About Us
St. Mary of Magdala Church has its roots in a group of year-round Cape residents who were searching for for a place where they could worship in a way which cherished their Catholic roots while maintaining an open and welcoming attitude toward all. In 2005 a community that worshipped this way used to gather weekly in Harwich Port, and gradually more and more people began to attend.
As the years passed. members of the community began to recognize the call from God to form themselves as an Ecumenical Catholic Community. They discovered that they were no longer simply “attending Mass,” but had been called to form a community in which members care for one another and develop relationships.
At a meeting on May 17, 2009, the community reached the decision that it would henceforth be known as St. Mary of Magdala Church, An Ecumenical Catholic Community. In 2011 St. Mary of Magdala Church was incorporated as a non-profit entity in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In early 2013 we received recognition from th IRS as a 501 (c)3 organization. In 2010 St. Mary of Magdala Church formally called Rev. Marie David and Most Rev. Jim David to serve as its co-pastors.
As the years have passed the community has grown in its call and continues to gather each week for worship at St. Peter's Lutheran Church. Outreach from the parish community also continues in its commitment to support the Baby Center and the Faith Family Kitchen, (outreach efforts of the Cape Cod Council of Churches) and other parish outreach efforts. In 2011 parishioner Ann O'Callaghan was affirmed in her call to the diaconate. She underwent training and was ordained as a permanent deacon in 2013. In 2018 the parish recognized the call of two of its members to train for the priesthood. Kathleen Carpenter and Kathy Rigordaeva underwent preparation and were ordained as priests in 2021. In 2022 the parish affirmed the call of Jennifer Keon to ordination, and she was accepted as a candidate in training for the diaconate by the Ecumencial Catholic Diocese of New England. Revs. Jim and Maried David retired as our co-pastors at the end of 2022, and on January 1, 2023, Rev. Kathleen Carpenter and Rev. Kathy Rigordaeva became co-Pastors of St. Mary of Magdala Church.
St. Mary of Magdala Church is Catholic in its heritage and worship, while Ecumenical in its makeup and outreach to the wider community. It is affiliated with the Ecumenical Catholic Diocese of New England. We gather to celebrate Mass each Satruday afternoon at 4;00pm, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in East Harwich, and all are welcome to join us. Click here for directions.
More information is available below, or feel free to contact a member of the pastoral team (see below). Everyone is welcome to join us for worship, and if you are interested in joining our parish one of our pastors will be happy to set up a time to speak with you.
We are an ecumenical community,
The Body of Christ, St. Mary of Magdala Church.
As the Church in this place at this time,
We are called to:
Gather for worship;
Cherish our living Catholic Tradition;
Witness the Gospel; and
Minister to others as Christians in the world.
All are welcome here.
