St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Willowick, Ohio -- 1949 to 2009
A history written by Kathleen R. Sull
From the very first days of this parish to the present time, St. Mary Magdalene’s has been blessed with dedicated parishioners and fine clerical, religious, and lay leadership. This brief history will highlight some moments in our parish history.
The Pastoral Team: The Collaborative Years
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.
By March 1975, the pastoral team had established the Parish Outreach Program (P.O.P) to encourage communication between the team and parishioners. Volunteer hosts invited people into their homes to discuss likes, dislikes and hopes for the parish with a team member who listened and answered questions. The pastoral team then considered P.O.P responses when planning their ministry. The team was learning who belonged to the parish and what they needed. Another venue for communicating with parishioners began in 1977 with the monthly 8-page parish newspaper, Crossroads, which was mailed to every parish family until 1982. (This method of informing and inspiring parishioners was reinstituted in 2001 on a bi-monthly basis, and it is supplemented by a one-page monthly ministerial newsletter included in parish bulletins.)
During the past 35 years the pastoral team and parishioners have continued to create and sustain a variety of spiritual, social, educational, charitable, and athletic programs to serve our faith community. Long-time parishioners still remember the first Parish and Finance Councils and commissions, and we appreciate those who have served in the years since then. The early 1% program accepted donations of either food or money; now we contribute via Sunday envelopes to the program administered by the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Many people can recall the vibrant retreat programs – “Christ Renews His Parish” for adults and the spirited youth retreats. (Remember the guitar group’s enthusiastic music during Masses in the gym?) The Athletic Association provided parish youngsters with sports programs for many years. Parishioners hosted “A Day for the Life of Your Marriage” for engaged couples and “Marriage Encounters” for those who were already married. And, we cannot forget Genesis II, ecumenical discussion groups, parish art shows, pictorial calendars, and our annual summer Festival which began in the 1950s, did not happen for many years, and began again in 1991.
