By Gia Myers • Posted October 24, 2025

Parishioners of St. Margaret of Antioch Church in Narberth gathered Sunday, Oct. 19 in joyful celebration of their 125th anniversary – a milestone that honors more than a century of faith, friendship, and service.

The day began with a 2 p.m. Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Keith Chylinski and six concelebrating priests, followed by a dinner reception at the Hilton Hotel on City Avenue, Philadelphia.

In his homily, Bishop Chylinski described the anniversary as “a beautiful milestone,” and he invited the congregation to reflect on the countless prayers that have risen from St. Margaret’s church walls over the decades “like the incense that rises to Heaven during the Mass.”

Reflecting on the day’s Gospel from Luke 18:1-8, the bishop spoke about prayer as both a discipline and a gift.

“Prayer is an act of faith,” he said. “It is the desire to be closer to God, and that is the ultimate goal. This world is temporary – it’s just a pitstop. God wants us to be filled with His presence so that we’re ready to be with Him forever in Heaven.”

For generations, St. Margaret Parish has been more than a place of worship – it has been, in the words of many parishioners, “the heart of Narberth.”

Parishioner Rose Marie Dalton, who has been part of the community for 40 years, treasures the fellowship she experiences at St. Margaret’s.

“What I like best about the parish is seeing your neighbors and meeting new friends,” she said. “It’s that feeling of community.”

Helen Gavin, whose family has been part of St. Margaret’s since 1950, shared that same sentiment. She attended the anniversary Mass with her husband Tom and daughter Kristin. “I feel like I’m home. I’m with my family,” she said.

Nicole Bazis, the parish’s administrative assistant and communications coordinator, described St. Margaret’s as a place where “everyone seems to know each other.”

“Families have been here for generations,” she said. “People always say St. Margaret is the heart of Narberth.”

Bazis also highlighted the parish’s active outreach, including decades-long partnerships with St. John’s Hospice in Philadelphia, regular food collections, and Red Cross blood drives. “There’s a real spirit of generosity here,” she said. “People have a heart to serve.”

This fall’s Mass was the highlight of a year-long anniversary celebration that began with a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Feb. 1. The festivities will conclude with a special Mass celebrated by Archbishop Nelson Pérez on Dec. 14 – fittingly close to the parish’s founding date on Christmas Day, 1900.

St. Margaret of Antioch Parish began its journey at the dawn of the 20th century, when Narberth was a newly incorporated borough of just 847 residents.

Theirs was an emerging community of railroad workers, families, and new homeowners. Despite early anti-Catholic sentiment, the parish responded not with anger but with outreach.

 Msgr. Paul Dougherty, who has led the parish as pastor for more than 11 years, explained how that spirit of understanding gave birth to the Narberth Movement, a national Catholic initiative.

“When the parish was founded, it met some anti-Catholic resistance,” he said. “But one of the parishioners, who worked in advertising, arranged for pamphlets on the faith to be written and distributed. His efforts sparked what became known as the Narberth Movement, a concerted effort to explain the faith to non-Catholics and promote true understanding.”

Msgr. Dougherty reflected on the deep roots of faith that have grown from those beginnings. “What strikes me as we reach this milestone is the vast number of people who have come to know and love Jesus Christ through St. Margaret Parish,” he said. “Our church, set right in the middle of the neighborhood, has been an anchor of Narberth through the years.”

He also praised the enduring contributions of the Sisters of Mercy, who have served the parish since the founding of its school in 1922. “Their witness and dedication have been a vital part of our life,” he said.

The parish’s namesake, St. Margaret of Antioch, was a third-century virgin martyr who, according to legend, was swallowed by a dragon and escaped unharmed after making the sign of the cross.

She is the patron saint of childbirth and pregnant women – and fittingly, the school’s mascot is the “St. Margaret Dragons,” a tribute to her legendary strength and faith.

As St. Margaret Parish celebrates 125 years, it looks ahead to continuing its legacy as a beacon of faith, charity, and community in the heart of Narberth – its prayers and good works still rising to Heaven.