Rev. James T Gaston

St. Margaret Mary Church in Lower Burrell will soon begin a yearlong celebration to commemorate it's 50th anniversary. The will begin yearlong celebration on Saturday, September 6. Bishop Anthony Bosco will be there as celebrant and homilist for the 5:00 p.m. liturgy. They are also inviting neighboring clergy to concelebrate with them.

Following the liturgy there will be an outdoor reception under tents (since facilities are under renovation). A letter will be going out to all parishioners to announce the calendar of events for the jubilee year. The 50th Anniversary Committee members are: Polly Caruso, John Kane, Lorraine Kuniak, Larry Murphy, Chuck Matocha, Bob Tatrn, George Ziringer, Bill Staniszewski, Sr. Joan Marie Keller, Fr. James Gaston.

(History of St. Margaret Mary Church-taken from website) The Church Is Built "In 1949, the Very Rev. F. J. Hertzog, Pastor of St. Joseph Church, New Kensington, PA, realized the potential growth of Lower and Upper Burrell Townships, and three acres of ground were purchased along Leechburg Road. This was the beginning vision of Saint Margaret Mary Parish. "On October 17, 1950, Bishop Hugh C. Boyle of Pittsburgh directed that a church be built and a parish organized. He also commissioned Father Joseph F. Sullivan, Assistant Pastor of St. Joseph Church, to begin the new mission parish. This date was the feast of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque and she became the patron saint of the parish named in her honor. "A church-school was built and the first Masses were offered for a parish of 250 families on September 6, 1953. Bishop Hugh Lamb, the first Bishop of Greensburg, granted full parish status to Saint Margaret Mary Church on June 29, 1955. Father Sullivan was also appointed first pastor, and because he lived at St. Joseph's rectory, New Kensington, a house at 201 Park Drive was purchased and converted to the parish rectory. "The parish was rapidly expanding and had grown to 600 families. In the spring of 1957 ground was broken for a new church. The first Masses were offered on August 15, 1957, the Feast of the Assumption. The original building was then converted into a four-room school. An existing home on Leechburg Road was purchased and remodeled into a convent to accommodate the Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden who staffed the school. In 1958 a second floor was added to the school, resulting in eight classrooms and a cafeteria to accommodate 315 students."

To find out more about the church and upcoming events, go to http://www.smm-parish.org/