The Ave Maria Centre of Peace is a non-profit, charitable organization devoted to spreading the messages of the Queen of Peace and the teachings of the Catholic Church.
We were founded in the Marian Year of 1988 and began taking pilgrimages to Medjugorje and other Marian shrines shortly thereafter. We are edified by the many people we have taken to these shrines who have become more fervent Catholics and have grown stronger in the faith and love of Jesus and Mary as a result of their faith journeys.
Our pilgrimages are focussed on the spiritual rather than the sightseeing. This is not to say that you will not see many things on your trip but if your only purpose is to go as a tourist, then you are “missing the boat” and often the voyage has no effect on you. If you are planning on making a rendezvous with God by travelling to these holy places, then you need to employ the spiritual tools necessary to achieve this purpose.
That is why our pilgrimages are usually accompanied by a Catholic priest chaplain who is able to say daily Mass and rosary with the group as well as hear confessions and provide spiritual counsel, when necessary.
We also provide a suitable ‘spiritual care’ package for each pilgrim depending on the destination.
Our travel arrangements are handled through licensed tour operators registered with the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO), or equivalent.
Pilgrimages evoke our earthly journey toward heaven and are traditionally very special occasions for renewal in prayer. For pilgrims seeking living water, shrines are special places for living the forms of Christian prayer "in Church."