Bishop Edward Hoban founded this parish January 27, 1949 and Fr. Harold Laubacher was pastor from then until he retired on September 10, 1968. During his pastorate the parish grew enormously, from 600 to 4,000 families. 

The decade of the 1960s was a tumultuous one, a time of great change in our country and our church. The Vatican II ecumenical council (1962-65) began a new era in Catholicism. Changes most obvious to those of us in the pews were: a priest celebrant who faced the congregation, Mass prayers and hymns in English rather than in Latin, and greater lay participation. 

In July 1974, a new leadership era began in St. Mary Magdalene parish. Instead of a pastor and his priest assistants, a pastoral team was formed with Fathers John McDonough, P. William Head, Thomas J. Hyland, and Robert J. Kloos. In 1975, Sr. Gale Marn, OSU and Sr. Patricia Ross, CSJ joined them.