Consider yourself called to be an Ambassador of Welcome at SMM!

Change your perspective on who should be welcoming members into the SMM church community.  Every church member is a host and not a guest. Making visitors and other members feel welcome is primarily the responsibility of members of the church community, not the nebulous “church,” or the church staff. The most important person for a visitor to talk to in order to feel at
home in a new church is you. It is not the pastor, or the greeter, but a regular attender. J. David Eshleman says “One of the most impressive gestures we can extend to first time visitors is for people with no official position to take the initiative and welcome them.”

For more tips 

During the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis calls us to remember the mission of the Church that Matthew proclaimed so clearly:  "To Go, To Make, To Baptize, To Teach."  In answer to this challenge, Archbishop Aymond recently institited a SYNOD to discuss the vision, priorities and goals as it affects parishes in our archdiocese.  He has challengedall parishes to make disciples by going through a similar process of renewal, evangelization and discipleship.

St. Mary Magdalen Parish is presently facing many challenges.  Over the last several years we have experienced a decline in several areas including Mass attendance, financial contributions, active participation in ministries and organizations, also school enrollment.  The parish has become stagnant, with little or no growth.

As a result of those challenges facing our parish, Father Bob and Father Chris formed a Steering Committee in early 2016.  After much prayer and discussion it was discerned that the time has come to undertake a process that will allow us to renew our parish and determine our future.

MISSION, UNIFYING VISION, PRIORITIES AND GOALS

OUR MISSION:
What is our sacred purpose as a parish:

St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church is called to foster a welcoming community, to form disciples for Jesus Christ and to joyfully evangelize.

OUR UNIFYING VISION:
Where we are going, as a parish, through 2021:

Walking together with Christ, igniting the Spirit within, living God’s Call.

Our Patroness, St. Mary Magdalen

In his own words, Jesus spoke to his disciples about Mary Magdalen, “many sins are forgiven her because of her great love.” Mary Magdalen’s life was forever changed when she encountered Jesus. Mary Magdalen remained true to her love for Jesus during His public ministry, death and Resurrection.  Following the model of our patroness, we at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, seek to encounter and walk with Christ, experience the risen Jesus through the Holy Spirt and live our unique call as a community of disciples.

 

OUR PRIORITIES:
What we will be addressing and developing over the next 24 – 36 months:

Priority 1:  Enhancing the Sunday Experience
As a parish, we recognize our unique opportunity to reach most people during weekend Masses.  We will take advantage of this unique opportunity and shape the Sunday Experience so that we maximize openings for God to reach people through their experience during our Sunday celebration.
 

• Goal 1: Create a welcoming environment beginning with the Sunday experience and overflowing into all aspects of our parish life.

• Goal 2: Celebrating and glorifying the Lord with our voices in prayer and song.

Priority 2: Forming Christians in Faith
As a Catholic community, we desire to walk more closely with Christ as we embrace our rich Catholic tradition and invite all to respond to the universal call to holiness.  

• Goal 1: Provide opportunities to grow in knowledge, in love and in appreciation of the rich tradition of our Catholic faith.
• Goal 2:  Encourage all parishioners to answer their baptismal call by joyfully sharing the Good News of Christ through word and deed.

Priority 3: Revitalizing our Ministries
As a diverse community of disciples, we will walk together with Christ, embrace our rich Catholic heritage and accept the universal call to holiness.  We will renew our ministries to include special attention to providing a sacred, quality Catholic education.

• Goal 1: Cultivate viable, relevant ministries to form disciples of Jesus Christ.
• Goal 2: Foster opportunities for church, school, and School of Religion to emerge as one, unified parish community.