There was a time when women were expected to wear hats or "chapel veils" in church, and Kate Mazzarini, for one, is glad that became optional in 1962.

"They gave permission that women didn't have to do that anymore. I was relieved. I never liked hats," Mazzarini, who began her 34 years of teaching at St. Margaret School in 1959, recalled. "I used to jokingly tell the children that I was going to get myself elected pope so that I could ban hats in church."

On May 13, hats covering a century of different styles were featured in a fashion show as part of St. Margaret Parish's 100th anniversary celebration. "There were really some fascinating hats there," said Mazzarini, who co-chairs the parish's anniversary committee, which is also planning two other events to mark the special year.  

The annual parish family picnic is scheduled for Saturday, June 24, featuring Krolick's Chicken Bar-B-Q. The anniversary year celebration will close with a special vigil Mass at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23, celebrated by Bishop Richard J. Malone. The Mass will be followed by a gala dinner reception at Classics V Banquet & Conference Center in Amherst.

"We especially invite former parishioners and anyone we can get the word out to because we would love to see them," said Marian Lauricella, co-chair of the anniversary committee.  Her four children attended the former St. Margaret School, including her son, Father Andrew Lauricella, now director of Vocations for the Diocese of Buffalo.

The motivation for the anniversary events is rooted in pride, according to co-chair Mazzarini. "We're not doing it to raise money," she emphasized. "We're just doing it to celebrate one another. I just think it's a very special place."

More information about the events can be found at http://stmargaret-parish.com.