Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24th, 2019
Mass at 3:00pm – Contemporary Choir, Piano, guitar, violin and clarinet
Mass at 4:30pm – Cantor, piano, flute
Mass at 6:00pm – Children’s Choir, piano, trumpet
Carols and Christmas Music at 10:00pm
Mass at 10:30pm – Cantor, Traditional Choir, violin, cello, trumpet

Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25th, 2019
Mass at 9:00am – Cantor and piano
Mass at 11:00am – Cantor, organ

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Wednesday, January 1st, 2020
Mass at 9:00am – Cantor and organ

Note – there will be no 7:45am Mass on Wednesday, January 1,2020.

We are looking for volunteers to help in the following ways during the Masses held on Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning:

Families to bring up the Gifts at each Mass.

Volunteers to assist with Parking before the 3:00pm and 4:30pm Masses on Christmas Eve.

Volunteers to assist with ushering at each Mass.

If you or someone you know has interest in helping, please click here to sign-up on-line or contact Liz Connelly at (203) 245-7301 ext.104 or liz.connelly@stmargaretchurch.com

The children of our parish thought about that “Keeping Christ in Christmas” meant to them and illustrated their ideas in beautiful posters.

Congratulations to the following winners:

Grades 1 and 2 – Vivian Niziolek
Grades 3 and 4 – Matthew O’Malley
Grades 5 and 6 – Mia Abarca
Grades 7 and 8 – Norah Stotze

A big thank you to all the children who submitted posters. They are filling the walls of the church hall so go down and take a look!!!
Many thanks to Justin Murphy and the Knights of Columbus for sponsoring this inspiring contest.

Family Profiles will be available in the Church Hall after all Masses on the weekend of December 7th and 8th

This program has been a part of the fabric of our parish for the past 25 years. This gift sharing with those less fortunate celebrates the Epiphany of the Three Kings, which in the Hispanic culture is the focal point of the Nativity celebration.

Please help to continue this tradition!

Contact Michael and Connie Piccione at 203-245-3622 ormikepiccione1@gmail.com

The Tuesday Afternoon Book Group will take a brief hiatus until after the holidays. When we resume meeting, our book selection is River of Fire, My Spiritual Journey, by Sister Helen Prejean. It is the autobiography of Sister Helen from the time she entered the convent until the time she became an activist nun. She is the author of “Dead Men Walking” which became a famous book and movie.

Questions , please contact Elinor Parisi at pppar@comcast.net or 203-421-5502

As we approach the busy season of Advent and Christmas, it is a perfect time to recruit and train new Altar Servers (4th grade and up). Please encourage your child to help in this important part of our faith. It is a special blessing to have your child learn the duties of serving at Mass.

If your child is interested in becoming an Altar Server, please contact Liz Connelly at liz.connelly@stmargaretchurch.com and we can make arrangements for training at a time that is convenient.

Come join us for three nights for something a little different: part theological reflection and part workshop. Over the three sessions, we will gather together and learn the ancient Christian practice of praying with the heart. Each session is self-contained for those who can only attend one of them but for those who can attend all three, we will deepen our understanding and skill each week.

1. Session 1: Wednesday, December 4th at 7PM -8:30 PM: “Awakening the Heart”
Explore what the heart is. Learn how it connects to knowing the world, connects to praying, and how it has the added benefit of reducing stress and calming anxiety. Learn why the heart is the central focus for Advent.

2. Session 2: Wednesday, December 11th at 7 PM – 8:30 PM: “Navigating the Heart”
Learn how to navigate the heart. Using passages from scripture and theological reflection, learn how God is uniquely calling to you now no matter the circumstances of your life.

3. Session 3: Wednesday, December 18th at 7 PM- 8:30 PM: “Resting in the Heart”
Discover the connection of darkness, knowing with the heart, and the Incarnation of Christ. ~Taize Chant and Worship will be a part of this session. ~

All parishioners are invited to participate in this annual ESCA Fundraiser.Get all your Christmas greenery in one place!!

