Saint Margaret Mary Church Irondequoit

1929: On June 14, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bishop John Francis O’Hern asked Fr. Charles Bruton to start a new parish. The church was named St. Margaret Mary, after the 17th –century nun who spread the devotion to the Sacred Heart. The first parish meeting was held with 176 parishioners on August 30, and the first Mass was celebrated in a chapel-like frame structure on September 15. During the fall of 1929, the average Sunday attendance was 487 adults.

1930: Saint Margaret Mary School was built in June. The Sisters of Saint Francis taught 142 pupils that year.

1944: The parish became debt-free due to generous sacrifices by parishioners, and funds raised through block parties and bingo.

1947: The school was enlarged with new wing of classrooms on the west side. On the Feast of St. Margaret Mary, ground was broken for a new church and rectory

1949: The clerical staff moved into the rectory in September. The first Mass was celebrated in the not-quite completed church at Midnight, December 25, with 1616 adults present.

1956: Father Bruton died in April. Msgr. Maynard A. Connell, rector of St. Andrew’s Seminary, was appointed pastor, effective July 1, 1956. During his administration, the debt for construction and improvements to the church and school buildings was eliminated.

1957: The east side of the school was enlarged with classrooms, meeting rooms and a cafeteria to accommodate almost 900 pupils.

1968. Msgr. Connell announced his resignation due to failing health. He was replaced by Msgr. Joseph L. Hogan, then Rector of Becket Hall. Under Msgr. Hogan, the religious education program for children attending public schools was developed.

1969: Msgr. Hogan became the Bishop of Rochester in November. Rev. Raymond G. Heisel, then pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Webster, became pastor in December.

1975. The We Care Mission was undertaken by more than 80 teams, who visited over 1500 parish homes to surface the spiritual, personal, and economic needs of parishioners.

1977. Hand-in-Hand was introduced as an on-going project of cooperation between the parishioners of Holy Redeemer Church in the city of Rochester and St. Margaret Mary’s.

1978. Fr. Heisel resigned his pastorate for reasons of health. He was replaced in June by Rev. Robert G. Smith, then pastor of St. Januarius Church in Naples, NY. During Fr. Smith’s administration, the parish completed the planning for the diocesan Stewardship program. An elected School Board replaced the Catholic School Committee of the Parish Council.

1982. St. Margaret Mary’s sponsored a Cambodian Refugee family. The parish provided a rent subsidy as well as general support as they learned English, adjusted to their new way of life, received their education and attained independence.

1984: Fr. Smith was transferred to St. Mary Magdalene in Wolcott. Fr. Michael F. Conboy, who was an assistant at St. Margaret Mary’s under Msgr. Hogan and was serving as a pastor in Seneca Falls, was named pastor. Under Fr. Conboy’s pastorate, the school building was upgraded, the church refurbished and the organ replaced. The Outreach program was started to serve the needs of the elderly and homebound.

1991: Fr. Conboy was transferred to St. Joseph’s Church in Penfield, NY. Rev. John Quinn was named the new pastor. A directory of parishioners was published

1998: Rev. Peter Bayer, chaplain at St. Ann’s Community, was named pastor. Due to health reasons, he requested a transfer back to St. Ann’s in 1999. Fr. Robert Hammond was then named pastor. The parish focused its attention on involving its young people in a fuller capacity and entered into joint planning activities with other parishes in its region. In 2000, Nancy DeRycke was named Temporary Pastoral Administrator.

2003: Under Rev. Timothy E. Horan, former pastor of St. Andrew and St. Philip Neri parishes, St. Margaret Mary’s continues to look to the future with hope, as it continues to grow in faith to the Father through the example of the Son under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.