Margo and her husband Erik joined MKLM from the Prince of Peace parish in Princeton, MA, a diocese of Worcester. Prior to Joining MKLM, Margo’s community volunteer work included her being a lector, involved with adult education and a member of the parish education committee. She led Bible study classes and was trained as a master catechist. She served on the Board of Directors of Dismas House, Inc., did nursing home ministry and volunteered with Nazareth Home for Boys. Margo was a founding board member of the Worcester County Food Bank, Inc. and did women's prison ministry. 

With a BS in Animal Science from UMass, and a Masters of Business Administration from Western New England College, Margo enjoyed a successful and rewarding business career. Just prior to her joining MKLM, Margo was a Management Consultant and the Assistant Director of Fiscal Management with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Worcester, MA. 

As a seventeen-year veteran of MKLM, Margo has served in diverse areas of MKLM. She served in rural Tanzania for eight years in a variety of pastoral and development ministries: teaching religion; managing a bedded dispensary, health center and sewing school; providing outreach care to AIDS patients and the elderly; working with women's groups, youth and small Christian communities; providing leadership development and training; and with overseeing a twelve village parish in the Serengeti district.

For seven years, she served with Maryknoll Lay Missioners in NY as a member of the Mission Service Department on the Admissions' team and on the region's Orientation committee. She was a Eucharistic minister, involved with RCIA and other programs at St. Ann's parish and volunteered with hospice. 

She attended Spanish language school in Cochabamba, Bolivia. In Venezuela, she lived in a rural coffee farming community, did mission outreach programs, taught English and assisted in school classes, worked in a youth and women’s craft program and had responsibility for the community’s chapel. 

(There are three! Please scroll down to read each.)

1. One of Margo’s three ministries is El Cedro Rural Development. El Cedro, a poor rural community in the municipality of Panchimalco, is located in the hills south of San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador.   Approximately 700 families live in this remote area.  The main access is a dirt road that frequently is impassible in the rainy season. Buses run sporadically and are not dependable.  People walk long distances on steep winding paths. The basic houses are made of mud and bamboo and do not withstand the frequent tropical storms or earthquakes.  Many do not have access to electricity or running water.  Most adults are illiterate and have little or no formal education. The local school provides up to a ninth grade education.  Studying beyond that requires long commutes and transportation costs. Many youth never go to school or drop out early. Underemployment is the major problem. Families are struggling to provide the bare necessities.  There are few men present.  When possible they work on farms or as security guards in the city.  After paying transportation costs, they are fortunate to earn $3 or $4 per day.  Life is expensive.  A typical meal consists of tortillas and beans, which the people cultivate themselves. Insecurity is rampant and violent robberies, even in broad daylight, are common.  Women tend to laborious daily family chores like hauling water, washing laundry in streams and collecting firewood.  To obtain any decent healthcare, one has to go to private clinics in Planes de Renderos, which is a 10-kilometer (about 6 miles) walk when there is no bus service.  People cannot afford to pay the fees or buy the medicines.  

Education is critical to break the chain of poverty. Margo works through El Cedro to try to provide encouragement, training and personal development for the women. They are starting to work as a group to be able to sell the handicrafts they produce.  Access to healthy foods is limited.  The garden project provides vegetables and hands on training so that the women will eventually be able to grow their own produce.  Working with the children and youth to continue with their formal and informal education is worthwhile for their future. Collaborating with the local government structure opens up new service opportunities.

Margo’s accomplishments through her El Cedro Ministry have been great! They include:

• a kitchen built for a program that feeds 98 children 3 times a week;
• the construction of 13 houses for needy families;
• helped oversee a medical mission that served 267 people;
• supported a garden to provide vegetables to a feeding program for 118 children and the community;
• sponsored a workshop for 36 women;
• oversaw two women’s income development projects;
• was a teaching assistant for 37 preschool children;
• ran an after school program for 10 youth;
• provided material assistance such as medicines, food, and clothing, those in  most need;
• actively participated with the local governing board to identify community needs and development opportunities;
• and Margo has encouraged faith development.

Through her projects, Margo hopes that the women of the community will experience personal growth and development, the children will continue with their education, the community will work together to provide a better quality of life for the people of El Cedro, and that the community will grow in its faith. 

Due to the isolation, there is limited pastoral support available to the community.  A priest comes once a month to celebrate Mass.  Families must travel to San Salvador to receive the sacraments.  Although Margo does foster faith development, she hopes to work more formally in the pastoral area in the future.

Participating and planning with the local community will foster a collaborative model to address together the local needs.  Discussions are underway regarding the possibilities of a health clinic, a small secondary school and a senior citizen’s program. Margo would like to support the women with their personal and spiritual growth and development in whatever ways possible. A women’s prayer circle, a literacy program and other on going education options are being considered. As a group, El Cedro hopes to identify other potential income generating opportunities.

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2. Hogar de Los Ninos, or The Children’s Home, is Margo’s second ministry. Here, Margo’s goal is to support a limited staff with their responsibilities while being a loving and caring grandmotherly presence to the children.

More than 300 children, ranging from infants to 12 years old, call this place home. Their parents have abandoned the majority of them, and others are orphaned. Many children come from difficult home environments.  Some have emotional and physical challenges. 

Margo pitches in any way she can, from bathing, changing diapers and clothes, feeding, potty training, playtime, taking the children to the infirmary and providing individual tender loving care.  Of her work, Margo comments, “Every chance I get, I pick up and cradled one of the darlings in my arms.  They love to hear a voice and have physical contact. They need this kind of affection, and I enjoy receiving their affection as well!

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3. The Divina Providencia is the only hospice in Central America.  It is located on the same grounds where Bishop Romero often stayed and is next to the chapel where he was killed.  Poor cancer patients come from great distances to receive care, treatment and pain management services.  The small two-floor hospital can accommodate 100 plus patients.  However, due to financial constraints, the number is limited to 50. 

These are no luxurious accommodations.  Mobile patients stay in large wards. Family members must accompany and stay in the same curtained cubicles with those who have conditions that are more serious.  Many family members sleep on the floor or on foam mattresses that they tote from home. Patients and caretakers bring their own toiletries, blankets, towels, dishes, glasses and eating utensils. Patients are provided meals but family members must provide their own meals and drinking water. Patients share common toilet and bath facilities. Due to plumbing difficulties, there is no hot water.

The staff is wonderful and attentive to the patients’ needs. The Director starts the day with an employees’ scripture reflection in the small chapel on the first floor.  Physical and occupational therapy students oversee various activities with the patients.  The sick enjoy making colorful wall nametags, crepe paper flowers, and cards and playing dominoes.

Margo does patient and family pastoral visitations.  She feels blessed to share in the joys and sorrows of the people during such a sacred time in their lives. In addition to providing pastoral support and compassion, Margo distributes holy cards, bibles and religious articles.

“I want to be available to people in their time of need,” says Margo.  “To show them that someone cares about them.  I love that, through my companionship with them, we share the love of God with each other.”