VFW Post 92 Wildlife Lodge Rd Lower Burrell
Sunday September 21st
Outdoor mass at 11:00 am (no 11:00 mass at St. Margaret Mary)

Click here for a flyer with all of the information.

Click here to sign up electronically.

Come, deepen, and renew your faith this fall! 🙏✨
Join us Sunday, October 5 – Wednesday, October 8 at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Lower Burrell for a special Parish Mission with guest presenter Fr. Ron Simboli, retired priest of the Diocese of Greensburg.

🕖 Each evening begins at 6:45 PM with a 40-minute presentation, followed by fellowship and light refreshments. Whether you attend one night or all four, you’ll leave spiritually enriched.

This mission is for:
✨ Anyone seeking to begin a relationship with God
✨ Anyone wishing to return to their faith
✨ Anyone hoping to deepen their walk with Christ

💒 Daily Mass & Adoration will also be offered beginning Monday at 7:30 AM, followed by Eucharistic Adoration and opportunities for both private and public prayer.

No registration required — just come as you are. All are welcome!

Click here for a flyer with all of the information.

Click here to see a complete list of the basket donors and winners.

Many thanks to Mark and Marianne Thomas and Anna Mary Versace for their tireless efforts in coordinating the basket raffle and making it a successful part of our festival every year!

A special thank to all of our basket donors who without them our raffle would not be possible.

✨ Exciting News! ✨

Registration is now open for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion preparation! 🙏💖

Click here to fill out the NEW online form and get started on this beautiful faith journey:

🎶 Join the Music! 🎶

The SMM Music Ministry is calling all voices and musicians to share your God-given talents with our parish family.

✨ Adult Choir – Rehearsals start Sept. 3
✨ Youth Music Ministry – Rehearsals start Sept. 7

Whether you’re a seasoned singer or just love to participate through music, there’s a place for you! 🕊️🎵

📞 For details, contact Mary Murphy at the parish office.

Let’s make a joyful noise together! 🙌🎶

📢 Calling All Rising 8th Graders & High School Students!
Are you planning to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in Spring 2026? Preparation begins this fall — and we’re excited to walk with you on this journey of faith! 🙏✨

🗓️ Parent Info Meeting
📍 Saint Margaret Mary Parish
📆 Tuesday, August 26, 2025
🕕 6:00 PM
Come learn about registration, expectations, and how to get started!

🎉 Retreats – Choose One Date:
📅 Oct 4, 2025 | 📅 Oct 22, 2025 | 📅 Jan 17, 2026
❄️ Snow Day for Retreats: Tuesday, February 7th! ⛄
(Retreat sign-ups coming soon!)

📬 Questions? Contact Heather Hensley:
📧 hhensley@dioceseofgreensburg.org

Confirmation Registration Form
2025-2026 Confirmation Calendar

Wednesday, August 27
6:00 - 8:00 PM
ZONE 28
2525 Freeport Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15238

All youth in grades 6-12 are invited to join the LB-NKCC Youth Ministry for an awesome evening of fun and fellowship!

Two games of bowling, $10 arcade card, and one game of laser tag included. Fell free to bring extra money for food or more arcade credits.

RSVP to Heather Hensley at hhensley@dioceseofgreensburg.org

Sunday September 7th 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM
St. Margaret Mary Sullivan Room

Includes scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage links, ham slices, toast, coffee, hot tea, orange juice, and milk.

Adult Plate: $10
Child Plate: $5

THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS WERE OVERWHELMED BY THE SUPPORT OF OUR PREVIOUS PANCAKE BREAKFASTS AND WANT TO APOLOGIZE IF YOU WERE INCONVENIENCED BY THE WAIT TIMES. THE PROFITS FROM YOUR DONATION BENEFIT VOCATIONS, SCHOLARSHIPS, PRO-LIFE CAUSES AND FAMILIES,.

Breakfast done right when served by a Knight!

✨ Faith Formation Registration is Now Open!
We’re excited to begin a new year of Catholic Faith Formation and walk alongside your family in forming the next generation of faithful disciples!

📚 We offer several options for the 2025–2026 year:
– Traditional weekly classes (Grades K–5)
– Monthly Family Faith Nights for parents and children
– Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Ages 3–12, Montessori-based)
– Homeschool support with provided materials

📅 Programs begin mid-September at Mount St. Peter Church.

For more information click here to read this year’s welcome letter or click here to register.

✨ Is God calling you deeper? ✨
Are you or someone you know interested in becoming Catholic — or completing your journey in the faith?

Our Christian Initiation program is open to:
✝️ Non-Catholics who wish to explore the Catholic faith
✝️ Those who feel drawn to join the Catholic Church
✝️ Baptized Catholics who haven’t yet received First Eucharist or Confirmation

📅 Sessions begin August 17
📩 To learn more, contact Tim Ruflin, Regional Director of Faith Formation and Discipleship.

👧 For children (age 7+) who have not been baptized or received First Holy Communion, please reach out to Heather Hensley for our children’s program.

Come and see where God may be leading you.
All are welcome.

Attention middle & high schoolers—we’re back and better than ever! 🔥

📅 Middle School Youth Group (Grades 6-8) kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 17 and takes place every Wednesday unless announced otherwise.
🕡 6:30–8:00 PM at SMM
Bring your friends, your energy, and get ready for games, faith, and fun!

📅 High School Youth Group starts Sunday, Sept. 21
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM at SMM
We’ll meet one Sunday night a month—check out the full schedule for the 2025-2026 year here.

✨Mark your calendars. Invite your crew. Let’s make this year unforgettable. 🙌

For more information, or to register your child for youth ministry, contact Heather Hensley in the parish office.

Registration forms are available at here.

