St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church

ABOVE: Group photo of couples married 50, 60, and 65 years at Celebrate Marriage Sunday 2007 – St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church abbreviated timeline

St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church was founded in 1959 on Maitland Avenue, but it was not the first Catholic Church in Maitland.

History of Catholic Church in Maitland

1881-1887 Church of the Holy Nativity of the Blessed Virgin
Records transferred in 1887 – church building left deserted until 1919 then sold.

Father Hubert Reason 1959-1966

April 5, 1959 First Mass celebrated

July 23, 1959 Canonically designated as a parish – first church served 95 families

1961 New church built – “Butler” building and 4 new classrooms
1st County Fair/Harvest Festival/Fall Festival/Community Fest

1962 5th grade added – held in church

1963 6th grade added – held in church

1964 7th and 8th grades added – rented house

1965 Five Sisters of Notre Dame arrived, 9 new classrooms

Father David Paige 1966-1972

1966 Nine classrooms built and a school office (no AC until mid 1980’s); Religious Education/Faith
Formation for children (CCD) formerly organized

1967 New convent and addition to Church doubled size (old social hall now school cafeteria)

1969 New rectory, 3 more classrooms, a library, science lab, clinic and teacher’s lounge,
school refaced

Father Patrick Caverly 1972-1981

1972 School accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference

1975 New church (first Mass Christmas Eve 1974)
Old church renovated into a social hall, offices

1979 Satellite Church of the Annunciation – for 3 years

Father Paul Henry 1981-1993

1983 2 portable classrooms added for Kindergarten and school offices

1984 Silver Jubilee, Parish Mission Statement Created

1986 New parish offices

1987 Adult/Child Centers and new meeting rooms built
Remodeled school office and 3 rooms for Kindergarten

1991 Purchased 9 acres (Annex area) renovated buildings and grounds

Father Charlie Mitchell 1994-present

1994 Parish Mission Statement renewed

1995 Re-Threads Thrift Store opens

1998 Parish Life Center built; Social Hall renovated into a school cafeteria, computer and science lab, new library and art room
Built gym; Old convent renovated into a Student Administrative Building; Enclosed Child Center
patio, added a teacher break room and relocated the playground

1999 Collapse of the walkway

2000 40th anniversary time capsule buried – New Millennium

2003-2004 Renovated Church – new sanctuary, chapel, Baptismal font, pews

2004 Pastoral Council announces ongoing plan to foster Stewardship as a way of life; Early Learning
Center accredited by the National Associate for the Education of Young Children
January 2004, first Celebrate Marriage Sunday, last Sunday in the month

Celebrate Marriage Sunday

2004 Celebrate Marriage Day Couples
65 Years – John and Rosalie D’Alboro
62 Years – Mary and Arthur Mohr, Jack and Celia Rube
60 Years – Sue and Jim White
55 Years – Franca and Kenneth Hise, Mary and Joseph Musil
54 Years – Carlos and Silvia Padilla
50 Years – Roy and Margaret Anderson, John and Jean Birmingham, Kathie and Charles Jaeb, Jose and Lillian Medina, Marge and Ed Swiatosz, Lillian and Gullermo Villafane, Mary Helen and Charlie Volk
45 Years – Peggy and George Simmermacher
40 Years – Jim and Monica Byrnes
35 Years – Carolyn and Manny Cibrian, Bob and Jolene Cole, Judy and Wayne Richards
30 Years – Kathy and Bill Miorano
25 Years – Jaime and Juanita Cortes, Peter and Michelle Giglietta, Lynette and Miquel Lugo
5 Years – Jan and George Meyer
3 Months – Rolando and Lisa Vargas

Order of St. Mary Magdalen

2005 Order of St. Mary Magdalen was established to recognize parishioners who have given of their
time, talent and treasure in extraordinary ways which enable our parish community to better fulfill the mission God has given us.

National Blue Ribbon School

2006 U.S. Department of Education names St. Mary Magdalen School a National Blue-Ribbon School;
Paid off debt!

Threads

2008-2009 Re-Threads Thrift store closes; New parish Mission, Vision and Values discerned and disseminated;
St. Mary Magdalen Parish recognized as a Blue-Ribbon Stewardship Parish by the International
Catholic Stewardship Council; Golden Jubilee Celebrated.

VIEW Today’s Disciple

Mentioned: Father Charlie Mitchell, Deacon Henry Libersat, Deacon Marshall Gibbs, Michael Carlock, Ralph Bormet, Sarah Canatsey, Donna Esbensen, Bert Ghezzi, John Couch. Mary Lou Ghezzi, Deacon Juan Cruz, Doris Cruz.