FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT - MARCH 22, 2026
When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept. John 11:32–35
We must never forget Jesus’ deep compassion, empathy, and sorrow. His human heart feels the same emotions we do—He grieves when we grieve, shares in our pain, and is moved by the hold sin has on us. After feeling these emotions at Lazarus’ death, Jesus stood outside the tomb and “cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’” (John 11:43). We can imagine the passion behind His command. In our lives, when we are tempted in sin or burdened by human weakness, we must hear Jesus calling us to freedom with the same divine authority and human passion.
Reflect today on Jesus’ humanity and how He perfectly understands everything we experience. His deep empathy for our suffering and His joy when we rise with His grace show us how intimately He knows us. God became one of us in every way, sharing in our human condition—though without sin—so that we might share in His divinity. Ponder His humanity and let His closeness draw you to Him, giving you a share in His divine life.
(Catholic Daily Reflections)
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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
Please note that the Executive Meeting, Tuesday March 3 and the General Meeting Tuesday March 10 will be cancelled this month due to the busy upcoming schedule.
- Helpers are needed for the St. Patrick's Day Frolic Sunday March 15, following 10 a.m. Mass. Please contact Judy Paxton at judypaxton38@hotmail.com if you can help.
- Helpers will be needed to serve cake and coffee after First Communion on Sunday,March 22 after the 10 a.m. Mass. Please contact Lauri if you can help with this.
- Craft Group will meet on Tuesday, March 17 from 1-3. Bring along anything you would like to work on, or help us paint some sunflower rocks for the Provincial Convention July 4-8, 2026!
- The Annual Diocesan Convention will be held at St. Anthony's April 24 & 25, 2026. Information will be sent to all members should you wish to register for the convention.
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:
Rose Marie Doliska & Isabella Hotrum
Music Ministry:
Maureen McGrath
Custodian: Dan Baxter
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