About St. Francis of Assisi Church (St. Junipero Serra Parish) · South Windsor, Connecticut
St. Junipero Serra Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in South Windsor, Connecticut, within the Archdiocese of Hartford. It was formed on March 31, 2017 by the merger of two historic parishes: St. Francis of Assisi Church (whose building on Ellington Road was completed in November 1942) and St. Margaret Mary Church (founded in the fall of 1961 on Hayes Road). The parish continues to celebrate Mass at both church sites, offers daily and weekend Masses in English, weekly Confessions and a Monday evening Holy Hour, a Music Ministry, Faith Formation for children, Youth Ministry, Confirmation preparation, and a Prayer Line. It is currently administered by Rev. Edward J. Przygocki, MSA, with Very Rev. Martin D. Rooney, MSA serving as Priest in Residence.
- Established
- 1942 (St. Francis of Assisi Church completed November 1942); St. Margaret Mary Parish established Fall 1961; merged March 31, 2017
- Patron
- St. Junipero Serra (parish patron since 2017 merger); individual churches dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi and St. Margaret Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Edward J. Przygocki, MSA (Administrator, since September 2025)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Hartford
Why belong here
St. Junipero Serra Parish welcomes parishioners and visitors to a two-campus Catholic community in South Windsor with daily and weekend Mass offered at both St. Francis of Assisi Church and St. Margaret Mary Church. Parishioners can grow in faith through Children's Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Confirmation preparation, and a Music Ministry that blends traditional and contemporary worship with an Adult Choir and seasonal Festival Chorus. The community also sustains a Prayer Line, a Cenacle (Divine Mercy) meeting every other Tuesday at the SMM Chapel, weekly Monday Confessions followed by Holy Hour Adoration, and easy parish registration — making it an accessible place to belong, serve, and worship.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi Church (St. Junipero Serra Parish)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Mondays 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm at St. Margaret Mary Church (Chapel on the left side of the Main Entrance)
Adoration times
- Adoration & Holy Hour: Mondays 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm at St. Margaret Mary Church (except on Holy Days & Holidays)
About St. Junipero Serra Parish
St. Junipero Serra Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in South Windsor, Connecticut, in the Archdiocese of Hartford. It was formed on March 31, 2017 by the merger of St. Francis of Assisi Church and St. Margaret Mary Church, and is named for the 18th-century Franciscan missionary to California. The parish celebrates daily and weekend Mass at both church campuses, welcomes new parishioners, and offers Faith Formation, Music Ministry, Youth Ministry, Confirmation prep, and a Prayer Line.
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Hartford
- Parish office: 80 Hayes Road, South Windsor, CT 06074
- Phone: 860-644-2411
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: saintjuniperoserra.org
Our Parish Team (Clergy & Staff)
The parish is currently administered by Rev. Edward J. Przygocki, MSA, with Very Rev. Martin D. Rooney, MSA serving as Priest in Residence (both since September 2025). Pastoral and program staff include a Director of Faith Formation, Faith Formation Administrative Assistant, Confirmation Coordinator, and Coordinator of Youth Ministry & Catechist, reached through the parish office at 860-644-2411.
- Rev. Edward J. Przygocki, MSA — Administrator (since September 2025)
- Very Rev. Martin D. Rooney, MSA — Priest in Residence (since September 2025)
- Rev. Michael J. Dolan — Pastor (September 2013 – 2017)
- Rev. Jorge Castro — Pastor/Administrator (September 2020 – July 2025)
- Faith Formation Director & Administrative Assistant
- Confirmation Coordinator
- Coordinator of Youth Ministry & Catechist
Parish History
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is the older of the two predecessor parishes: the present church on Ellington Road was completed in November 1942 in a modified 12th-century Norman style. St. Margaret Mary Parish was established in the fall of 1961 with Father Thomas C. O'Neil as first pastor; the parish was incorporated October 4, 1961, the rectory chapel was built in October 1961, and a successful $250,000 fund drive led to groundbreaking for the new buildings on September 23, 1962. After decades of pastoral succession at St. Margaret Mary — including the 1984 Sullivan–Zizka team ministry, the 1986 appointment of Fr. Shellman as Parochial Vicar, and Fr. Francis 'Frank' Krukowski's 1995 appointment — the two parishes were merged by the Archdiocese of Hartford on March 31, 2017 into today's St. Junipero Serra Parish.
