Brother Bartholomew Maria Calvano of the Dominican Order will give a presentation entitled “WHAT IS HAPPINESS, AND HOW TO FIND IT?” Br. Bart is a former CAMPUS MINISTER AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, and entered the Dominican order in 2015. The session will address the question “DOES GOD REALLY EXIST?” and will be preceded by a PIZZA DINNER for all participants.

Please RSVP to Dr. Charles Wira at charles.wira@yale.edu or text 203-435-7329.

Students are WELCOMED TO BRING family or friends in this age range from outside our Parish too. If you forget to RSVP, then still come!

We look forward to an exciting session!!

The Knights of Columbus and St. Margaret Women’s Fellowship would like to congratulate this year’s annual scholarship recipients! Scholarships are awarded to students attending college, trade school, and parochial high school. Pictured above with Mark LoStocco (KofC), Fr. Dan and Rita Gould (SMWF) are this year’s recipients: Joseph Marotta, Gabriella Wira, Patrick Fahey, Bridget Phillips, Matthew McSweeney, and Benjamin Buzzeo. Not pictured are: Brittany Bakula, Joseph Stark and Charles Cohen, who were the recipients of the St. Joseph The Worker award for students entering trade school. Congratulations to this year’s recipients, and to all the recent graduates from our Parish!

Welcome to St. Margaret Religious Education on-line Registration! Registration for the 2019-20 school year is now open!!

Please click the appropriate link below to register your child/children:

Pre-K & K: Sunday School Program Registration

Gr 1-Gr 8: Religious Education Program Registration

Gr 9: Confirmation Program Registration

Gr 10: Confirmation Program Registration

Any questions, please contact the Religious Education Office:
religious.education@stmargaretchurch.com or 203.245.7301 ext. 115.

Msgr John served faithfully at Saint Margaret Parish for over 12 years. He was a very quiet and compassionate priest who helped so many people during his time here.
His family will be very appreciative of St. Margaret’s for remembering him in prayer.

Everyone is invited to attend.

Anyone wishing to help with the reception is asked to call Ann Aungst at 203. 245.9459 or Maureen Fuest at 203.256.7607.

Applications are now being accepted for the St. Margaret Knights of Columbus 17th Annual Craft Show, Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9 in the Church Hall.

Handmade items only, no direct sales.

For an application, please contact Linda at 203-421-5082 or linsul@comcast.net

Together as a parish family we give thanks to Monica Monica Piombino for her 23 years of dedicated service to the youth of our parish as director of Confirmation and coordinator of the SMYLE Youth Group. She will be greatly missed as she begins her new role as coordinator of Faith Formation at St. Josephine Parish in Rocky Hill. Please pray for her, her new ministry, and for the many young lives she will have the opportunity to work with in her future role.

I would like to thank all of the parishioners at St. Margaret Church, young and old alike, for supporting me in my ministry and being such a gift to me over these past 23 years. At this point in my life, I have chosen to take an opportunity offered to me to begin a new ministry as Director of Faith Formation at St. Josephine Bakhita Parish in Rocky Hill, CT. beginning in July. This will be an exciting challenge and I believe I will be able to share the knowledge that I have gained through the years serving as Confirmation director and Youth Ministry coordinator to continue the Lord’s work in this new place. I have learned so much from all of you and you have blessed my life in so many ways. Please continue to pray for me as I will for you as we continue on our faith journey. God Bless!

I want to express my most grateful thanks to everyone who made the 30th anniversary of my ordination to the Diaconate a very special memory. Father Dan’s kind words touched me deeply. His offer to preach on the Solemnity of Pentecost allowed me to reflect on the actions of the Holy Spirit in my life as a husband, as a father and as a deacon. Thanks to all who prepared the reception and baked all those delicious treats. Thanks to everyone who offered such wonderful words of appreciation and congratulations. The parish gifts of the beautiful plant basket and the gift certificate to the Gelston House at Goodspeed added to the joys of the day. On Monday, the actual anniversary day, we went to Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph where I was ordained by Archbishop Whealon. During the Mass I prayed for everyone’s intentions.
I am most thankful that God has placed me here at Saint Margaret Church where I am able to be of service to you through my ministry. May God’s blessings and peace be with you always. Deacon Adam

The St. Margaret Afternoon Book Group will begin it’s somewhat “light” summer reading
with Between Heaven and Mirth written by James Martin S.J. It’s subtitle is: Why Joy, Humor,and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life. It is a book filled with joy and wisdom and the occasional joke because, as Father Martin writes, “Jesus loved to laugh and tease people as reflected in his parables.”

