St. Mary Magdalene Parish History

St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Community is known for its warmth and hospitality. We are a multi-generational parish reaching out to meet the needs of young and old alike through worship, religious education, faith sharing, prayer, service and outreach.

On March 30, 1890, Rev. P. J. Dillion, resident pastor at Lebanon, opened the doors of St. Mary Magdalene Parish church for the first time. Prior to this the Catholics of Waupaca had been attending Mass at Lanark or Manawa. The church building had been purchased by the members of the parish, most of whom were of Irish descent, from the Congregational Parish. For the next twelve years the parish was served by priests from the surrounding area but, until 1902, remained a Mission church with no resident pastor.

On March 28, 1902, the Rev. A. B. Billion was appointed the first resident pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Parish. The Church of Ss. Peter & Paul in Weyauwega then became a Mission of Waupaca and, along with the Veteran's Home in King, was served by the parish.

In the early 1920's the house on the corner of Badger and Division Streets in downtown Waupaca was purchased. This building served as rectory and weekday chapel until November 20, 1932, when, under the pastorate of Rev. A. O. Rielander, the dream of the congregation, then numbering about 45 families, was realized and a new church and rectory was dedicated by Bishop Paul P. Rhode, Bishop of the Green Bay diocese.

Between 1939 and 1954, under the pastorate of Rev. D. L. Krembs, the interior of the church was completed with the installation of altars, organ and stained glass windows. In December of 1954 Rev. Michael S. Wasniewski became pastor and it was during his pastorate, on June 25, 1969, that the C.C.D (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) Center was built and dedicated by Bishop Aloysius J. Wycislo.

In 1967 a new altar was donated by Dr. W. H. Remmel. Now the community could celebrate the Mass in English and with the priest facing the people in accord with liturgical changes introduced by Vatican II. At the same time the pews were refinished and the sanctuary and sacristies were carpeted.

Between 1969 and 1974, during the pastorate of Rev. Michael Bablitch, four adjoining properties were acquired to be used for parking. Rev. Michael Clifford followed Rev. Bablitch and it was during his pastorate that the parking lot project was completed, the church redecorated, and the sanctuary rearranged to conform to the new liturgy.

A Leader Weekend in the fall of 1974 marked another series of new beginnings for the parish. From this came a Planning Committee and Steering Committee for a Parish Council. On September 21, 1975, the entire parish formally approved the first Constitution for the Parish Council. Soon, as a result of recommendations made by these committees and by the Parish Council, two Dominican sisters, Sister Lisa Lucht and Sister Peg Gabik, were hired as C.C.D. Director and Liturgist/Choir Director. And on February 29, 1976, Russ Lowe, a member of the parish, was ordained to serve as its first Permanent Deacon.

Rev. Clifford was succeeded as pastor in June of 1978 by Rev. Robert Sladek. Rev. James Vennix succeeded Rev. Sladik in September of 1983 and continued as pastor until his retirement on June 30, 2001. Rev. Vennix purchased the land on Shadow Road and began the building process for our present building.

On July 1, 2001, Rev. John J. Becker, previously pastor of St. Peter's Parish in Oshkosh, was appointed pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Parish. Rev. Becker completed the building project and the move to the new church was celebrated with the Mass of Dedication on May 28, 2003. Upon completion of the Education and Administration Wing in the fall of 2004 all parish offices were moved to the new site, and in early October catechists in the Religious Education program officially welcomed their students into the newly completed classrooms.