Walking tour of the St. Mary Magdalene Waupaca Church.

1. St. Mary Magdalene Catholic
Faith Community
Walking Tour

2. Welcome to St. Mary Magdalene Catholic
Community and our new worship space

3. Mission Statement
“We are St. Mary Magdalene Catholic
Community, witnessing the Good
News. We will strive through word and
action to welcome, to pray, to teach, to
serve, to share, to heal – reflecting
Christ to the total community.”

4. A Walking Tour of the Church
As you approach the site the bell tower guides you to
the building, the cross standing as a symbol of our
Christianity. As you approach the canopy you pass a
vessel for fire, constructed of copper, limestone and
concrete block, where the community will gather to
celebrate the Easter Vigil and the lighting of the new
fire.

7. 2. Gathering Space (Narthex)
Entering through the main doors you pass through the
entrance into the narthex, a place for gathering and
Christian hospitality. This area can also be made
available for wakes and as a gathering space for other
liturgical events. Speakers connect the narthex and the
worship area and the glass entry doors allow visibility. A
door to the right leads into the “Children’s Chapel” (3),
where comfortable chairs are available for rocking fussy
babies or tired toddlers.

9. To the left is the “Celebration Chapel” (4). The altar from our former church
has been refinished and placed in this chapel for weekday Masses and other
celebrations better suited to this smaller space. We have also brought the
Last Supper carving here from our former church. Refurbished and
restored, it now forms the central focus of a shrine area.

11. A statue of St. Mary Magdalene
(5), our patron, sculpted by artist
Suzanne Young of Oakland
Township, Mich., stands near the
doorway into the worship area
greeting worshipers as they enter
the worship space.

12. 6. The Baptismal Font
Upon entering the church you
encounter the font. Its octagonal
shape symbolizes the eighth
day, the day of resurrection,
reminding us that in baptism we
die to sin and rise to new life in
Christ. The round upper bowl
reminds us of the womb, for it is
here in the waters of Baptism
that we are reborn. The cross
inlay in the tile floor of the font
reminds us of our commitment to
the cross of Christ. Each time
we enter we use water from the
font to mark ourselves with the
Sign of the Cross.

14. 7. Paschal Candle…
The Paschal Candle – “light of
Christ” – is generally placed
near the font and is lit for
baptisms. During the Easter
season and for funerals it may
be located nearer the altar. The
paschal candle stand, like the
processional and freestanding
candle stands, is made of red
oak and designed to reflect the
lines of the sanctuary furniture.

15. The Assembly Space…
The seating allows us to focus on our central altar table and ambo,
while still being able to see one another, thus reminding us of the
presence of Christ in the assembly. Seating includes single, double
and triple configurations. The floor is flat to allow for maximum
flexibility. Movable platform pieces for altar, ambo and presider’s
chair are designed to enhance visibility while still allowing for flexible
seating arrangements. Ramping is designed to allow a barrier free
environment in the church so that all may worship and minister here.
At present, seating is arranged for 600 with additional seating in the
Celebration Chapel for smaller liturgical events.

18. The choir and cantor area (9) are a part of the assembly seating, but arranged to
allow for musical leadership. The organ from our former church is located here,
along with a new grand piano. Storage and workrooms (10) are located behind the
back walls.

19. 11. The Altar…
From the font area, the central aisle leads to the altar.
This simple but noble altar is fashioned from red oak.
Carved leaves encircle the altar, a symbol that is
repeated throughout the worship space.

21. 12. The Ambo…
The ambo (lectern) is also encircled with leaves,
linking the Table of the Word with the Table of the
Lord as the twofold expression of ritual that is
contained in our Sunday worship. The top of the
ambo adjusts to accommodate children and allow for
wheelchair accessibility.

23. 13. The Presider’s Chair…
The presider’s chair is similar
in design to the altar and is
also made of red oak.

24. 14. Cross…
Our celebration cross has two components,
a simple crucifix which is carried in
procession and a stationary cross into which
it is placed, thus creating a complete image.
The stationary cross is made of red oak
with inlaid squares of purple heart wood to
reflect colors and materials used elsewhere
in the space. The body of Jesus, carved
from a lighter wood, offers an expression of
the crucified one.

26. 15. Blessed Sacrament Chapel
and Tabernacle…
Beyond the altar is the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, offering a place
for private prayer. It includes seating and kneelers. The Blessed
Sacrament Chapel anchors the bell tower, a visible reminder to
passers by that this is sacred ground. The tabernacle was brought
over from our former church and has been refurbished to bring it
back to its original beauty. The tower in which it is housed is made
of red oak wood and, again, encircled with leaves reflecting the Tree
of Judah and the Tree of Christ, through which you pass when
entering the space. The design of the chapel is enhanced by the
natural wood ceiling, which almost seems to float above the
tabernacle.

28. 16. Trees…
On either side of the entryway
into the Blessed Sacrament
Chapel two trees frame the
opening. They are carved of
basswood and were designed
and constructed by Michigan
artist, Michael R. Kapitan. Part
of, and coming out from, each
tree are human figures
representing our ancestors in
faith.

29. On the left is the Tree of Judah.
Abraham and Sarah stand at its
base. Above and beyond them
rise Moses, David, Ruth, Isaiah
and, at the top and pointing to the
Tree of Christ, John the Baptist.
Tree of Judah

30. On the right, the Tree of Christ
depicts major figures in Christian
history. This tree has at its base
Peter and Paul. Moving forward
through history we see St.
Isadore the Farmer, Bishop
Oscar Romero, Dorothy Day,
Pope John XXIII and, looking out
at us as though to hand on to us
what has gone before, Mother
Teresa of Calcutta.
Tree of Christ

31. Shrines
The seating area is surrounded
by an ambulatory (17). Off the
ambulatory on either side of the
nave are four shrine areas. On
the right are the shrines of Mary
(18) and Joseph (19). These
statues were brought over from
our former church and have
been refurbished to bring out
their beautiful detail and color.
They are embraced within ivy
enclosures, a living reminder of
our vine and branches theme.

32. On the left side are the shrines of St. Francis of
Assisi (20) and St. Katharine Drexel (21). These
statues were carved by Jerzy Kenar, a well-
known Polish artist now residing in Chicago,
Illinois.
St. Francis is depicted sitting. Open space on
the bench beside him invites you to sit and rest
awhile. Outside the window a flock of sparrows
hovers, as though looking in over the saint’s
shoulder. Beyond, a path winds its way out to a
table set under the trees.
St. Katharine Drexel founded the Sisters of the
Blessed Sacrament, a community of women
whose special concern is service to Native
Americans and African Americans. Mother
Katharine and her sisters founded and staffed
schools in 16 states, including one in New
Orleans that grew into Xavier University.

33. 22. Dedication Candles…
Wrought iron candleholders on the twelve pillars surrounding the nave mark
the places where the church was anointed with holy oil at our church’s
dedication. These special candles will be lit again each year on the
anniversary of our dedication.

34. 23. Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross were rebronzed and brought over from our
former church. New bases were constructed for them, similar to the
bases of the dedication candles and designed to convey the feeling of
vine and branches.

35. 24. Reconciliation Chapel…
To the right of the font is the
Reconciliation Chapel, located in
the base of the smaller tower. A
red oak screen allows for
confession in the traditional
manner or, if the penitent prefers,
space is provided for face-to-face
celebration of the sacrament. A
stained glass window introduces
color and light into the space.

36. May all who enter here share in
the love of our community
Thank you for taking the tour
and May God Bless You