Our Lady of Good Counsel Roman Catholic Church (Skaro)
Masses are celebrated every First, Third and Fifth Sunday at 9:00 a.m.
Skaro Annual Pilgrimage; August 14 and August 15 each year
(FAQ) - Frequently Asked Questions:
What time are the Masses? - The August 14th Mass is at 8:00 pm, and the August 15th Healing Mass is at 10:00 am.
Are any of the Masses in Polish? - No. Only Vespers are conducted in Polish.
What is the address of the Church? - Our Lady of Good Counsel Skaro is located at the intersection of Highway 45, and Secondary Highway 831. Directions: See Contact Us on our home page for a google map of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Skaro.
Is there parking? - Yes. There is plenty of parking, and overnight camping is allowed (Free will offering). There are no hook-ups for power, water, or sewage.
Is there a bus I can take? - Please contact your local parish to see if one has been organized. (O.L.A. in Fort Sask. does NOT organize a bus at this time.)
How should I dress? - Dress in layers for all types of weather. The evening becomes cool! Make sure to bring your own chair, umbrella, blanket, and mosquito repellent.
Is there a candlelight procession, and Sacrament of Reconciliation? - Yes. Reconciliation is from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The Eucharistic candlelight procession follows Mass.
Are there Religious articles to purchase? - Yes. You can purchase candles, Mass offering cards, statues, crucifixes, rosaries, holy pictures, etc. CASH ONLY PLEASE!
Are there washrooms? - Yes. There are portable washrooms available.
Is there food? - Yes. We have a concession offering hotdogs, hamburgers, cold, and hot beverages.
Can I bring my pet? No, we ask that you leave your pet at home.
If you would care to make a donation to Our Lady of Good Counsel, a collection is taken during the offertory. A donation may also be mailed to Our Lady of the Angels. 10004- 101 Street, Fort Saskatchewan, AB. T8L 1V9
Our Lady of Good Counsel History
This Community has Polish immigrants and has a history of over a 100 years.
Bishop Vital Grandin, OMI, of St. Albert, invited the closest priests
from the Polish parish in Winnipeg to serve Strathcona and vicinity.
The first priest to arrive was Rev. W. Kulawy, on March 18, 1899.
He stayed for eleven days, baptizing children and celebrating Mass at
local homes. These soon became too small to hold the many people who
attended Mass, so it was decided to build a chapel.
Construction began in 1901 and by 1904 the exterior of the church
was completed. The building committee decided to dedicate the chapel
under the patronage of “Our Lady of Good Counsel”. With the continued
growth of the community, a larger church was planned. The cornerstone
for the new sanctuary was blessed on September 30, 1917 and the first
Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day, 1917. On August 15, 1918, almost a
thousand people gathered to witness the consecration of the church by
Archbishop Emile Legal. In the years 1945–51 a fund was started to
build a new church, the campaign intensifying with the arrival of Fr.
Ignatius Lenckowski in 1958. The old building was dismantled in 1959
and the present structure was completed in the fall of 1960.
Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes (Skaro Shrine)
In the fall of 1918, Fr. Anthony Sylla proposed the building of a
small grotto. This idea appealed to the pioneer immigrants who were
accustomed to wayside chapels in their mother country. Fr. Sylla
approached Fr. Philip Ruh, who was then doing missionary work in
Eldorena, as he was familiar with the Grotto of Lourdes in France. A
small grotto was intended, but Fr. Ruh would not agree as he envisioned
a large monument. “If I build it, it must be big, otherwise, I do not
start at all,” were his words. During the winter months each
parishioner was asked to bring ten to fifteen loads of rocks and in
June 1919 the work began.
The Shrine site was soon buzzing with activity, with the
entire community, young and old, working together on the project.
People were of the opinion that the undertaking would be finished in
several days, but the rocks quickly ran out and their enthusiasm waned.
Fr. Sylla urged the area residents to finish the grotto and slowly they
came back with their plows and fresnos. It took two solid months, 600
loads of rocks and 300 sacks of cement to complete this replica of
Lourdes. On August 14, 1919, pilgrims arrived to offer their special
prayers, and at sunset they gathered in procession to celebrate at the
Grotto. Pilgrimages at the Shrine continue to this day; they are held
each year on the evening of August 14 and during the day on August 15,
drawing 3,500–4,000 people.
Thank you MCSnet for providing free internet to Skaro shrine and Parish