SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST SUNDAY - MAY 24, 2026
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” John 20:21–23
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost, which took place fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead. Today’s Gospel recounts Jesus’ first appearance to the Apostles as a group—Thomas being absent—on the evening of the Resurrection. During this appearance, Jesus conferred on them the authority to forgive sins, a power foundational to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This gift anticipates the fuller outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, when the Apostles were empowered to carry out their mission with boldness and divine strength.
Reflect today on the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Have you experienced the Spirit’s presence in your life? Like the first disciples, have you allowed the Holy Spirit to fill you with power from on high, emboldening you, purifying you, and setting you on fire with zeal to fulfill the mission God has entrusted to you? The Holy Spirit will transform us—if we let Him—setting our feet on the path to eternal glory.
(Catholic Daily Reflections)
FIRST COMMUNION
The following received the Sacraments of 
Reconciliation and Eucharist on Sunday, March 22, 2026:
Logyn Drewes; Katia Vigneux; Sawyer Watts
CONFIRMATION
The following were confirmed by Bishop Alan Campeau on Thursday, March 12, 2026:
Zoey Lundy; Marin McWhirter; Noah Peterson; Tatianna Vigneux; Hailey Watts
ST. MARGARET'S CATHOLIC
WOMEN'S LEAGUE
President - Lauri McFarlane, Past-President - Marlene Pavletic, Secretary - Maureen Fenlon, Treasurer - Maureen Ahokas
Memebership - Kathryn Dwyer, Faith Leads - Betty Beckingham & Rosalie Douglas, Service Lead - Judy Paxton, Social Justice Leads - Marlene Pavletic & Lauri McFarlane
email - stmargaretscwl@gmail.com
- June 2 - Executive Meeting, 1:00 p.m.
- June 9 - Mass, 6:00 p.m. Beef on a Bun dinner to follow. All women of the parish are invited. Please sign up by June 2nd so food can be ordered. Donations (food item or cash) for the Dew Drop Inn will be collected.
- June 10 - Early registration deadline for Provincial Convention to be held July 5-9 at the Valhalla. The registration form is on the cwl.on.ca website.
We welcome and invite all women of the parish, 16 years of age and over, to join or renew their membership to this very worthy organization. Membership —$40 fee payable by cheque, cash or e-transfer to stmargaretscwl@gmail.com
DIOCESE OF THUNDER BAY MONDAY MEMO
For up-to-date information on events and happenings around the diocese, please log into www,dotb.ca.
88 Clayte Street
Thunder Bay, ON
P7A 6S5
Phone: 807-344-9045
Fax: 807-345-8993
Email: stmargaret@tbaytel.net
Pastor: Fr. Ciarán Donnelly
Parish Secretaries:
Isabella Hotrum & Rose Marie Doliska
Music Ministry:
Maureen McGrath
Custodians: Dan Baxter & Terry McFarlane
Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
HISTORY OF ST. MARGARET'S CHURCH
St. Margaret's was the third parish to be created in response to the needs of a growing population in the residential area of Brent Park in Port Arthur and as a relief to the increasing demands placed on St. Andrew's Church. The construction and opening of St. Margaret's Roman Catholic School on Clayte Street in 1954 prompted Bishop Jennings to investigate the purchase of property owned by the Sisters of St. Joseph adjacent to the school. "It would make another very fine little Catholic corner of Port Arthur" wrote Bishop Jennings, "considering that there is such a splendid school already there". The Fort William Diocese purchased one acre across from the school and, until a church could be built on the property, Sunday and some weekday masses and services, conducted by the Jesuits at St. Andrew's were held at St. Margaret's School. In March 1957 Bishop Jennings blessed and dedicated a new church on the property to be known as St. Margaret's chapel-of-ease "to provide a convenient centre of worship for the more distant members of the already larger than capacity congregation of St. Andrew's". Four years later, the chapel-of-ease was elevated to the status of a full-fledged parish with Father J.E. Roenicke as its first pastor.
SACRAMENTS
Baptism: Parish Membership, Preparation Class and 3-months notice required.
Attached Baptism Registration PDF
Marriage: Parish Membership, Preparation Class and 1-year notice required.
Reconciliation: Saturdays 4:30-5:00 p.m. on request.
First Reconciliation/First Communion/Confirmation: Information to follow
To become a member of St. Margaret's Parish,
please complete the Registration Form