Sacraments

Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is conferred upon children on the basis of the faith of the parents and their commitment to provide for nurturing the child in the faith that they profess. For this reason, it is important that parents understand fully what they are undertaking and that they accept the responsibilities with the solemn intent to fulfill their roles as Christian parents.

Baptisms are held on the third Sunday of each month. Please contact the parish office for the next available date.

Reconciliation

Confessions are heard every Saturday at 4:15pm in the church or by appointment during the week.

First Reconciliation is held each year for students who have been enrolled in Faith Formation classes. For more information, please contact our Faith Formation for grades 1-8 Coordinators, Nancy Hoban and Chris McSweeney at religious.education@stmargaretchurch.com

Holy Eucharist

First Communion is held each year for candidates in grade 3 who have been enrolled in Faith Formation classes.

For more information about Faith Formation for students in grades 1-8, please contact the program coordinators, Nancy Hoban and Chris McSweeney at religious.education@stmargaretchurch.com

Confirmation

Confirmation at St. Margaret Parish is held each year for high school students who have completed a two-year Confirmation program. Typically, candidates enter the first year of Confirmation preparation in the Ninth Grade, and are confirmed near the end of Tenth Grade.

For more information about PLACE: St. Margaret Confirmation Program, please click on the attached link or contact the program coordinators, Ed and Joanne Arrandale at confirmation@stmargaretchurch.com

Matrimony

Now more than ever this is a courageous decision, and it is a great testimony to your faith in each other that you believe that your love can in fact “hope all things and endure all things.” Our Catholic faith teaches us that marriage is essentially a lifelong commitment to love each other “just as Christ has loved each one of us.” Most recently Pope John Paul II defined marriage as “a school of love” wherein we go through each other’s hearts to the very heart of God.

Please Note: Either the Bride or the Groom must have an affiliation with St. Margaret Church in order to schedule a wedding date.

Weddings can be scheduled at St. Margaret Church on Fridays and Saturdays. Wedding dates will not be scheduled without first securing proper documentation and ascertaining that the bride and groom are “free to marry” in the Catholic Church.

Please contact the parish office at least 6 months prior to your desired wedding date for more information and to begin the process.

Anointing of the Sick

The Anointing of the Sick is an important sacrament in our Catholic tradition that helps to provide strength to those who are tried by illness. As stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the “Anointing of the Sick ‘is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived.’” Please consider requesting the sacrament for yourself or a family member under any of the following circumstances, rather than waiting until death is imminent:
• Anyone with serious illness from sickness or old age
• Anyone with serious mental or emotional illness, who would be strengthened by the sacrament
• Elderly persons who are notably weakened even without serious illness
• A sick person before surgery whenever a serious illness is the reason for surgery

Anointing of the Sick is not necessarily a one-time sacrament. The sacrament can be repeated whenever a seriously ill person falls again into grave illness or whenever a more serious condition occurs.

The Anointing of the Sick can provide strength in a special way when the person is still in a position to respond to the prayers.

For individual reception of the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, please contact the parish office at (203) 245-7301.

 Funerals

Funeral Planning Guide

Music Suggestions for Funerals

If you are trying to reach the church to schedule a funeral when the office is closed for the weekend, please email Amelia Rivera at amelia.rivera@stmargaretchurch.com. She will then be able to check potential dates and times for you in a more timely manner than if you leave a voicemail.

For all other inquiries, please contact the parish office at (203) 245-7301 for further information and to begin the process of scheduling one of the above sacraments.