The past several years have seen a significant influx of Hispanics to

the towns, villages and environs of Northern Duchess County. A large

portion of the immigrants and undocumented workers appear to be from

Mexico and specifically from Oaxaca.

In the fall of 2004, the parish decided to developed an organized

outreach to this community with a view to providing support services,

(i.e., language training, health and medical service access education,

networking for employment , child care, immigration issues,

acculturation training and support toward fuller integration into our

way of life) and a proactively welcoming faith home.

Preliminary conversations with some members of the community have

given us good reason to believe that such an outreach and invitation

would be greatly appreciated and most welcomed.

Saint Margaret’s, though a smaller congregation, has for many years

been very large in its outreach and service activities. Outreach to

the local Hispanic community represents an organic development of that

gift of the Spirit from which we have customarily endeavored to live

our lives and faith.

From that point of decision in the fall of 2004, we have: entered into

dialogue and partnership with others in the diocese already involved in

work with Latinos; solicited and received grant money from diocesan and

regional funding committees to support our interest and preliminary

efforts; interviewed and recently hired a latino lay evangelist through whom we

hope to cultivate relationships with members of the community; secured

the services of a bilingual priest; and made plans to begin offering

worship services in the fall.

BLESSING OF THE BICYCLES ON JUNE 12, 2005 with FR FRANK ALAGNA AND LAY EVANGELIST RICARDO TURCIOS

This spring we inaugurated a Bicycle Ministry. We sought donations, from the wider community

of new and used bicycles and helmets. Advertising was conducted for two months

among the Hispanic population in an effort to make this ministry known to them.

The bicycles were then blessed during a Sunday service this past June and given away

to about 8 Latino families. This will continue to be an

ongoing ministry through the Lay Evangelist as well as the parishioners of St. Margaret's.

As many of us are already aware, so often new immigrants and undocumented workers are transportation challenged.

We believe that gifts of bicycles will not only be useful and helpful, but will

also convey a message of welcome and appreciation.

FATHER FRANK ALAGNA AND FIVE MEMBERS OF OUR LATINO COMMUNITY

This past August three Latino women and two children attended a dedication of a tapestry portraying Our Lady of Guadelupe during a Sunday celebration. This icon is most beloved by those who have traveled here from Mexico. And on Dec 12th there was the first celebration of Holy Eucharist held in honor of Our Lady of Guadelupe. In attendance were 36 Latinos in addition to 25 parishoners from St. Margaret's followed by a "fiesta" prepared by a chef from the Culinary. Several of the newcomers expressed gratitude towards a "church and people who had opened their doors to them!"

This emerging Latino ministry will help the congregation grow both in

its own humanity and in the expression of its faith commitment. If God

wills, it will also bring new members to our congregation both from

among those individuals who might wish to become involved with outreach

to the “strangers” among us, as well as from among the Latinos to whom

we will be making our outreach and whom we will be inviting to share

our ecclesial life.

An identified church home for the Hispanic community will give them a

forum to congregate, to celebrate their religious faith and cultural

heritage, and to support one another and be supported in what can

otherwise be an isolated and lonely journey toward acculturation and

integration. Hopefully it will give them a greater measure of

visibility within and to the Anglo community, as well as give them a

platform from which to address their concerns, share their gifts and

articulate their needs to the resident majority population. We

envision a day when the local latino community will throw a fiesta on

the grounds of Saint Margaret’s to which they will invite the local

community.