About St. Margaret of Scotland · Foley, Alabama
St. Margaret of Scotland is a Roman Catholic parish in Foley, Alabama, in the Archdiocese of Mobile. Founded in 1906 as a mission church on land donated by the Foley family, it was elevated to parish status in 1950 and has grown from a tiny congregation of about 25 families into a vibrant community of more than 900 families. The parish serves Baldwin County on Alabama's Gulf Coast under the pastoral leadership of Very Rev. Paul G. Zoghby, V.F. and offers Mass in both English and Spanish, with a robust schedule of devotions, faith formation, and parish ministries.
- Established
- 1906
- Patron
- St. Margaret of Scotland
- Rector
- Very Rev. Paul G. Zoghby, V.F.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Mobile
Why belong here
St. Margaret of Scotland is a welcoming, multilingual parish family of more than 900 households on Alabama's Gulf Coast, offering weekend Masses in English and Spanish, daily Mass Tuesday through Saturday, regular Eucharistic Adoration, and one of the most extensive lay-ministry rosters in the Archdiocese of Mobile. Whether you are a year-round resident or a winter visitor, you can plug into faith formation for all ages (CCD, CYO, RCIA, scripture study), service groups like the Knights of Columbus and Ladies of St. Margaret, or outreach such as the Circle of Care, Bereavement Dinners, and the St. Anthony Project. With its newly built and dedicated church, the parish has both the space and the programs to help newcomers feel at home.
Mass times at St. Margaret of Scotland
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00–4:45 PM
- 30 minutes before every Mass
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration (scheduled — see parish website for current hours)
Parish History
St. Margaret of Scotland was founded in 1906 as a Catholic mission on the Alabama Gulf Coast, when the Foley family deeded five acres of land near the Gulf of Mexico to Bishop Allen of Mobile. For nearly a century it was shepherded by Benedictine priests from St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman. After serving as a mission from Elberta, it became a parish in 1950 and has grown steadily ever since, most dramatically since the early 2000s.
- Founded June 10, 1906 on land donated by Mr. John B. Foley and his wife Mary through the Magnolia Land Company
- First priest: Father Heibel, O.S.B., whose rectory was in Elberta
- Original frame church dedicated by Bishop Allen on Thanksgiving, November 24, 1910
- Elevated from mission to parish in 1950
- 1951 brick church (seating 250) replaced the original frame structure
- Groundbreaking for the current church: February 18, 2007
- Current church dedicated by Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi on November 16, 2008
- 922 registered families as of the parish's most recent published count
Our Pastor
St. Margaret of Scotland has been served since 2003 by Very Rev. Paul G. Zoghby, V.F. — the first non-Benedictine pastor in the parish's history. Father Zoghby is a Mobile native who was ordained in Rome in 1993 and brings more than two decades of pastoral and administrative ministry to the Foley community.
- Born in Mobile, the last of seven children of Sam and Julia Zoghby
- Attended St. Catherine Elementary School and McGill-Toolen High School (class of 1985)
- Studied at St. Joseph Seminary College in Covington, LA, and the Pontifical Gregorian University / North American College in Rome
- Ordained a priest on June 26, 1993; Licentiate in Sacred Theology (1994)
- Associate Pastor of St. Mary Parish, Mobile, 1994–2003
- Director of Catholic Charities and Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Mobile, 1997–2003
- Pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish since 2003
- Direct pastoral line: (251) 943-3528
Mass and Sacraments
The parish offers a full schedule of weekday and weekend Masses in English, with one weekly Mass in Spanish, plus confession, Eucharistic Adoration, and devotions to Our Lady of Fatima and the Sacred Heart. Holy Days of Obligation are observed with a morning and evening Mass.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM (English)
- Sunday: 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM (English); 12:30 PM (Spanish)
- Weekdays Tuesday–Saturday; no Mass on Monday
- Holy Day Masses: 7:00 AM and 5:30 PM
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 4:00–4:45 PM and 30 minutes before every Mass
- Devotions to Our Lady of Fatima and the Sacred Heart, plus a Prayer Request ministry
Faith Formation and Catholic Schools
St. Margaret of Scotland provides lifelong formation through parish programs for children, teens, and adults, and supports two Catholic schools that serve the broader Baldwin County community. Parents and parishioners play an active, required role in the parish school.
- CCD (Religious Education) for children in Grades K–6
- CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) for teenagers in Grades 7–12
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those seeking to become Catholic
- Scripture Study groups
- "Ask the Padre" Q&A feature
- Child Protection program in line with Archdiocese of Mobile requirements
- St. Benedict Catholic School (PreK–8), located at 12786 South Illinois Street, Elberta
- St. Michael Catholic High School (partner high school in Fairhope, AL)
- Spanish-language CCD, Confirmation, and First Communion materials available
Parish Ministries and Outreach
The parish hosts one of the most extensive lay-ministry rosters in the Archdiocese of Mobile, giving parishioners of every age, gender, and language background a way to serve. From the Knights of Columbus to a Lay Carmelite Community, virtually every aspect of parish life is supported by a dedicated volunteer organization.
- Bereavement Dinners — meals for families after a funeral
- Circle of Care — outreach to parishioners in need
- Faithful Families — family faith life
- Flower Committee — liturgical environment
- Hispanic Ministries — Spanish-speaking community
- Knights of Columbus
- Ladies of St. Margaret
- Legion of Mary
- Men of St. Joseph
- Men of St. Margaret
- St. Anthony Project — outreach to the poor
- Lay Carmelite Community — contemplative community
- Travel Club
Sacraments
Parish staff help parishioners prepare for and celebrate the seven sacraments, with worksheets and registrations for each available in both English and Spanish on the parish website.
- Baptism
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- First Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- RCIA for unbaptized adults and those completing their sacraments
Parish Office and Contacts
The parish office is the hub for sacramental records, Mass intentions, bulletin announcements, membership, and general inquiries. Phone calls and emails are returned when voicemail is left, and forms for most sacraments can be downloaded directly from the website.
- Parish Office phone: (251) 943-4009
- Pastor direct line: (251) 943-3528
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Address: 601 W. Laurel Ave., Foley, AL 36535
- Forms available online: New Member Information, Baptism Worksheet, RCIA Worksheet, CCD Registration, Confirmation Worksheet, First Holy Communion Worksheet (English and Spanish), Ladies of St. Margaret Form, Men of St. Margaret Form
- Map of parish grounds published on the Parish Office page
Getting Involved
Newcomers and longtime parishioners alike can register as members, register children for faith formation, and join one of more than a dozen active ministries. Spanish-language registration forms and ministry outreach through Hispanic Ministries ensure Spanish-speaking families have a path in.
- New Member Information Form (English and Spanish)
- CCD, Confirmation, and First Communion registration (English and Spanish)
- Volunteer through Bereavement Dinners, Circle of Care, St. Anthony Project, Flower Committee, and more
- Men's and women's fellowship through Men of St. Joseph / Men of St. Margaret, Ladies of St. Margaret, and Legion of Mary
- Knights of Columbus service and fundraising
- Travel Club fellowship
- Bulletin and prayer-request submissions via the parish office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Heibel, O.S.B.circa 1906–early 1900s
First priest assigned to the Foley mission; a Benedictine from St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman whose rectory was in Elberta.
- Benedictine pastors (O.S.B.)1906–2000
From founding through 2000, priests of St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman served St. Margaret's, first as missionaries from Elberta and later as resident pastors after 1950.
- Very Rev. Paul G. Zoghby, V.F.2003–present
First non-Benedictine pastor; previously Associate Pastor of St. Mary Parish in Mobile and Director of Catholic Charities / Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Mobile.