- Nov. 1942: St. Francis of Assisi Church completed and dedicated
- Fall 1961: St. Margaret Mary Parish established; Fr. Thomas C. O'Neil first pastor
- Oct. 4, 1961: St. Margaret Mary Parish incorporated
- Sep. 23, 1962: Groundbreaking for St. Margaret Mary buildings after $250,000 fund drive
- June 7, 1984: Fr. Daniel Sullivan and Fr. Peter Zizka begin team ministry
- 1995: Fr. Francis 'Frank' Krukowski appointed Parochial Vicar
- Sep. 5, 2013: Fr. Sullivan retires; Fr. Michael J. Dolan becomes Pastor
- Mar. 31, 2017: Merger into St. Junipero Serra Parish (Archdiocese of Hartford)
- Sep. 2020 – Jul. 2025: Fr. Jorge Castro serves as Pastor/Administrator
- Sep. 2025: Fr. Edward Przygocki, MSA begins as Administrator; Fr. Martin D. Rooney, MSA as Priest in Residence
Architecture of St. Francis of Assisi Church
The design and architecture of the original St. Francis of Assisi Church is based on a modified 12th-century Norman style developed in England and Normandy. The Norman style is typified by its simple use of brick or stone, low wall height, and steeply pitched gables. Construction was completed in November 1942 with a dedication ceremony that same month.
- Style: modified 12th-century Norman
- Materials: simple brick or stone
- Features: low wall height, steeply pitched gables
- Completed and dedicated November 1942
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's Faith Formation at St. Junipero Serra Parish involves trained parish catechists partnering with parents to teach children to know and love God and their Catholic faith. The program aims to help every child grow in the truth that each human person is good and infinitely loved by God, and to foster a personal and communal relationship with God through prayer, study, song, service, liturgical practices, and activities. Registrations for the 2025-2026 year are submitted online in English or Spanish; tuition is $125 per child for the first and second child and $300 total for three or more children, with a $25 late fee after July 31. All students and families must be official parishioners to participate, and new students must register in person with birth and baptismal certificates.
- Children's Faith Formation (K-8 catechesis)
- English and Spanish registration forms available
- Contact: Ms. Renée Casadonte, Coordinator of Religious Education & Faith Formation for Children
- Faith Formation phone: 860-644-2549 ext. 106
- Email: [email protected]
- Registration deadline: July 31 (late fee after)
Youth Ministry & Confirmation
The parish offers Youth Ministry and a Confirmation preparation program for teens, with a dedicated Coordinator of Youth Ministry & Catechist and a Confirmation Coordinator. Contact is via the parish office at 860-644-2411 or by email.
- Coordinator of Youth Ministry & Catechist — [email protected]
- Confirmation Coordinator — [email protected]
- Phone: 860-644-2411 ext. 107 / 860-644-2549 ext. 107
Music Ministry
The vision of the Music Ministry is to offer prayerful and uplifting enhancement to liturgy at Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Margaret Mary Churches, building and sustaining a vibrant singing assembly in a blend of traditional and contemporary music. Through the assembly, choirs, cantors, and instrumentalists, the Music Ministry roots music in prayer and centers the delivery in worship. The Adult Choir (high-school age and older) sings three weekends a month and rotates between the 4:00 pm and 9:00 am Masses at SFA and the 10:30 am Mass at SMM from October through Pentecost; the Festival Chorus supplements the Adult Choir for Christmas Eve Midnight, Holy Triduum, and Easter Sunday celebrations.
