By Deacon Eric Gurash
Regina, SK – The faithful of the Archdiocese of Regina gathered in reverence and prayer as the relics of St. Jean de Brébeuf, St. Charles Garnier, St. Gabriel Lalement, and St. Kateri Tekakwitha made an historic visit to the city on Sunday, January 26. Hosted at Resurrection Parish, the event included a special Mass celebrated by Archbishop Donald Bolen, followed by public veneration of the relics. Other events took place at Campion College and St. Kateri Tekakwitha School, allowing students and parishioners alike to engage with the rich spiritual legacy of these saints.
The Archdiocese of Regina collaborated with the Jesuits of Canada to bring the relics to the region as part of a national tour marking the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. The tour coincides with the 400th anniversary of St. Jean de Brébeuf and his fellow Jesuits’ mission to the Wendat people near Georgian Bay. For many, the visit was an opportunity for deep personal reflection and renewal of faith.
During his homily at Mass, Archbishop Donald Bolen reflected on the significance of the encounter between European missionaries and Indigenous peoples. “When Europeans came, there was a possibility of a rich cultural and spiritual encounter—between their faith and traditions and the faith, traditions, and spiritual life of Indigenous peoples. For the most part, that encounter didn’t happen because one people oppressed another. But in these Jesuit missions, something extraordinary did happen.”
Archbishop Bolen spoke of St. Jean de Brébeuf and his companions, who immersed themselves in the culture and language of the Huron people, not as conquerors but as companions. He emphasized that these saints provide a model of how to live the Gospel in our time, not by imposing faith on others, but by humbly walking with them, learning from them, and allowing the Word of God to take root in new ways.
“What it meant to en-flesh the word of God looks different for Kateri than it does for Jean de Brébeuf. It looks different for Joseph Chiwatenhwa than it does for us today. But the same call remains—to let the Word take flesh in us, in our time, in our culture, in the realities of our lives,” Bolen reflected. “For Saint Jean de Brébeuf, it meant embracing a new land, learning a new language, walking with a people not his own, and ultimately giving his life. For Saint Kateri, it meant a life of deep prayer and holiness, a countercultural witness that drew her into union with Christ. For Wendat Joseph Chiwatenhwa, it meant leadership, evangelization, and a faithfulness that cost him his life. And for us? It means asking daily, ‘How do I let the Word take flesh in me?'”
The relics, housed at the National Shrine to the Canadian Martyrs in Midland, Ontario, have embarked on a cross-country pilgrimage to allow Canadians who cannot travel to the shrine to venerate them. The Jesuits of Canada hope this initiative will foster moments of grace, healing, and reconciliation for all who participate.
Introducing the relics prior to public veneration, Fr. John O’Brien, SJ, highlighted the dedication and sacrifice of these Canadian martyrs. “Saint Jean de Brébeuf and his companions embraced hardship willingly. They volunteered for the mission, knowing it would mean suffering—paddling from dawn to dusk, enduring mosquitoes and rapids, sleeping on rocks. They endured all this not for the adventure but because their hearts were fixed on Christ. And so, the question remains for us: where is Christ calling us to go, to endure, to witness?”
For many in attendance, the presence of these relics was an invitation to deepen their faith and seek inspiration from the lives of the saints. St. Kateri Tekakwitha, canonized in 2012, holds a special place in the hearts of Indigenous communities and Catholics alike. Fr. O’Brien noted, “Kateri Tekakwitha’s life was short and hidden, yet in the eyes of the Kingdom, it was great. Her witness continues, even beyond death, as she consoles, heals, and draws others to Christ. Even today, she speaks. And the question for us is, how will we allow our lives, however small or hidden they seem, to bear the same quiet yet powerful witness?”
As the relics continue their journey across Canada, the Jesuits of Canada invite all—Catholic and non-Catholic alike—to reflect on the faith and sacrifice of these saints, and to seek renewal in their own lives. The tour serves as a reminder of the rich spiritual heritage of Canada and the ongoing call to live as pilgrims of hope.
