“Be disciples. Make missionary disciples!” - The Church of the Magdalen Mission
Our Mission
Who Is St. Mary Magdalen?
Our patroness, St. Mary Magdalen, is known as “the Apostle to the Apostles,” a title given to her by St. Thomas Aquinas. Her name comes from her home town of Magdala, a fishing village on the Sea of Galilee. She accompanied and served Jesus and the twelve apostles along with “some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities [including] Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out” (Luke 8:2).
Apostle to the Apostles
It is clear that Mary Magdalen’s healing, conversion, and repentance lead to her generous, love-filled discipleship. She stayed by Jesus throughout His crucifixion and death (John 19:25), and followed His body to be buried, keeping vigil: “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting there, facing the tomb.” (Matthew 27:62). Jesus rewarded her devotion by appearing to her first after His Resurrection (John 20: 11-18). She ran to tell the other disciples in the Upper Room, the first to share the Good News, making her the Apostle to the Apostles: “Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord,’ and what he told her” (John 20:18).
Mary Magdalen, Missionary Disciple
St. Mary Magdalen is an excellent example of what it means to be a missionary disciple. It means having a fervent life of prayer that fuels a great desire for following Jesus by imitating his life. This imitation involves bringing others along with you and encouraging other people in your everyday life to have faith. It means announcing the Good News of Jesus’ abundant life with both words and acts of love and mercy. The heart of a disciple is so on fire with the love of God and others that the people who encounter it can't help but be warmed by its fire. A heart on fire for Jesus even ignites the hearts of others with God’s love.
Discipleship = Love
The way we give and receive God’s love is proof of our discipleship. Jesus said: “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-5). Missionary discipleship means to allow yourself to be transformed by the love of God that He pours into our hearts and in turn to pour His love out to others (see Romans 5:5). Practically speaking this means a regular and sustained daily life of prayer, especially at time prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
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Parish Priority Plan
Vision
To be a community of missionary disciples fully alive in love of God and neighbor.
Mission
Be disciples, make missionary disciples!
Priorities
Awaken every heart to the desire for God.
Accompany one another in following Jesus Christ.
Ignited by the Holy Spirit, go set the world ablaze.
