ABOUT ST. MARY OF MAGDALA CHURCH
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. Gradually the small group grew and during Lent of 2006 the community decided to become an "intentional" community, and to create a brief "Identity Statement." The whole community approved a statement crafted by several of its members, and formally accepted the statement at the Easter Vigil of 2006. It can be seen below.
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. The following statement was released:
St. Mary of Magdala Church is an Ecumenical Catholic Community whose home is St. Mary of Magdala Chapel located here at Evensong Retreat Center.
Pictured at left: Sign in front of our property; on the right is the entrance to St. Mary of Magdala Chapel.
Rev. Marie David and Rev. Jim David are co-pastors. 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 the Americas, Peter J. Brennan, Archbishop. We gather to celebrate Mass each Sunday throughout the year at 10:00 a.m., and all are welcome to join us. Our mission statement reads as follows:
We are an ecumenical community,
The Body of Christ at St. Mary of Magdala Chapel.
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.
For more information please contact Revs. Jim or Marie David at 508-432-0027
or join us any Sunday for Mass at 10:00a.m.
The community continues to worship together every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and anyone is welcome to join us.
Mass is celebrated throughout the year, including the summer months,on Sundays at 10:00 am. Our liturgies are open to all and we are frequently blessed with visitors. Our community is comprised of young and old
Each week we begin our liturgical celebration by having people turn to the people next to them, introduce themselves and share one thing that they are grateful for. In the midst of the chaos that surrounds us in our world, it is important to keep focused on the goodness in our lives.
Here are some comments by community members regarding what St. Mary of Magdala Church means to them::
“I especially appreciate the atmosphere of reverence and prayer-both at the altar and in the community. There is no sense of being rushed and we are comfortable with times of silence. We are a community at prayer - participating from the moment we greet one another with expressions of gratitude, through the opportunity to add our own reflections on the readings and wonder of wonders our inclusion in the proclamation “Through Christ, with Christ and in Christ”. I love having both a woman and a man as celebrants and to lead, guide and counsel. I truly appreciate the inclusive language.”
“We came to Evensong looking for a church that would be like all the good things we knew the Catholic Church should and could be, and found it. Positive, not negative, about a loving God, full of hope that welcomes all.”
“Evensong is as church community was meant to be – inclusive, open, welcoming and honoring the anima and animus of the Divine, making real in our world Jesus’ command to love and serve.”
Our community is:
“ A fresh breeze in a stale world.
A sign of hope when all seems lost.
A place of rest and renewal amid the speed and chaos of life.
A place of people gathering along the journey
To be honest, to be humble, to pray.
The best of the past
And the promise of the future.”