🌸 Mary’s Mantle – Faith & Fellowship for Young Women 🌸
Calling all women in their 20s–40s from Lower Burrell & New Kensington!
Join us for faith-filled conversation, community, and coffee at Mary’s Mantle, a new young adult ministry for women seeking deeper connection and purpose.

🗓️ Fall Meetups:
📅 Septmeber 13th, October 25th, November 8th
🕙 10:00–11:30 AM
📍 Peter’s Table Room, Mount Saint Peter Church

🥐 Bring a friend and a small brunch item to share!
📲 Questions? Call or text Brianna Ruflin at 973-856-4472

WaveCAST Assistive Listening Technology is now available at St. Margaret Mary.

Wave CAST allows parishioners to stream audio seamlessly to their own personal iOS or Android device or stream audio to a Williams AV dedicated receiver using Wi-Fi.  This helps to improve the listening experience, especially for those hard of hearing or using a hearing aid currently.

Printed copies of instructions on how to take advantage of this technology to improve your listening experience are available at the Welcome Desk.

You may also review the instructions here.

Please note that you may dowload and install the app on your phone from home but you will need to be in the church in order to connect to the WiFi network.

Tuesday Mornings
September 23 - November 18
11:00 AM
Room B-1 at SMM Church

Join us for an 8-week study on the Letter to the Hebrews. Journey with us as we seek to encounter God through His Word and come to a deeper appreciation of the generosity of God as we contemplate the wonders He has given His Church.

Sessions will be held in Room B-1 at Saint Margaret Mary Church on Tuesday mornings at 11:00am from September 23-November 18.

Please contact Tim Ruflin if you would like to purchase the study book for the program.

Wednesday Evenings
September 24-November 12
6:30 PM
St. Margaret Mary Church - Sullivan Hall

What is the deepest longing of the human heart? For what have I been created? What is this journey of life all about? Whether you are a lifelong Catholic or just starting out in the faith, these are questions that we have all wrestled with. The Search is a 7-week program that addresses the most fundamental questions of our faith. Join us as we seek to encounter the heart of the Gospel message.

Sessions will be held in Sullivan Hall at Saint Margaret Mary Church on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm from September 24-November 12.

Please contact Tim Ruflin with any questions.

Wednesday Afternoons
Starting September 24, 2025
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Room B-1 at SMM Church

The Yellow Banana School of Religion for senior adults is returning September 24!

The Church explains that senior adults are a "gift of God to the church and to society" and catechesis for them "takes into account the diversity of their personal, family, and social conditions. It pays particular attention to the maturity of their faith." [National Directory for Catechesis]. The title takes its name from the senator who passed legislation quickly because he was 75 and "does not  buy green bananas."

Sessions will be held in Room B-1 at Saint Margaret Mary Church on Wednesday afternoons from 12:00pm-1:00pm. No weekly commitment is required and topics will be chosen from a list by the participants.

Thursday Afternoons
October 2 - November 20
1:00 PM
Marble Hall at MSP Church

Join us on an 8-week journey through Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Pray along with Saint Paul as we unpack this letter’s central message - salvation. Come encounter the saving message of Christ and enter more meaningfully into your relationship with Jesus.

Sessions will be held in Marble Hall at Mount Saint Peter Church on Thursday afternoons at 1:00pm from October 2-November 20.

Please contact Tim Ruflin if you would like to purchase the study book for the program.

Attention rising and current high school students! Registration is open for next year’s conferences. You have the opportunity to experience Jesus in an exciting and wonderful way with your friends and peers at The National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Indianapolis on November 20-22, 2025. Don’t miss these fun filled retreats with games, speakers, friends and Jesus!

For more information or to learn how to register contact Heather Hensley at 724-335-2336.

As a way of imitating Jesus, perhaps we can all better recognize the importance of Lent as A Time to Share. Bishop Larry J. Kulick explains that acts of charity are central to the season that is upon us, and your support of the Diocesan Lenten Appeal is critical to the Mission of the Church!

Visit www.DioceseofGreensburg.org/DLA2025 to make a donation.

Watch the video located here to learn more about the campaign.

Every 25 years, the Universal Church proclaims a Jubilee Year to encourage the faithful to embark on pilgrimages, repent of their sins, forgive the sins of others and renew a focus on their spiritual lives. On Christmas Eve, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, will begin the 2025  Jubilee Year of Hope, “Pilgrims of Hope,” with the official Opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Click here to review the Jubilee 2025 events in the Diocese of Greensburg.

Click here to listen to the Jubilee 2025 hymn that we will begin using at St. Margaret Mary in the coming weeks.
Title is “Pilgrims of Hope”  Text:  Pierangelo Sequeri, tr. Andrew Wadsworth; Music: Francesco Meneghello

Click here to visit the Jubilee 2025 section of the Diocese of Greensburg website.

Click here to visit the New Kensington Catholic Community homepage for information regarding events happening at our neighbor parishes of St. Joseph, St. Mary of Czestochowa, and Mt. St. Peter.

Looking for an affordable education solution in the Alle-Kiski Valley? Private, Catholic education is available from preschool through high school at Mary Queen of Apostles School (MQA) in New Kensington and Saint Joseph High School (SJHS) in Natrona Heights.

Both schools are still enrolling students for this fall! If your child is in preschool to grade 8, consider enrolling them at MQA. For more information, contact Michelle Farrell at 724-339-4411 or visit the MQA website to learn more about an education focused on developing minds, building character, and strengthening faith.

SJHS offers a college preparatory education that encourages spiritual growth, academic excellence, and extracurricular participation. Many scholarships are available, making Catholic education even more affordable! Apply online at the SJHS website or contact the Admissions Office at 724-226-2819.