Diocesan rules had changed, and now pastors were appointed for a six year term that could be renewed for another six years. In 1997 Father Ruggeri's term was renewed. In 1992 the Parish Pastoral Council began formally with 12 elected members, 2 appointed (by the pastor) members, 2 youth members, and 4 members ex-officio. The council met 10 times a year.

Also in 1992, a Social Committee was established in the parish; they initiated dances, bean suppers, baking contests, the Pastor's Supper, appreciation nights, a Fourth of July barbecue, a cook-out after the Mass of Anointing in August, etc. From this committee evolved the Parish Show, which has enriched the parish in many ways since its inception. Since 1994 twelve older men of the parish have served as senior Altar Servers at all the Funeral Masses in the parish. These men often act as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist and Lectors and always as thurifers at funerals.

Parish clustering began in Lowell and throughout the diocese in 1994. Parish Councils and Parish Staffs began working together on a Pastoral Plan for Lowell in order to utilize our facilities in the best way in the light of a decreasing number of priests and a decreasing number of people attending weekend Masses.

Our parish has been clustered with St. Patrick, Norte Dame de Lourdes, and Nuestra Senora del Carmen parishes. We have since collaborated on many joint ventures like parish missions, confirmation services, religious education services, Vacation Bible School, as well as Lenten services and Soup and Sharing, and the training of Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist and Lectors.

By 1998 St. Margaret Parish had just one priest, no deacon, no parochial vicar, a Director of Religious Education, and a Religious Sister as principal of the parish school. Weekend Masses were then reduced to three: 4 pm on Saturday and 8 and 11am on Sundays.

The Parish Finance Council initiated the Monthly Maintenance Fund in March 1992. At that time the parish owed the archdiocese over $109,000. This fund helped to reduce the parish debt and pay some other bills. In 1997, Fr. Ruggeri (whom everyone called Father Joe) established the Renovation Fund, which has helped to pay for many of the repairs and changes to the church.

The ten stained glass windows on the sides of the upstairs church were repaired through the generosity of ten individual parishioners; the handicap ramp was a donation of the Sodality and another generous parishioner and was built by still another parishioner. The beautiful signs outside the church and the school were donated by other parish families. The vital repairs to the carillon were made thanks to the generous gift of another anonymous parishioner. Since 1999, Mass attendance has increased somewhat, and more and more parishioners are taking an active part in the activities of the parish.

Father Ruggeri retired as a priest in good standing in June 2004. He did much good in the time he was at St. Margaret, for which all his parishioners were grateful.

Father Joe served out his pastorate until Fr. Thomas S. Domurat was appointed by Archbishop O'Malley in August 2003. Fr. Tom had spent about 14+ years in South America, and did a lot for the parish of St. Margaret in his 12 month plus pastorate.

It was at this point when Fr. Nicholas C. Ciccone (Fr. Nick) had completed his assignment as Pastor of St. Margaret Parish in Dorchester, and had began a sabbatical leave, when he was asked by the Archbishop if he would end his sabbatical early to accept the position of Pastor of St. Margaret in Lowell. Fr. Nick gladly accepted.

Fr. Nick continued work on the renewal and restoration of our church with the installation of a new sound system with provision for hearing-impaired parishioner, upgrading and repair of the church heating system, expanded areas for wheelchair and walker accessibility, new permanent missal/hymnals, and in June 2005, the church and hall were fully air-conditioned.

Fr. Nick stepped down as pastor in order to take a leave of absence in July of 2005, and Fr. Raymond P. Benoit was appointed as Administrator of the parish.

Fr. Ray was ordained on June 3, 1989 and attended Blessed John XXIII Seminary in Weston from the Fall of 1985 until May 1989. He served as a Parochial Vicar at St. Mary Parish in Chelmsford, MA 1989-1994. After pursuing additional studies for a year, he was certified as a Catholic Chaplain by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC). He then served as a Hospital Chaplain from 1995-2004, first at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth and for the last 8 years at Boston Medical Center in Boston. Fr. Benoit was assigned as Parochial Vicar at St. Margaret Parish in February 2005 and appointed Administrator of St. Margaret Parish on July 25, 2005.

The Gospel story tells of the mustard seed which is the smallest of all seeds; yet when it grows up "it is larger than any herb and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and dwell in its branches." So also has tremendous growth come for the first seed sown when St. Margaret's parish was born 94 years ago.

The physical growth of the parish in nine decades has been nothing but short of phenomenal. The influx of new parishioners started almost immediately after the district in 1911 had been set aside for Lowell's last major parish change.

Into the area of Lowell known as the Highlands came more and more families -- building homes on what was open meadows and farmlands.

The influx continued on through the years (and still is wherever there is room for new home building) and many of the new "settlers" were Catholics moving from many of the older districts and parishes of the city.

Approximately 350 Catholics heard the first Holy Mass celebrated by Father Harkins in St. Margaret's parish 94 years ago. Today 3 Masses are celebrated every Sunday morning in St. Margaret's church to accommodate over 2,000 of parishioners attending the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Through over nine decades, the faithful of St. Margaret's by hard work, sacrifices and money made this parish growth possible.

In addition to our eight pastors, we have been well served by over 43 priests who have spent so many years here as parochial vicars. For many years we were fortunate to have the services of an ordained permanent deacon, Rev. Mr. Barry Lloyd.

In over ninety years of existence, St. Margaret Church has also been willingly aided by an enthusiastic corps of lay people and volunteers. The vibrant and caring parish of St. Margaret's continues to endow the Church and the community with the light of education and leadership through faith.

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