St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church

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