About St. Margaret of Scotland · Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
St. Margaret of Scotland Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, in the town of Bourne, served together with its mission church, St. Mary Star of the Sea, in Onset. It belongs to the Diocese of Fall River and gathers worshippers at St. Margaret's Church on 141 Main Street, with a thrift shop (Attic Treasures), a parish hall, and a faith formation program rounding out parish life. The current Parish Administrator is Rev. Shiju C. (George), S.D.V., a Vocationist priest from India, supported by Deacon Emeritus Ernest Gendron, Director of Music Marianne Oien, and Pastoral Associate/Director of Faith Formation Ernest Boucher. Mass is offered in English on weekends and weekdays, with Reconciliation on Saturday afternoons.
- Patron
- St. Margaret of Scotland
- Rector
- Rev. Shiju C. (George), S.D.V. (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River
Why belong here
St. Margaret of Scotland offers a small, welcoming Catholic community on the Buzzards Bay side of the Cape Cod canal, with daily and weekend Mass, an active Faith Formation program for children and youth, a Vocationist priest who makes himself readily available for home visits, and a thriving social outreach network that includes the Attic Treasures thrift shop funding parish missions and a local Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference. The mission church at Onset keeps the parish accessible to worshippers across the bay, and ministries such as the Knights of Columbus Council #2911, Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, altar servers, a music ministry, and the Secular Franciscan Order (St. Francis of the Cape Fraternity) give parishioners of every age real ways to participate.
Mass times at St. Margaret of Scotland
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (or by appointment)
About the Parish
Saint Margaret of Scotland Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Buzzards Bay, in the town of Bourne on the Cape Cod canal, in the Diocese of Fall River. The parish shares one pastor with the mission church of St. Mary Star of the Sea in nearby Onset, so weekend Mass is offered at both locations. Its mission statement reads: "We, the people of God, welcome all to experience the nourishment and healing spirit of Jesus Christ. Drawing life from the word of God and the sacraments, we are empowered to assist in meeting the spiritual and human needs of our families, our parish, and larger community. We proclaim the Kingdom of God with compassion, mercy and understanding."
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River
- Mailing/church address: 141 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532
- Mission church: St. Mary Star of the Sea, Onset Bay Lane, Onset, MA 02558
- Parish Center / Attic Treasures: 143 Main Street, Buzzards Bay
Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD)
Faith Formation classes for parish children and youth are organized by Ernest Boucher, Director of Faith Formation. Registration for the Fall 2026 – Spring 2027 year has begun, with forms available at the rear of both churches. During the spring, regularly scheduled Sunday sessions are held at St. Margaret Church, beginning with the 11:00 a.m. Mass and continuing to about 1:00 p.m. The parish also partners with the Diocese of Fall River's "Called by Name" campaign, which nominates young men to receive an invitation from Bishop da Cunha to a vocations dinner.
- Director: Ernest Boucher ([email protected])
- Sunday sessions during Spring at St. Margaret Church following 11:00 a.m. Mass
- Confirmation preparation: two-year program, candidates usually Grade 10 or older
- Adult Confirmation: through the RCIA/OCIA program
RCIA / OCIA — Christian Initiation of Adults
St. Margaret runs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA, sometimes referred to on the parish site as OCIA), the standard Catholic process for adults seeking baptism, for already-baptized Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church, and for baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation and Eucharist. The program helps inquirers respond more deeply to God's initiative, learn the Catholic faith, and prepare for sacramental reception through catechesis and liturgical rites. Adults seeking Confirmation who have already been baptized and made First Communion also go through this process.
- Open to unbaptized adults (catechumens)
- Open to baptized Christians seeking full communion
- Open to baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation and First Communion
- Contact the parish office to begin
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments and lists preparation requirements on its website. Baptisms are arranged through the parish office; weddings require contacting the pastor at least six months before the desired date; First Communion and Confirmation are taken through the Faith Formation program. Father George makes himself available for home visits to parishioners and the homebound.
- Baptism — contact parish office
- First Communion — through Faith Formation
- Confirmation — two-year preparation (Grade 10+ or via RCIA)
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:00–3:30 p.m. or by appointment
- Marriage — contact pastor at least 6 months prior
- Anointing of the Sick / home visits — through the pastor
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners of all ages are invited into a range of liturgical roles. Children who have received First Communion and above may serve as altar servers, and adults are welcome to serve as well. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist at Mass, lectors proclaim the readings, and the Music Ministry welcomes choir singers and instrumentalists of any experience level under Director of Music Marianne Oien. The parish reminds volunteers that participation is a real commitment but one that is flexible.
- Altar Servers (children and adults)
- Eucharistic Ministers (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)
- Lectors
- Music Ministry / Choir (Marianne Oien, 508.725.4206, [email protected])
Service Ministries & Outreach
Service is at the heart of the parish's identity. The local Knights of Columbus council meets twice monthly in the Parish Hall, and a parish Helping Moms in Need ministry collects diapers, wipes, and other essentials for families with infants. A small Outreach Ministry assists those who are alone, lonely, or in need. The parish's largest single outreach is its support of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which operates a thrift store and food pantry in Buzzards Bay.
