All proceeds and donations fund our parish youth group, SMYLE, on their mission trip to Brooklyn this summer. Please bless our parish youth with your generosity.

Walking with Purpose is a parish based Bible study ministry for adult women who desire to grow in their Catholic Faith and are seeking connections with like minded women. It is for women of all ages who ask themselves, “Isn’t there more to life than this?”. Women of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome.

A six week program will begin here at St. Margaret on Thursday, February 27th through Thursday, April 2nd during Lent. Each week there will be a day time session at 1PM and an evening session at 7PM. Each session will be held here at St. Margaret Parish Center.

Click here for more information about Walking with Purpose.

To register for the 6 week session here at St. Margaret, contact Maureen Fuest at 203 245-7607, moefuest@aol.comor Jane Ash 203 488-7015 or Jan O’Reilly at 1 201 370-5635.

Reservations need to be made by February 24th.

We often hear about Jesus’ Passion and death in the Gospels, the Rosary, the Mass, the Stations of the Cross, and many other devotions. Because we hear about Christ’s Passion so often, it’s easy for us to lose sight of its profound significance. But imagine if you had never heard these stories before. Imagine experiencing them for the very first time and realizing that Jesus is a real person who really suffered and died for you and for me so that we can have eternal life.

Beginning on Monday March 16th and running through Monday, April 13th, we will meet at 7:00pm in the Church Hall to first view a 30-minute video clip from No Greater Love followed by about 30 minutes of informal guided discussion facilitated by Cossette Heimann. No books or supplies needed, simply attend when you can.

Filmed on location in the Holy Land, No Greater Love is a five-part video series that reveals Christ’s amazing love for us. Best-selling author Edward Sri guides you through the last hours of Christ’s life in this biblical pilgrimage.

Viewers can discover:
• The Biblical background to each scene in Christ’s passion.
• What was Jesus going through at each moment?
• How did the Old Testament foretell of Christ’s death?
• Why did Christ die for us? What did it accomplish?
• What was the meaning behind of the tearing of the temple veil, the crowning with thorns, and other events during Christ’s Passion?

We hope you will join us for one or more of these evenings to help form a deeper understanding and appreciation of God’s immeasurable and unconditional love.
Questions, please contact Liz Connelly at liz.connelly@stmargaretchurch.com

Tired of winter and longing for spring? St. Margaret’s Women’s Fellowship invites you to an evening of beauty and inspiration on Wednesday, March 11 at 7 PM in the Church Hall. Eric and Sandi Manna of M & M Garden Designs in Killingworth will present a visual tour of ideas and possibilities for gardens and landscapes big and small. With years of experience, they will answer questions and suggest solutions for your vexing gardening challenges. This event is free. Call Pat Walsh (203-512-7900) or Maureen Fuest (203-245-7607) to reserve your seat.

We are currently preparing the ministry schedules for all special Masses on Ash Wednesday (2/26) and during Lent and Easter (4/12).

If possible, we are asking that everyone please select 2 Masses that you may be available to serve at for Easter. You will only be assigned to one Mass, but this will allow us to better ensure that we have coverage for each of the Masses. Your help is greatly appreciated !

Please click here to complete and submit your Availability Form

• A link to this availability form is also on the parish web-site under “Forms and Ministry Schedule”
• Paper copies of the Availability Form are available per request.
• All availability forms are due by Monday, February 17th.
• Based on the feedback received in these forms, the Ministry Schedule for Lent/Easter 2019 will be created and available to be reviewed on Thursday, February 20th.

Please contact Liz Connelly with any questions.

Tickets are $30 each and will be on sale in the Church Hall after all Masses beginning February 29th and March 1st. Proceeds from the event help fund the Knights’ annual scholarship program with remaining proceeds donated to local area charities and St. Margaret ministries.

East Shoreline Catholic Academy recently appeared on "WTNH Channel 8 What’s Right with Schools . Channel 8 News visited ESCA’S Mrs. Hartmann and her third grade class to ex-experience how the children are learning about electricity and to see them making special cards for children in the hospital to cheer them up.

The Tuesday Afternoon Book Group meets each Tuesday at 2:00 pm in the Parish Library. Currently, we are discussing River of Fire, My Spiritual Journey by Sister Helen Prejean. Sister Helen is the author of the best-selling, “Dead Men Walking” which was also made into a film.
For information please contact Elinor Parisi at (203)421-5502 or pppar@comcast.net

We are currently looking for a few volunteers to help put together “welcome baskets” which can be presented to our young families at the baptism of their child. Items within the basket would be geared towards congratulating the family on this special occasion, welcoming the child into our Catholic Faith and providing the family with helpful resources both from within our parish and local community that will assist them in raising their child in our Catholic Faith.

For more information, please contact Liz Connelly at liz.connelly@stmargaretchurch.com

Parishioners who wish to receive a summary of their contributions made to St. Margaret Church for the 2019 year, are asked to click here to complete the attached 2019 Tax Request Form drop it off or mail to the parish office located at 39 Academy Street, Madison, CT.
Paper copies of this form are available in the weekly bulletin.

All SMYLE members are invited to participate. For more information please click here.
Questions, please email Jen Papa at jenniferarcherpapa@gmail.com or call Sean McAuley at 203 848 9420.

We invite anyone who feels that God is calling you to help proclaim the scripture at weekend or daily Mass to contact either Liz Connelly at 203 245-7301, ext. 104 or Maureen Fuest at 203 245-7607. Training will be provided.

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.

We are in need of Eucharistic Ministers to administer Holy Communion to the residents at Madison House and Watrous Nursing Center on Sundays, once or twice a month.
Please contact Liz Connelly if you are able to help.

The season fundraiser, to be held at Madison’s Deacon John Grave House, will also feature a nightly silent auction.

The evening features 18 singers, with a combo of musicians, performing some of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most famous songs from his hit musicals, including Cats, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard and many others.
madisonlyricstage.org and 203-215-6329

If you are suffering from an abortion, experience the healing love of Jesus Christ on a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat weekend March 20 – 22, 2020 in Litchfield, CT.

The weekend healing process includes discussions, Living Scriptures with meditations, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a Memorial Service and Mass of Entrustment. Participation is totally confidential and offers a beautiful opportunity to experience God’s love, forgiveness and compassion. Both women and men have participated in past retreats and have ranged in age from teens to mid-eighties.

The fee for the weekend is $175.00 for meals, private room and all retreat materials. Scholarships are available for financial assistance.

For more information contact Marie at 203-631-9030, or email her at “laffin@prolifeministry.org”mailto:laffin@prolifeministry.org, or visit our website at rachel’svinyard.org

Open to all women from Saint Margaret and Saint George Parishes. This year’s theme is “How Can I Keep from Singing”and is inspired by an old American hymn: How Can I Keep from Singing? This hymn and our retreat are all about perspective.  During our retreat we will discover how to hear “that music” ringing in our own souls and also in our world, by learning how to listen deeply to this love-song of the Spirit, that is forever calling us and teaching our hearts to sing.

The offering for our women’s weekends is $275.

Register by clicking here to complete the Registration form or call (860) 677-8519.

For more information, please
contact Maureen Fuest at 203 245-7607.

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