50th Anniversary History Project

1565 First Parish Mass – Nombre de Dios
1870 - 1876 Diocese of St. Augustine - Bishop Augustin Verot
1877-1901 Bishop John Moore (Established St. James in Orlando)
1901-1913 Bishop Kenny
1914-1921 Bishop Michael Joseph Curley
1922-1940 Bishop Patrick Joseph Barry
1940-1967 Bishop Joseph Patrick Hurley
1968 Diocese of Orlando established
1968-1974 Bishop William D Borders
1974-1989 Bishop Thomas Grady
1990-2004 Bishop Norbert Dorsey
2004-2010 Bishop Thomas Wenski
2010-Present Bishop John Noonan
2013-Present Pope Francis

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

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/CommunityFest
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

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

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

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

1994 Parish Mission Statement renewed
1995 ReThreads 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
1999-2000 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 ReThreads Thriftstore 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. The School and Early Learning Center merge. The Knights of Columbus donates the Ten Commandments & Beatitudes monument situated in our grotto. The Men’s Club erects a cross placed on top of the Church.
2010 St. Mary Magdalen is awarded the Light of Faith Communications Award by the Diocese of Orlando. Mustang Club is resurrected. The Council of Catholic Women donates a fountain near the side entrance of the Church.
2012 Share the Care takes over operations of the Adult Day Care Center.
2014 St. Mary Magdalen Parish is presented the Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy Award by the International Catholic Stewardship Council for outstanding work in Christian stewardship formation
2015 Fr. Frank Lobo (Spanish-speaking) joins St. Mary Magdalen
2016 Monsignor Edward Thompson, beloved associate pastor, passes away at 92; Fr. Michael Burke joins St. Mary Magdalen