Mary Magdalene Church was founded June 17, 2009 by Rev. Denise Donato and a board of six trustees.

Denise was ordained a deacon in April, 2002 and was ordained to the priesthood on Feb. 22, 2003.

In 2008, Rev. Denise began to feel like God was calling her beyond her work at Spiritus Christi Church, to something new. In October, this call became much more specific. She felt God calling her to begin a new community. Over the next several months this call became stronger and more defined. She became aware that many people were yearning for a new experience of church, however for any number of reasons, many of them would never go downtown to Spiritus Christi Church.

She realized there was a need for an inclusive Catholic church closer to her home in Fairport and she felt God calling her to be the one to bring that to fruition. This call was affirmed over and over again.

Mary Magdalene Church is a small but very vibrant church community. Our congregation is diverse with regard to age, sexuality, marital and economic status. Our parishioners range from babies to mid-eighties. In addition to our sanctuary, we have a small chapel with crosses on the wall to remember the children that parishioners have lost through the years. We are active in the East Rochester Association of Churches and have an active children’s ministry. Join us at 10:00 on Sunday mornings for homilies that you will find relatable, for an inclusive church community, for joyful celebrations with moments of quiet reflection, for a community that reaches out to support one another and our neighbors, and a for Eucharistic table where everyone is welcome!

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