History of St. Margaret Mary

The first Mass celebrated in Winter Park was in the “Crane Cottage,” the winter residence of John H. LaMontaigne, a Rollins College professor. Priests from St. James continued to offer the Mass.

The ceremony of blessing and laying the foundation stone was held on October 17th, 1924, the Feast of St. Margaret Mary. The Spanish style building was completed in December 1924. The first Mass was celebrated December 28 with a formal opening on March 15, 1925.

The mission of St. Margaret Mary was canonically established as a parish on November 5, 1947.

The church was severely damaged by a fire on February 3, 1948 (the Feast of St. Blaise) and was closed for several months. It was officially reopened in a ceremony presided over by Auxiliary Bishop of St. Augustine, Bishop Thomas McDonough on January 9, 1949.

Houses on the block of Park, Canton, Knowles, and Swoop Avenues were purchased to build a school. Until it was built classes were held in the new “L” shaped church wing and some of the purchased homes. 262 children made up the initial enrollment. The Sisters of Christian Charity of Mendham, NJ arrived to teach at the school.

Third grade school children spearheaded a grocery collection to give “treats” to their teachers as a Halloween surprise. 1960.

The house at 500 Knowles Avenue was purchased for use as a convent for the Sisters.

The last service in the original church was held in October 1969 and on November 2, 1969, the new church was dedicated by Bishop William D. Borders.

In February Msgr. Wells commissioned leaders in a Neighborhood Apostolate tailored to the goals of the parish: to coordinate needs of parishioners, form communities of concerned and prayerful Christian people, foster spiritual growth through prayer meetings and discussion groups, to be ecumenical.

St. Margaret Mary responded to the call of Catholic Social Services for helping refugees from Vietnam to resettle to central Florida. "The offer of sponsorship from St. Margaret Mary Parish in Winter Park was one of the first four offers of sponsorship <we received.>”

Sister Pat O’Malley and Ruth Bliss spearhead the establishment of a Thanksgiving/Christmas store to assist families with dignity and respect.

Renovations were made to the school to include a media center, library, computer classroom and administrative offices.

St. Margaret Mary built its first Habitat for Humanity home for the Eugene and Cheryl Farley family, the beginning of many years of involvement.

Renovations were made to the Parish Hall to add a new upper-level addition for classrooms to accommodate the school’s 120 seventh and eighth grade students.

Scripture study classes begin with Father Walsh facilitating studies for men, Sister Rosemary Finnegan facilitating studies for women, and Father Michael Giglio facilitating for a combined group.

The parish is recognized in a national study as “outstanding” for its participative, well-planned liturgies directed by a dedicated team, Scripture classes, lecture series, programs for seniors, and the Family, Friends & Chicken Soup program, which provides meals and rides to those in need. "I suppose it's nice to be recognized, but what we do here is not for recognition," said Father Richard Walsh. “We try to do meaningful work as participants in the hand of God."

The parish begins a Haitian Ministry involving staff, parishioners and the parish school.  A three year school renovation project, “Building Our Future,” begins. This ministry grew into much more, including building multiple Churches and dozens of Chapelle's all over the Island of Haiti.

In June Father Walsh was named Diocesan Administrator serving until John Noonan, appointed in November by Pope Benedict XVI as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Orlando was installed on December 16.

On April 15th, 2019 Fr. Walsh celebrates 50 years in the priesthood!