The History of our Parish:

St. Mary Magdalene Parish was established on May 6, 1927 when the ground for the parish was purchased for $17,000. About fourteen months later, Father Raymond Bauschard was named the first pastor. A census had determined that there were one hundred families in the territory west of Hague Avenue.

Ground was broken on March 3, 1929, and on September 1st of that year the Church and School (the building on Parkside between Roys and Guernsey) were dedicated. The Rectory (now the Preschool at Roys and Parkside) was built in 1929 and occupied on Christmas Eve. The present Rectory was constructed in 1959.
In May of 1934 the Perpetual Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal was established and continues to this day as a Monday worship service.
The Franciscan Order of Sisters of Mary Immaculate at Joliet, Illinois provided Sisters to teach at the school from 1929 to 1974. The Sisters lived in the school until July of 1939 when ground was broken for the convent (Campbell Hall, just north of the Preschool).
In July of 1950 the Parish Annex, St. Raymond's Hall, was constructed at a cost of $19,000. The building was originally intended to be a meeting hall and recreation center, but has served as part of the school almost since its completion.
As the size of the congregation grew, the Church (now the gymnasium in the school) was too small to accommodate the parish families. In 1955 there were approximately 875 registered families in the parish and 510 students in the school.
On July 11, 1954, ground was broken for the present church building. Contracts awarded indicate a cost of approximately $499,000. The Church was dedicated on March 11, 1956.
The interior mosaics were added to the church in 1963 and the stained glass windows in 1966.
Our Estey Electropneumatic organ was installed in 1990. With over 1000 pipes, this stately organ fills the sanctuary with glorious music to enhance the delivery of our talented choir and director.

Our Patron Saint:

St. Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus converted, and who witnessed His last moment with Mary, His Mother, and St. John, was called Magdalene from the town of Magdala in Galilee. At least St. Clement of Alexandria and others identity her with the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears. Others regard her as Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.
She followed Jesus with other devout women during His Public Life. After His Resurrection, Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene and then to His Apostles.
It is an ancient tradition in Provence, France that St. Mary Magdalene or Mary, the sister of Lazarus, together with Lazarus, Martha, and some other disciples of our Lord, being expelled by the Jews, put to sea and landed at Marseilles; and that St. Lazarus became the first Bishop of that See.
The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene (July 22) is celebrated by the Greeks as well as the Latins (Roman)
However, in the instructions given with the latest edition of the Roman Calendar, the Latin Church has stipulated that the feast is solely that of the woman to whom Christ appeared and not that of the sister of Lazarus or the penitent woman.

(Cf. "Lives...of the Saints Catholic Bk Publish Co.)