While planning for my trip to Canada’s National Parks, I researched Catholic churches for the two Sundays I would be in Canada. The Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Rockies was an easy three-minute drive from our Vrbo in Canmore. The history of this church and its beauty was a great way to begin my Canadian adventure.

The Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Rockies is the first Marian shrine in the diocese of Calgary and was consecrated on May 30, 2020. The shrine was built in a classic cruciform shape, combining mountain views with sacred art.

As I entered the church, my eyes were drawn immediately to the beautiful stained-glass window above the main altar featuring the Blessed Mother and the child Jesus. At the top of the stained glass were the Three Sisters Mountain Range easily seen in Canmore. Above the mountains were an interesting cloud formation replicating the angelic pattern sited in one of the early outdoor Masses before the shrine’s construction.

One of the side altars was dedicated to Saint Joseph. The scene is Saint Joseph on his death bed with Mary praying next to him and Jesus giving his blessing.

Another interesting part of the church was the sanctuary gates located behind the main altar. These gates separated the altar from the tabernacle. Before Mass, the sacristan opened the gates by sliding them into the walls like a pocket door. This gave the priest full access to the tabernacle.

Upon existing the church, I noticed a special room with a beautiful statue of Jesus lifting the saved souls from purgatory. This room was the columbarium with over 250 niches for the final resting place of Catholics.

In addition to the self-guided tours, the shrine is also a diocesan pilgrimage site. The sister parish to the Shrine Church is Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church also known as Saint Mary’s by the local parishioners.

This church is in downtown Banff with the current structure built in 1951. The architecture for this church combines the classic Romanesque style with magnificent mountain scenery.

One of the most interesting parts of the church history was noted in the beautifully displayed Stations of the Cross. One of the local parishioners in the church at the time of our visit pointed this out to us. Further research confirmed the story.

The pastor at the time of construction, commissioned Walter Bacher of Innsbruck, Austria for the carving of the Stations of the Cross. Bacher carved himself into the third and seventh stations in the left-hand top corner wearing an Air Force helmet and glasses.

Bacher trained under Alexander Dejaco and later studied at the Academy of Art in Munich. During World War II, Bacher spent five years as a Prisoner of War in Russia. Severe lifelong health issues resulted from his time in Russia.

Despite his many health struggles, Bacher’s wooden sculptures remain valued in international private collections and churches like the one we found in Banff.

The beautiful stained-glass windows of both churches along with the special stations depicting Bacher’s self portrait can be seen in the video below.

This Canadian adventure was just beginning. The National Parks in this part of Canada are spectacular. More blogs and videos will be posted shortly with great mountain views and beautiful lakes.

Also stay tuned for updates on travel accessories. I took this Canadian adventure with two seasoned travelers who shared some amazing travel accessories that make packing and the overall travel experience more pleasant and fun.

Enjoy the video and God bless all…