Catholic Women's League Provincial Conference

May 14th, 2012

The Catholic Women's League Conference will take place in Kingston, Ontario from July 7-11, 2012 at the Ambassador Conference Resort.  All members of the League are invited to attend the meetings and many activities of the conference.  Registration closes on June 7th.  For further information or registration details and costs please contact your local parish Council or call Nancy at 613-652-1789 or Shelley Stepanuik at 613-284-1999.

Prayers for the Unborn

May 7th, 2012

On Monday, May 14, 2012, we will gather at Our Lady of Charity Mausoleum for a special prayer service sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, as we pray for the unborn and in  support of all life. The service begins at 7 pm., lead by Bishop Colli and the priests attending, with the rosary and presentation by pro-life groups. Everyone is welcome.

Catholic Education Week

April 30th, 2012

Catholic Education Week takes place from May 6 to 11, 2012. The theme is "Walking in the Light of Christ." Our Catholic Community, parishes, schools and homes, work together for Catholic Education. Please participate in the events in your school and parish during this week.

Retirement of Roselyn Douglas - Welcome Debbie Keating

April 23th, 2012

Roselyn Douglas who has worked for our diocese for over 14 years is retiring from her position as the Diocesan Finance Officer at the end of April 2012. We thank her for her faithful service to the diocese for these many years and wish her the very best in her future.

We welcome to our diocesan staff Debbie Keating who has been hired as the new Diocesan Finance Officer. Debbie is presently working with Roselyn to become familiar with diocesan policy, etc.

Thanks and Appreciation for Sister Ethel and Sister Olga

April 16th, 2012

A Special reception of "Thanks and Appreciation" was held at Saint Agnes Parish on Sunday, April 15 for Sister Ethel Rakai and Sister Olga Rakai as they leave the parish and the diocese for retirement at their motherhouse in Pembroke. Both are members of the Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. Sister Ethel has worked in the parish and diocese for over 25 years and Sister Olga for the past ten years. We thank them for their faithful service to us and wish them the very best in their new home in Pembroke.

National March for Life in Ottawa

April 16th, 2012

National March for Life: On Thursday, May 10, 2012, the National March for Life will be held in Ottawa. Every year thousands of people gather on Paliament Hill to protest the decriminalization of abortion in Canada. At this event people from all ages stand up in defense of human life at all its stages from conception to natural death. Young people from Thunder Bay will be attending this march as representatives from our region. Our prayers and thoughts go with them.

Thanksgiving Anniversary Mass at St. Anthony's and St. Dominic's

April 10th, 2012

Saint Anthony's Parish and Saint Dominic's Parish in Thunder Bay are each celebrating their 100th Anniversary this June. St. Anthony's parish will have a special thanksgiving anniversary Mass on Sunday June 2, 2012 at 5 pm. and St. Dominic's will have a special thanksgiving anniversary Mass on Saturday June 9, 2012 at 4 pm. We congratulate both parish communities and pray for their continued growth and success.

Divine Mercy Feast

April 2nd, 2012

The 2nd Annual Diocesan Celebration of the Feast of Divine Mercy will take place at St. Mary Our Lady Queen of Poland Parish on Sunday April 15, 2012 at 2:15 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.  Click here to download poster.

Mass of Chrism

March 12th, 2012

The Diocesan Mass of Chrism will take place on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at St. Patrick's Cathedral at 7pm.  The Mass includes the blessing of the holy oils used for the sacraments and the renewal of priestly ministry by the priests of the diocese with Bishop Colli.  Everyone is welcome to this important diocesan Mass.  At the end of the Mass, the blessed oils will be distributed to all the parishes and institutions where they will be used for sacramental celebrations in the upcoming year.

Diocesan 60th Anniversary

March 12th, 2012

The Diocese of Thunder Bay will be celebrating its 60th Anniversary on Sunday September 16, 2012 with a special Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Thunder Bay at 2 pm.  The main celebrant of the Mass will be Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada.  We are honoured to have the Archbishop with us for this important anniversary.  A reception will follow the Mass in the Cathedral parish hall and a special dinner will be held that evening for our diocese to meet the archbishop.

Honouring Catholic Leadership

March 5th, 2012

On Monday February 27th, 2012 a special dinner was held in Thunder Bay at the Knights of Columbus hall honouring Mr. Joe Salini and Mrs. Marlene Pavletic.  Joe is the State Deputy of the Knights of Columbus for the province of Ontario and Marlene is the Provincial President of the Catholic Women's League of Canada.  It is rare that the leaders of these two important provincial organizations in our Church are in office and from the same diocese at the same time.  Bishop Colli gave a talk on the importance of Catholic Leadership in our Church Today and both Marlene and Joe were awarded a Diocesan Medallion of Appreciation by Bishop Colli.  We congratulate them both for their Catholic Leadership in our diocese and in the province of Ontario.

Cardinal Collins

February 22nd, 2012

The Diocese of Thunder Bay congratulates Archbishop Thomas Collins of Toronto on his recent elevation to the order of Cardinal in the Catholic Church.  A special Mass of thanksgiving will be held in Toronto on February 29, 2012 for Cardinal Collins at St. Michael's Cathedral.  Bishop Colli will attend and brings greetings from our diocese.

Lenten Penitential Services

February 22nd, 2012

Two major penitential services will be help in Thunder Bay for the parishes in the city during the Holy Season of Lent. The first will be at Corpus Christi parish on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 7:30 pm. The second will be at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 7 pm. Many priests will be available for individual confessions at these two major services to assist us to prepare for Easter by sharing in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Everyone is invited to attend.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Prayer Service

February 22nd, 2012

The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a special prayer service in honour of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the parishes in our diocese. Grand Knights are contacting their local pastors for a time when they can share in this prayer service in their parish in front of a special image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. All parishes and parishioners are invited to share in this special prayer endeavour as we pray for peace, for the protection of life and for the Church.

New Diocesan Coordinator for RCIA

February 22nd, 2012

Bishop Colli has accepted the resignation of June Gaw who generously served as the Diocesan Coordinator for RCIA since 1991. We thank June for her good leadership and for her great help in making RCIA an important ministry in our diocese.

Judy Stankus of St. Patricks Cathedral parish has accepted to be our new Diocesan Coordinator for RCIA. We welcome Judy and pledge to her our support and cooperation.