Our community is excited to participate alongside all parishes, missions and Catholic centers in the Archdiocese to strengthen and renew our Church for the future. Please continue reading to learn how this campaign will benefit us.
In 1937, our parish was officially established and dedicated to the patronage of St. Margaret Mary, a 17th-century Visitation nun strongly devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Through God’s grace and dedication to the people, we have grown from a small faith community of about 100 families into a welcoming parish of over 1,500 families with a rich legacy to build upon and celebrate. Over the last 85 years, our parish has become a vibrant and dynamic community for people of all ages and cultures to foster their faith, share the Good News, and serve one another.
In nurturing and expanding this rich tradition and legacy of our parish laid down by those who came before us, we, too, are called to renew and maintain our community in an excellent standard so that future generations can encounter Christ and build the kingdom on earth. As such, I am pleased to announce the launch of our parish’s Called to Renew campaign alongside every parish in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Please join me in asking God to bless this ambitious effort. The goal for our campaign is $1,700,000, of which 50% will remain at our parish to address our needs, and the remaining percentage will address needs in our Archdiocese. In addition, we will retain 100% of the funds we collect over our goal. Notably, this historic campaign will provide much-needed funding for our parish and school to strengthen ministries, maintain the condition of facilities, and enhance our worship experiences.
Please take a moment to read the following page and see how Called to Renew will benefit St. Margaret Mary and how we will use our 50% share of our campaign funds. I then ask you to prayerfully consider a five-year pledge to the campaign, allowing us the best opportunity to reach our goal.
I am aware that this request is significant and challenging during this time while trusting that God’s grace and your generosity will help us meet the challenge. Indeed, your commitment, the San Pedro community, and our Catholic faith will guide you to make a sacrificial gift. Called to Renew is essential to ensuring the vibrancy of our parish and that St. Margaret Mary parish always remains a presence in the lives of parishioners and future generations for years to come. I sincerely hope and pray you will join me in supporting this historic campaign.
Pledged over 5 years for the Called to Renew Campaign.
Our Parish Receives
$850,000
To renew our parish and strengthen ministries.
Parish Needs
Church Entry and Steps
We will be updating and beautifying the entire front entry area of the Church, including new antique cobble pavers and powder-coated railings. Stone pavers not only enhance our “curb appeal,” but they also allow for the most flexibility in maintenance and repair. The front step railings are old, worn, and no longer meet the building code.
Patio Walkways and Grotto Area
To tie the front of the Church into the rest of the pedestrian pathways around to the back of the Church, we will be installing cobble pavers in the patio walkways and the Grotto area. This project is separate from the front of the Church and may be done later, depending on funding availability.
School/Rectory Windows
The school and rectory windows are badly in need of updating and replacement. We will replace all the windows on the east and west sides of the school building as well as all the windows in the rectory with dual-pane, tempered glass vinyl windows. We will install Solar Bronze glass for both rectory and school buildings, which provides over 70% solar heat rejection and improves indoor comfort for the students.
Audiovisual Enhancements Inside the Church
We’ll be enhancing the entire sound systems inside the Church and adding Audiovisual capabilities to assist the hearing impaired with closed captioning and enhance the overall churchgoer experience by projecting readings and song lyrics, and graphical presentations when they are appropriate.
A Bold Plan of Renewal
We — the Catholic faithful — are the agents of renewal for Church and society. I am grateful for this opportunity to walk alongside clergy and parishioners in strengthening our parishes and ministries, the heart of our Archdiocese.