Church Staff

Father Paul Gros is a Diocesan priest of Baton Rouge.  He grew up in Baton Rouge and was a parishioner of Most Blessed Sacrament.  While a senior at Catholic High School, he began thinking and praying about the priesthood.  After graduation in 2000, he went to the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg for three years when he decided to “drop everything and give it a shot.”  He enrolled at St. Joseph Seminary College and later at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.  He was ordained a priest 30 May 2009.  St. Margaret is Fr. Paul’s sixth assignment as a priest.  He served at Immaculate Conception in Denham Springs, Christ the King at LSU, the River Road Cluster (St. Michael in Convent, Sacred Heart in Gramercy and St. Joseph in Paulina), the Bayou Parishes (St. Anne in Napoleonville, Assumption in Plattenville, and St. Philomena in Labadieville), and finally St. George in Baton Rouge. In addition to his responsibilities at St. Margaret, Fr. Paul is the chaplain at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Hammond and Director of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate.  Fr. Paul is appreciative of the kindness of St. Margaret’s parishioners and their love for their clergy!

A native of Ponchatoula and a distinguished graduate of St. Joseph Catholic School and Ponchatoula High School, “Byrd” is one of two Permanent Deacons assigned to St. Margaret.  He was ordained to the diaconate 10 June 2017; St. Margaret is his first parish assignment. He is married to his best friend Debbie S. Corbett; he is a proud father of two and a grandfather of one.  Byrd noticed that after his assignment to St. Margaret “how welcoming and how giving are the people of St. Margaret! Whether it is a disaster in the community, a needy parishioner, or a newly ordained deacon, St. Margaret is a parish that opens its arms and welcomes all into the body of Christ, truly becoming Christ’s hands and his feet.”

Deacon Tim and his wife Gloria came to St. Margaret after Tim’s diaconate ordination in June 2017.  Residents of Hammond since returning to Louisiana in 2007, Tim has native roots. He is a proud father of four children and ten grandchildren.  Gloria and Tim are both involved in many ministries of our warm and welcoming community. He is most impressed by St. Margaret’s “genuine and accommodating spirit,” and he notes that he appreciates that “Our parishioners work hard, have a great faith and prayer life, and without a doubt know how to have fun.” Even one of Tim’s sons commented about our Parish that “we really have it going here at St. Margaret!”

Mary is a New Orleans native and lived there most of her life where she attended Immaculate Heart of Mary School from kindergarten through 8th grade and then St. Mary’s Dominican High School thereafter.  She continued her education at Southeastern Louisiana University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.  She later became a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Government Financial Manager. She retired in 2007 from the Orleans Levee District as the Chief Financial Officer and moved to Hammond in October of that same year. Mary says her involvement here at St. Margaret has been such a rewarding experience because the parish community is so welcoming, generous and caring.

Tammy is a native of New Orleans, and she attended Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Academy of the Holy Angels.  After moving to Albany, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.  She worked as a CPA since 1986 and most recently served as Financial Manager then as Decision Support Manager for the North Oaks Health System.  Tammy is married to life-long parishioner Eddie Resetar, Jr.  She enjoys painting, crochet, gardening, and collecting sea shells!  She notes of St. Margaret that our parish is a “warm, welcoming community to all and is always more-than-willing to assist those in need.”

Baleigh is a life-long, fourth-generation member of our church community. She graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School, received a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Southeastern Louisiana University, and continued her education by earning her Juris Doctorate degree from Southern University Law Center. She and her husband, Justin, have two precious “weenie dogs” – Honey Bee & Buzzy Bee – and enjoy their free time traveling all over and making many fun and happy memories. Her love for the faith and this church stems from the impact and inspiration of her grandmother, June Olah, who devoutly brought her to mass each weekend and was a key player in her formation. She looks forward to serving the community she has grown up with and seeing St. Margaret’s flourish in the years to come!

Laura is one of our original cantors at St. Margaret, having served our community at various liturgies for well over five years.  She received her degree in Elementary Education (grades 1-5) at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond and currently teaches in one of the local school systems.  In her free time, she also teaches piano and voice lessons.  When asked about her favorite aspect of working at St. Margaret, she responded by commenting “how kind and close the parishioners are within the church” adding “It has been a privilege to sing for such a great community of faith!”

The second member of the “dynamic duo,” Adam has served as a cantor at St. Margaret Church and St. Thomas Chapel for a few years now.  He is an English Education graduate from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, and he teaches in a local school system.  Adam especially is grateful for our community’s “warm, welcoming pastor and congregation.”

Cynthia Davidson developed a love for music at an early age. She started singing with her grade school choir at Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic School in New Orleans in the 1980s. During her college years at the University of New Orleans and Loyola, she began to cantor at St James Major in Gentilly. She sang there for over 10 years.  She lives in Ponchatoula with her husband Richard and her two sons Preston and Colby. Cynthia currently holds a full time position with Dignity Memorial as Pre-Planning Advisor, assisting families to pre-arrange for funeral services and cemetery property needs.  It is an honor for her to serve families with grace and compassion. When asked what she likes best about St. Margaret, she says “the genuine kindness of the parishioners; they have been very welcoming to me and my family.”