Nestled in the heart of Powerview-Pine Falls, Manitoba, the Notre Dame Du Laus church stands as a beacon of faith and hope for the local Catholic community. As the Jubilee Year 2025 dawns, a time of reflection, repentance, and renewal as proclaimed by Pope Francis, this cherished church has been honoured with a special designation. Guided by the teachings of the risen Lord Jesus Christ, Notre Dame Du Laus has been selected as one of the designated pilgrimage sites where the faithful can experience the mercy of God through a plenary indulgence, a rare and sacred grace offered during this holy year.
A Pilgrimage of Hope
The announcement from Pope Francis, emphasizing the Christian life as a journey calling for constant companionship with the Lord Jesus, resonates deeply within the walls of this historic church. The Catechesis on the Jubilee Indulgence, as outlined by the Archdiocese of Winnipeg and the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, highlights the ancient custom of pilgrimages—a fundamental element of every Jubilee event. This tradition, associated with the human quest for meaning in life, invites pilgrims to embark on a journey, whether by foot or spirit, to rediscover the value of silence, effort, and simplicity. In the coming year, pilgrims of hope will travel both ancient and modern routes to experience the Jubilee to the full, and Notre Dame Du Laus is poised to welcome them with open arms.
A Rich Catholic Heritage
Southern Manitoba’s beautifully rich and diverse Catholic history, encompassing both Latin and Eastern rites, has led to the designation of Notre Dame Du Laus as a Jubilee site. This church, alongside other cathedrals, churches, shrines, and grottos detailed in the guide, offers accessible opportunities for the faithful to receive mercy through a plenary indulgence. Each place of pilgrimage holds special significance, and for Notre Dame Du Laus, its location near the vibrant community of Powerview-Pine Falls symbolizes a bridge between the distant borders of the Church in southern Manitoba. While some sites were chosen for their proximity, others, like Notre Dame Du Laus, which used to be a pilgrimage site back in the 50s and 60s, have a wonderful shrine of the apparition their church is named after, making them sacred havens for spiritual renewal.
A Call to the Faithful
The Archbishops of Saint-Boniface and Winnipeg, along with the Metropolitan Archbishop for Ukrainian Catholics in Canada, encourage Catholics—individuals, families, organizations, and parish communities—to organize pilgrimages to at least one of these sites in 2025. Notre Dame Du Laus will play a vital role in this sacred mission, offering the sacrament of reconciliation, and providing Catholics with the opportunity to gain the Jubilee Indulgence through prayerful visits, works of mercy, and acts of penance. The faithful are invited to visit the church for Eucharistic adoration, meditate in reflective silence, pray the Our Father (Lord’s Prayer), profess their faith in any legitimate form, and invoke prayers to Mary, the Mother of God.
A Jubilee Celebration
To celebrate this momentous occasion, Notre Dame Du Laus will host a special event on the weekend of June 28th and 29th, 2025. In a joyful tribute to the Jubilee Year, the church will transform its grounds into a place of community and faith with a campout featuring games, music, and a bonfire. This gathering will reawaken the yearning for the treasures of heaven, as the Jubilee Prayer echoes through the hearts of all who attend: “Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally. May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise forever. Amen.”
An Invitation to Renewal
As the love, grace, and mercy of God are poured into the hearts of the faithful during this Jubilee of 2025, Notre Dame Du Laus stands ready to guide pilgrims on their journey. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with confidence, embracing the transformative power of this holy year. Join us at Notre Dame Du Laus for a weekend of faith, fellowship, and renewal on June 28th and 29th, 2025, and let the spirit of the Jubilee light the way forward.