- St. Junipero Serra Adult Choir (HS age and older)
- Festival Chorus (seasonal ensemble for Christmas, Triduum, Easter)
- Cantors and Organists (Keyboard Accompaniment Book available)
- Rehearsals: Thursday evenings 7:30–9:00 pm in SMM choir loft (Adult Choir)
- Rehearsals: seasonal Sundays 3:30–4:30 pm in SMM choir loft (Festival Chorus)
Prayer, Devotions & Outreach
Beyond Mass and Confessions, the parish sustains a Prayer Line for parishioners in need of prayer and an online Prayer Wall where prayer intentions can be shared. A Cenacle devoted to Divine Mercy meets every other Tuesday at 3:00 pm in the St. Margaret Mary Chapel (contact Mike Cianciolo at 860-604-1745), and Monday evenings at SMM combine Confessions with a Holy Hour of Adoration.
- Prayer Line: Donna 860-938-4864, Ida 860-289-2826, Mary 860-644-0766
- Online Prayer Wall for prayer requests
- Cenacle (Divine Mercy): every other Tuesday, 3:00 pm, SMM Chapel
- Confessions & Adoration Holy Hour: Mondays 6:00–7:00 pm at SMM
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion, and Marriage, and offers Reconciliation weekly on Mondays at 6:00 pm at St. Margaret Mary. Anointing of the Sick can be arranged by contacting the parish office at 860-644-2411.
- Baptism — preparation available
- First Communion — via Children's Faith Formation
- Confirmation — preparation program for teens
- Marriage — contact parish office
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Mondays 6:00–6:45 pm at SMM Chapel
- Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
Parish Registration & Getting Involved
New parishioners are invited to register with St. Junipero Serra Parish through the Parish Registration page on the parish website. Registration commits families to participating in Sunday Eucharist and the parish community. Volunteer opportunities are available through Children's Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Music Ministry, and the Prayer Line.
- Register online at saintjuniperoserra.org/parish-registration
- Volunteer as a catechist, choir member, or prayer-line minister
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday (Faith Formation office hours vary)
- Office phone: 860-644-2411
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Edward McLeanearly 1960s
First weekend assistant at St. Margaret Mary.
- Reverend Thomas C. O'NeilFall 1961 –
First appointed pastor of newly established St. Margaret Mary Parish.
- Rev. William Crane, M.S.1962 –
Replaced Fr. McLean as weekend assistant at St. Margaret Mary.
- Father Quinnleft 1984
Left St. Margaret Mary after a six-year term as pastor to become Catholic Chaplain at Saint Francis Hospital.
- Father Flynn1984
Appointed Co-Pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Southbury in 1984.
- Father Daniel SullivanJune 7, 1984 – September 5, 2013
Co-Pastor at St. Margaret Mary from 1984 in team ministry; later pastor; retired September 5, 2013.
- Father Peter Zizkafrom June 7, 1984
Appointed Co-Pastor at St. Margaret Mary with Fr. Sullivan in 1984 team ministry.
- Father William R. Crochetierefrom 1984
Parochial Vicar under the 1984 Sullivan–Zizka team ministry.
- Father Shellmanfrom 1986
Parochial Vicar.
- Father Francis 'Frank' Krukowskifrom 1995
Parochial Vicar; Holy Family statue on St. Margaret Mary grounds is dedicated to his contributions.
- Rev. Michael J. DolanSeptember 2013 – March 31, 2017
Pastor at the time of the merger into St. Junipero Serra Parish.
- Rev. Jorge CastroSeptember 2020 – July 2025
Pastor/Administrator of the merged parish.
- Rev. Edward J. Przygocki, MSASeptember 2025 – present
Current Administrator.
- Very Rev. Martin D. Rooney, MSASeptember 2025 – present
Current Priest in Residence.