Click here to learn more

Click here to print out a pre-order form

All pre-orders returned by Monday November 25th will receive a 10% discount, and will be ready for pick up on Sunday December 1st, after noon, at the tree site.

Poinsettias will only be available through pre-orders. All Poinsettias must be pre-paid and picked up on Saturday December 6th at the tree site. The Pre-order form entitles you to 10% off the your total order. If prepaying,

Please make checks payable to East Shoreline Catholic Academy.

Contact Kyle Habiniak 203-623-2438 with questions.

Pink and Blue hearts with names and ages of boys and girls will decorate the tree. The Little Miracles Team would be grateful if members of the St. Margaret Parish Family would donate gift cards so that moms can purchase gifts for their children for Christmas.

Suggested place is Walmart. We ask that after purchasing the gift cars parishioners can return the heart and gift card and place them in the marked boxes that will be located at the exit doors of the Church.
Thanks you for your generosity.

For questions, please contact Maria Prete at 203.245-7172 or Maureen Fuest at 203 245-7607.

Join us for an Information Meeting to learn more about this new ministry for our parish.
Thursday, December 12th at 10:00am on the second floor of the Parish Center.
To register or for more information, please contact Jane Ash at 203.488-7015 or visit their web-site at walkingwithpurpose.com

No problem! On the weekend of December 21st & 22nd after all Masses, the Women’s Fellowship is holding its annual Just in the Nick of Time Bake Sale. Goodies made to Mrs. Klaus’s recipes by our very special elves will be for sale after every mass.

Join the Archdiocese of Hartford on its
Pro-Life Pilgrimage to Washington D.C. for the 2020 March for Life.

The cost for bus and breakfast at the hotel is $115 per person. Also included:Mass with Archbishop Leonard P. Blair and Breakfast speaker Dr. Monique Ruberu, Ob/Gyn.

For more information on how to register and a detailed schedule of the pilgrimage, please visit www.prolifeministry.org

If you are interested in playing the hand chimes (bells) at the 6:00 PM Mass on Christmas eve, please contact the Music Director, Elizabeth Stone for more information. While it is helpful to read music, it is not necessary. Children in grades 4 and above, as well as adults are invited to participate. This is a wonderful family activity.

Kindly remember the homeless and the needy when you are vacationing. Single item soaps, shampoos and lotions which we each collect at hotels and inns are greatly appreciated by those less fortunate. Please bring them to the church and leave them in the basket in the room located to the left when you enter the main entry to the church on Academy Street. Any extra toiletry items that you might have at home or would be willing to purchase would be wonderful too. Thank you!

All parishioners are welcome to join us downstairs in the Church Hall!

Volunteers willing to provide homemade baked goods, fresh fruit or veggies are always needed and appreciated. Please click here to sign-up to help.

Please contact Valerie Zajac at toastersmom@gmail.com if you are able to help.

If you enjoy singing, please join us. New members are always welcome!

Contemporary Choir – The Contemporary Choir sings at the 9:30 am Mass on Sunday, Rehearsals are on Thursdays at 7:30 pm in the church. In addition to singers, the choir invites instrumentalists (guitar, percussion, flute, etc. to join them).

Traditional Choir – This choir sings at the 11:00 a.m. Mass on Sundays. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays at 7:30 pm in the church.

Cantors – The cantors sing the responsorial psalm and lead the parish in singing the hymns and Mass parts. It is not necessary to sing every week. Training and rehearsal time is provided. A brief meeting and audition is required.

Instrumentalists – We invite instrumentalists to play at weekend Masses. High School age musicians are encouraged to share their talent with the Parish as their schedule allows.

For more information, please contact
Beth Stone, the music director at (203) 245-7301, extension 110 or at Elizabeth.Stone@StMargaretchurch.com

The evening bible study group has weekly meetings from September – June which include a Hebrew scripture reading, a song to fit the theme or day, and a prayer session.

Members choose a book in the Bible to study, and follow prepared discussion points.

New members are always welcome.

Contact Alan Steines 203-421-4989 or sasteines@hotmail.com

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.

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, September 4th 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.

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

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

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 address and phone number.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

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

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