The Book Group meets for discussion and fellowship on Tuesday afternoons at 2:00 in the Parish Library.

For information please contact Elinor at 203-421-5502

The Contemporary Choir sings at the 9:30 am Mass on Sundays and will continue to sing throughout the summer. We invite new members to join us for the summer,
for a few Sundays, or even just one time to see what singing with the choir is like.

There is a short rehearsal at 9:00 am before the Mass, and the list of music can be emailed to interested singers ahead of time so that they can listen to the music online before singing on Sunday.

Please contact Elizabeth Stone , the music director if you are interested in joining, or if you have any questions. You can also just come on Sunday at 9:00 am.

We are happy to announce that we have joined with the parish staff and volunteers at St. George Church in Guilford to provide an inter parish VBS program to our young parishioners. Together our two parishes offer a wealth of experience and volunteer enthusiasm which will make for an even better faith and fun filled week!!

When: Monday, July 22nd – Friday, July 26th: 9:00am to 12 Noon
Where: on the grounds of St. George Church in Guilford.
Suggested Fees are as follows: 1 child- $20 2 children-$35 3+ children- $40

Open to all children age 3 (by June 2019) to grade 6

Volunteers in grades 7 and up are welcome to help.

Please click on the links below to register and/or to sign up as a volunteer:

VBS Camper Registration Form

VBS Volunteer Sign-up Form

For more information, please call Liz Connelly at 203.245.7301 ex 104

Please click here to view the Ministry Schedule May-August 2019
Questions, please contact Liz Connelly at liz.connelly@stmargaretchurch.com

This historic play only takes place once every ten years and trips are booking up fast. Join us as we tour Germany, Switzerland and Austria on this all-inclusive pilgrimage.

For more information please contact Fr. Joe Keough at 860-229-4851.

Have we got a deal for you! It won’t cost you a penny, you don’t have to attend any meetings or make any phone calls. Your rewards will be priceless. Lent is the perfect time for you to give this a trial run. Leave the world outside the church doors and sit one hour with our Lord Jesus, exposed in the Blessed Sacrament.

We have had many faithful adorers over the ten years we have been offering adoration. Unfortunately, for many different reasons, we have lost many of those faithful. But every one would tell you the same thing, that was the best hour of their week.

If you would like to have a closer relationship with Jesus, please consider any hour that will fit your schedule,it is very open. This is something you do for YOU.

Of the 2000+ families in our parish, we currently have less than 50 people who attend adoration on a regular basis. Please, help us change that number, and in the process, feel the peace you can only experience by knowing Jesus in this way Try it for Lent.

For more information, contact Andrea Puglia at drea1827@yahoo.com" or 203-245-0381.

As Catholics in the Archdiocese of Hartford we have a profound impact on our local communities not only in the spiritual realm, but intimately connected to it, the realm of social services and many charities and outreach services performed by, or with help from, our Church.

For the third year in a row, in 2018, the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal Vicariate Outreach Program provided over $1,000,000 to over 200 local organizations in Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties. Organizations such as Young Neighbors In Action as well as the Wellness Program right here in our own town received funding from the Appeal’s Vicariate Outreach Program, that makes a difference in serving our neighbors.

All funds contributed to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal are used exclusively for the purposes outlined in the Appeal literature, which can be found archdioceseofhartford.org/aaa-
No Appeal funds are ever used for legal fees or settlements.

We have raised $928,480.34 so far for the Forward with Faith Campaign. This puts us at our stated goal. Thank you to all who have generously contributed towards this goal.

