Annual & Recurring Events
Save the Dates: September 26-28, 2025
Join us for the annual St. Margaret Mary Parish Festival Weekend, a cherished tradition celebrated every September. This joyful gathering is a time for our community to strengthen connections and celebrate our Catholic identity. Under a beautiful September sky and our striking bell tower, we meet with friends, family, and neighbors.
Visit our event website to sponsor, volunteer, purchase tickets, bid on raffle baskets and more!
The festival is three days of warmth, hospitality, and the spirit of welcoming others. As you stroll through the festivities, you'll find something for everyone to enjoy. The Friday night Gather celebration begin in the church at 7 pm. Saturday night is an Adult 21 and over event after 5 pm Mass with live music, food trucks, and Dundee Dell Beer Garden from 6-9 pm. And, Sunday is the Festival from 3-7 pm. Indulge in a delicious meal under the big tent with live music by Finest Hour. Help your toddler explore the bouncy house, a bunny petting zoo, pumpkin painting, and dunk tank. Then test your luck at BINGO, and marvel at the amazing prizes waiting to be won in our bountiful raffle baskets. Take a moment to relax with a refreshing beverage under the sun or the shade of the tent, or immerse yourself in the rich history of our Church, discovering the significance of carefully curated works of art. We invite you to be part of this memorable day as we come together as a community to celebrate, connect, and create lasting memories.
Mark your calendars and join us this September for an unforgettable St. Margaret Mary Parish Festival!
Friday Gather September 26th
- 7 pm to 8 pm
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Exposition
- Benediction
- Ice Cream Social in the Narthex following the Holy Hour
Saturday Social (21+ older) September 27th
- 6 pm to 9 pm
- Live Music by Nic Hermsen
- Abra Kebabra and Zemogs Food Trucks
- Dundee Dell Beer Garden
Sunday Festival (outdoor) September 28th
- 3 pm to 7 pm (6:30 pm $10k Raffle Drawing and Basket Winners)
- Games, Dunk Tank, Food and Fun
- Bunny Petting Zoo and Pumpkin Painting
- Live Music with Finest Hour including Nikki Boulay
- Upstream Beer Garden
- Ted and Wally’s Ice Cream Tent and Snow Cones
Visit our 2025 Event Website
The Nebraska Catholic Day of Giving
Experience the Nebraska Catholic Day of Giving each spring! Join our SMM community on this special day as thousands of generous Catholics come together to support parishes, schools, and Catholic ministries across our Omaha Archdiocese. At St. Margaret Mary Parish and School, we are honored to participate in this impactful event. Your contributions make a difference in our operations, helping us provide an excellent Catholic education to all families, maintain our beautiful facilities, support our dedicated staff, and continue our ministries, activities, and outreach. Through your joyful and faith-filled response, you have touched countless lives and made a lasting impact. Thank you for being part of the Nebraska Catholic Day of Giving! This special day of giving will take place May 7, 2025. Advanced Giving Days are NOW open April 21 - May 6. Support SMM and donate today!
Save the Date: February 21, 2026
Find out more! VISIT THE 2026 FOUNDERS' DAY WEBSITE!
Join us for St. Margaret Mary's Annual Founders' Day, a celebration of our beloved Parish and School community! This annual gala is a time of looking back at a productive past, counting the blessings of the present, and planning for the future. As we gather together to enjoy delicious food and great company, we also celebrate our largest fundraiser, which is vital to the operations of our Parish and School.
At the Founders' Day event, we are invited to reflect on the year's accomplishments, recall memories of our worship experiences, various community outreach, bible studies, ministries, and activities, and look ahead with enthusiasm. As a Catholic Parish founded in Omaha in 1919, our strong sense of community comes in part from the dedication and generosity of thoughtful parish members, school families, and parish and school leadership throughout the generations. Let's honor our past and build our future at this remarkable event. Join us and be a part of something extraordinary!
We need your help to make Founders' Day a success! Can you volunteer?
The Founders' Day chairs would greatly appreciate your help before, during, and after the event!
Click the link below to sign up!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0549A5AE28A1FDC61-57514204-founders
Bridge the Gap Annual Campaign
The Annual Bridge the Gap program at SMM is a critical program that was introduced to offset some of the material gaps between the School tuition and the actual cost of educating our students. St. Margaret Mary Parish and School are committed to providing an exceptional learning environment rooted in faith, academic excellence, and character formation.
As the cost of education continues to rise, we face a challenge in ensuring affordability for all our families who seek this great opportunity for their children. Bridge the Gap funds 36% of tuition for every student at St. Margaret Mary annually as noted here:
St. Margaret Mary 2025/2065 Cost to Educate One Child: $6,793
Less Bridge the Gap Discount Per Student: ($2,798)
St. Margaret Mary Tuition Per Student: $3,995
Your tax-deductible donation to the annual Bridge the Gap campaign will go a long way to help us close this gap in funding. This annual campaign runs from July 2025 through June 2026. I ask that you please consider participating in the “Bridge the Gap” program in support of our strong Catholic faith and ongoing commitment to the St. Margaret Mary School community of eager students and dedicated teachers, and staff.
We will gratefully accept gifts to the “Bridge the Gap” fund online through the WeShare page. Or you may contact Parish Business Manager, Jim Varner in the parish office to make alternate arrangements.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the fund, which was established in 2002, is to provide financial assistance that will inspire and help young people of Uganda develop into responsible and respected individuals as well as enhance the quality and well being of their lives and community. The education is designed to be comprehensive in nature and will also instill caring, ethical and moral values in their lives. This will be achieved by a Catholic primary and secondary education followed by a, committee approved, college or trade school selection appropriate to the student’s career path with the course of study to be completed within the appropriate time period corresponding to the course of study selected. The board reserves the right to continue funding graduate education on an individual basis. The students selected for the fund must demonstrate the willingness and desire to fulfill the educational requirements of the course of study.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
- The fund began in 2002 with 6 children. While visiting with Fr. Michael about the education system in Uganda, he stated that the cost to educate one child per year in a primary catholic school for room, board and tuition was $800 which is now $900. To help some of these children seemed like a project worth looking into. The fund now has 78 students that are currently attending school or have graduated.
- In Omaha there is a 5 member board set up to manage the finances and determine the number of students. The annual board meeting is held preferably when Fr. Michael is in town. The program was started when Fr. Mel Merwald was pastor. Fr. Greg Baxter, the current pastor of SMM, sits on the Board as well as Fr. Michael Mukasa.
- In Kampala there is also a 5 member board who selects the students and sees to their well being. Sister Max, the Headmistress of St. John Bosco is on the Board.
- All monies go through St. Margaret Mary and is managed by Merrill Lynch. All donations are tax deductible.
- Two mailings a year go out to members for solicitation and to keep people knowledgeable about the students and Fr. Michael.
- A mentoring program was started in 2009 so that these children have a personal contact, through letter writing, with an individual in the SMM parish. The letters are to support and encourage the children in their academic and faith life.
To view a video report on several parishioners who visited Fr. Michael click below!