- Knights of Columbus Council #2911 — 2nd & 4th Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., Parish Hall (508-759-3100)
- Helping Moms in Need — contact Lisa Tully ([email protected])
- Outreach Ministry — contact Anne Silvia ([email protected])
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store & Food Pantry — 5 Armory Rd., Buzzards Bay (774-208-6723)
St. Vincent de Paul — Food Pantry & Thrift Store
The parish actively supports a local conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which runs a thrift store and a food pantry. The store accepts donations and is always recruiting volunteers. Most-needed non-perishable items include canned tuna or chicken, soup, pasta sauce, juice, baby food or cereal, peanut butter, jelly, granola, canned vegetables, and shelf-stable milk. Gift cards for fresh food are also welcomed.
- Thrift Store: 5 Armory Rd., Buzzards Bay (774-208-6723)
- Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Donations accepted 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. only
- Donation bins also located at the doors to the churches
Attic Treasures Thrift Shop
Attic Treasures is the parish's own thrift shop, located in the St. Margaret Parish Center at 143 Main Street, Buzzards Bay. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., its proceeds go directly to the parish — recent months have generated around $9,700 to $14,900 for parish operations. The shop relies on volunteers and is especially seeking help on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as anyone with online selling experience.
- Location: 143 Main Street, Buzzards Bay (Parish Center)
- Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Phone: 774-247-4385
- Email: [email protected]
- Volunteer contact: Cheryl Legace, (774) 291-2098
Pastoral Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Parish Administrator Rev. Shiju C. (George), S.D.V., a priest of the Society of Divine Vocations who was ordained in India in 2007. He is supported by Deacon Emeritus Ernest Gendron, Director of Music Marianne Oien, and Pastoral Associate / Director of Faith Formation Ernest Boucher. Past bulletins also identify Rev. Marek Chmurski and Deacon Ralph Guerra among the clergy who have served the parish.
- Rev. Shiju C. (George), S.D.V. — Parish Administrator
- Rev. Dn. Emeritus Ernest Gendron — Deacon
- Marianne Oien — Director of Music
- Ernest Boucher — Pastoral Associate / Director of Faith Formation
- Office Assistance — [email protected]
Father George (Rev. Shiju C., S.D.V.)
Father George writes that he was born in southern India, one of eight children (four boys and four girls), and that both his parents have since passed. He was ordained December 28, 2007 in India as a priest of the Society of Divine Vocations (the Vocationists). Coming to America as a young priest, he first served two years at Mary Star of the Sea in Newport, Vermont, then eight years at Mary Our Lady of Solace in Brooklyn — where he helped rebuild the church after Hurricane Sandy — followed by time at the Sanctuary of Mary in Branchville, New Jersey, the Vocationist Motherhouse in Florham Park, New Jersey, and most recently St. Patrick Catholic Church in Mt. Dora, Florida, before his appointment to St. Margaret of Scotland and St. Mary Star of the Sea. He offers to visit parishioners in their homes and to reach out to the homebound.
- Ordained December 28, 2007, Society of Divine Vocations (S.D.V.)
- Prior assignments: Mary Star of the Sea (Newport, VT); Mary Our Lady of Solace (Brooklyn, NY); Sanctuary of Mary (Branchville, NJ); Vocationist Motherhouse (Florham Park, NJ); St. Patrick (Mt. Dora, FL)
- Available for home visits and homebound parishioners
Devotions & Prayer Life
The parish supports a daily devotion rhythm: the rosary is prayed after the 8:00 a.m. weekday Mass, Monday through Friday, and the daily Rosary is also broadcast on WPLN 99.1 at 4:55 a.m. The bulletin regularly prints the Prayer for Spiritual Communion for those unable to be present. The parish also maintains a "Vocationist Corner" fostering prayer for religious vocations.
- Rosary after 8:00 a.m. weekday Mass
- WPLN 99.1 daily Rosary at 4:55 a.m.
- Prayer for Spiritual Communion (published in the bulletin)
- Vocationist Corner — vocations prayer and information
Secular Franciscan Order (St. Francis of the Cape Fraternity)
The parish hosts a fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order — the Third Order Secular Franciscans, St. Francis of the Cape Fraternity — an unusual third-order presence within a parish of this size. Inquiries can be directed to Art Caldarola at 508-291-2315.
- Contact: Art Caldarola, 508-291-2315
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Marek Chmurski
Listed as Pastor in 2024 parish bulletins.
- Rev. Shiju C. (George), S.D.V.
Current Parish Administrator; arrived from St. Patrick's, Mt. Dora, Florida. Ordained December 28, 2007 in India as a Vocationist priest.