If you have not done so already, please still consider making a donation to the Forward with Faith campaign. Now that we have reached our stated goal, 80% of all monies raised will go directly to St. Margaret parish.

Please click here for additional information about the Forward with Faith campaign

Are you taking care of an elderly parent, a spouse, a child or someone else? Come join the Caregiver Spiritual Group for prayer and support. Meetings are at Saint Mary Church, Branford in the Parish Center. Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 9th from 6:30 – 8:00 PM. For more information please contact Deacon Adam Michaele at (203) 530-4466 or Rose Michaele at (203) 815-3716.

The Ministry for Wellness is a spiritual based support group. All are welcome including caregivers. The group meets at St. George Church on the green, in Guilford, 33 Whitfield Street in the Deacon Ruiz Center adjacent to the rectory from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The meeting dates for this month are: January 13th and January 27th

For further information contact Deacon Adam Michaele at (203) 530-4466 or Rose Michaele at (203) 815-3716.

Please click on the links below to see a written copy or video of the Archbishop’s statement:

Letter from Archbishop Blair regarding Clerical Sexual Abuse

Video of Archbishop Blair’s Statement

We are looking for individuals who can help to continue the good work of this ministry by helping to serve and make baked goods for our weekly coffee and gathering after the 9:30am Mass. “Coffee And” runs from September through June of each year. Please consider being part of this wonderful Ministry.

For more information, please contact Valerie Engler at toastermom@gmail.com

Helping Hands is a volunteer-driven ministry led by Justin Murphy, a parishioner and member of the Knights of Columbus. This ministry provides free services to our local neighbors in need. Yard clean-up, snow removal, dump runs and other minor carpentry work (even simply changing a light bulb) to help keep your home safe and comfortable. Last minute errands and/or transportation to appointments will also be considered based on availability and distance. No job is too small.
Contact Justin Murphy at HelpingHandsCT@outlook.com , or call 203-952-8752

Eucharistic Adoration is offered every first and third Thursday of the month immediately following the 7:45 AM Mass, and ending after Benediction at 7:00 PM. Why not make the commitment to spend one hour with Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament. Choose an hour that will fit your schedule. To sign up, or for more information, contact Andrea Puglia at 203-245-0381 or email drea1827@yahoo.com.

Through the outreach program at Dynamic Catholic, St. Margaret is now a member of the Dynamic Catholic Family. As a member, our Parish Champions will distribute to parishioners resources that will help us know, live, and grow in our faith. Limited number of books and CDs are received monthly and will be distributed after selected Masses. We encourage you to pass along the materials to family or friends once you’ve had a chance to read them. Additional copies are available at www.DynamicCatholic.com.

For more information or to help distribute these free resources, please contact Ed and Joanne Arrandale at 203-318-8590, jarrandale@comcast.net

Bernadette Niedermeier will be continuing the Parish Prayer Line allowing parishioners to share any news you would like prayed for confidentially by your brothers and sisters in Christ. This could include
a hospitalization, a long-term illness, unexpected news, or joyful celebrations.

To submit a request for prayers, please send your name, the prayer request, and any other pertinent information to Bernadette at 203-980-0570 or e-mail bcnmuse@hotmail.com.

Would you like to be part of our Prayer Ministry? All former members and those newly interested in becoming part of the prayer line please contact Bernadette Niedermeier at 203-980-0570 or e-mail bcnmuse@hotmail.com. Please provide your current e-mail and phone number.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

Please remember to stop in the Church Hall after Mass to purchase
your Grocery Cards.  Thanks so much for your participation, and please keep
these sales going.

The parish earns between 5 -10% (less credit card fees) of the cost of each grocery card purchased. For every $100.00 purchased, the church gets $5.00. This can add up very quickly based on the number of parishioners who get involved with this program.

Grocery Cards are available for purchase in the church hall after all Masses and in the Parish Office.

You can also pre-order your grocery cards on-line and they will be ready for quick pick-up after Mass or at the parish office

Click here to complete the
Grocery Card Pre-Order Form