessing and renewal.
More than a built sanctuary, Sainte-Anne is a living sacred landscape, where nature, faith, and cultural memory create a unique spiritual experience. Pope Francis in person blessed the shrine on July 26th 2022.
- Address
Comp 33, Site 114, RR 1, Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta, Canada - Web
https://lacsteannepilgrimage.ca/ - Visiting Hours
Always open - What to see
Lake, Prayer spaces and chapel areas
