This document invites the reader to join the Roman Catholic Church community of Saint Mary Magdalene Parish. It provides information on the parish and the process for joining the Catholic faith. For baptized Christians, the process involves confirmation and receiving communion. For those never baptized, it involves the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults program with sacraments of baptism, confirmation and first communion. The timeline for joining is provided, with phases beginning in fall and spring. Readers are encouraged to contact the pastoral minister if interested in exploring membership.

2. Come

3. ComeYou areInvited ToJourneyWith Us!

4. Who are We?

5. Who are We?We are theRoman Catholic ChurchWe have the distinction of tracing our originsback to the time of the apostlesand the birth of Christianity

6. Who are We?We are theRoman Catholic ChurchWe have the distinction of tracing our originsback to the time of the apostlesand the birth of ChristianityBecause of this ancient lineage we,as a Church, are unique in our traditionsand how we live our Christian heritage

7. Who are we as a parish?Saint Mary Magdalene Parish is certainly young in comparison with our Faith Heritage.Even our parish demographics are young and vibrant as we are composed of many young families with young children. At the same time, our senior population provides witness and assistance to those rearing their children in the Catholic Faith.

8. Who are we as a parish?Saint Mary Magdalene Parish is certainly young in comparison with our Faith Heritage.Even our parish demographics are young and vibrant as we are composed of many young families with young children. At the same time, our senior population provides witness and assistance to those rearing their children in the Catholic Faith.What do we Offer?As a parish, we strive to be a sacrament of our founder and Lord, Jesus Christ. As he reached out to all whom he encountered, so we make it our pledge to reach out to each person, attentive to their own life situations, in an effort to share the good news of Christ’s love and concern for all people.

9. What do we do as a parish?

10. What do we do as a parish?

11. What do we do as a parish?

12. What do we do as a parish?We ritually celebrate as a community our joys and sorrows from birth to death.

13. We pass on our stories , traditions and beliefs from the oldest of our community to the youngest.

14. We look after the physical needsof our parishioners and the neighborhood-at-large.

15. And we invite people such as yourself to join with us in our mission asSacrament of Christin the neighborhoods of Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, Queen Creek and Higley

16. Joining us in our mission

17. What is Involved?The process of formally joining the Catholic Church as it is lived here at Saint Mary Magdalene Parish varies depending upon your own religious background.Please remember that participating in any of the information sessionsdoes not commit you to joining the Catholic Church. We see these sessions as an opportunity to answer your questions about the Church as well as our being able to present to you our core practices, beliefs and values.

18. If you are a baptized Christian

19. If you are a baptized ChristianIf you have celebrated baptism in another Christian tradition, we normally do not re-baptize.For submitting oneself to baptism implies that conversion to the Lord has taken place and this moment is sacramentally celebrated only once.

20. If you are a baptized ChristianIf you have celebrated baptism in another Christian tradition, we normally do not re-baptize.For submitting oneself to baptism implies that conversion to the Lord has taken place and this moment is only celebrated once.Most baptized Christians will enter the Catholic Church though the celebration of the Sacraments of Confirmation and Reception of the Eucharist.

21. What’s Involved?

22. What’s Involved?We offer both a Fall and a Spring Preparation process for these sacraments.

23. What’s Involved?We offer both a Fall and a Spring Preparation process for these sacraments.The Fall process begins in late August/early September and concludes with the celebration of the sacraments and initiation into the Church in early January.

24. What’s Involved?We offer both a Fall and a Spring Preparation process for these sacraments.The Fall process begins in late August/early September and concludes with the celebration of the sacraments and initiation into the Church in early January.The Spring group begins in early January and concludes with the celebration of the sacraments and initiation into the Church in late April/early May.

25. For more information or to be asked to be placed on the notification list when the process beginsContactRichard Schonhoff480-279-6737richard@smarymag.org

26. If you have never Celebrated baptism in a christian traditionIf you have never celebrated baptism in a christian tradition

27. If you have never Celebrated baptism in a christian traditionNon-baptized adults and children seven years of age or older are invited to join our RCIA Process(Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)If you have never celebrated baptism in a christian tradition

28. What’s Involved?

29. What’s Involved?The RCIA is definitely a process. At the beginning there is no formal commitment, no demands to “sign on the dotted line.”

30. What’s InvolveD ?The RCIA is definitely a process. At the beginning there is no formal commitment, no demands to “sign on the dotted line.”The Process has three aspects:The first part involves what is called “inquiry” or checking out what the Catholic Church believes, practices and lives.This is a time for questions from you and input from us.

31. What’s InvolveD ?The second part of the journey involves time to reflect on the Scriptures and time to assess how your own spiritual life is developing, especially as regards your future relationship with the Catholic Church.

32. What’s InvolveD ?The second part of the journey involves time to reflect on the Scriptures and assess how your own spiritual life is developing, especially as regards your future relationship with the Catholic Church.It is at this time that we will ask for your first personal commitment to proceed toward celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and full participation in the Eucharist.

33. What’s InvolveD ?The third, and final, part of the process occurs in the Spring of the year, after the celebration of the sacraments .

34. What’s InvolveD ?The third, and final, part of the process occurs in the Spring of the year, after the celebration of the sacraments .We will take time to reflect on the process we have just experienced and reflect upon what God may be calling you to be as a member of the Roman Catholic Church and Saint Mary Magdalene Parish.

35. What isour timeline?

36. We will journey with you according to your scheduleWhat isour timeline?

37. Phase one usually begins in late August/early Fall and ends in DecemberWe will journey with you according to your scheduleWhat isour timeline?

38. Phase one usually begins in late August/early Fall and ends in DecemberWe will journey with you according to your scheduleWhat isour timeline?If you feel ready to continue, phase two begins in early January and ends at Easter

39. Phase one usually begins in late August/early Fall and ends in DecemberWe will journey with you according to your scheduleWhat isour timeline?The final phase begins at Easter and ends six weeks laterIf you feel ready to continue, phase two begins in early January and ends at Easter

40. So ?What should I do?This decision is for you alone.If you have read this far, perhaps the Lord is calling you to join the Catholic Church.If you would like to discuss your own situation or if you have questions, contactRichard Schonhoff480-279-2-6737richard@smarymag.org

41. Come Join Us!

42. We’re waiting for you!

43. Mission Statement of Saint Mary Magdalene Parish

44. Mission Statement of Saint Mary Magdalene ParishA welcoming Roman Catholic Parish

45. Mission Statement of Saint Mary Magdalene ParishA welcoming Roman Catholic ParishThat witnesses the love of Jesus Christ

46. Mission Statement of Saint Mary Magdalene ParishA welcoming Roman Catholic ParishThat witnesses the love of Jesus ChristThrough evangelization

47. Mission Statement of Saint Mary Magdalene ParishA welcoming Roman Catholic ParishThat witnesses the love of Jesus ChristThrough evangelizationCelebration of the sacraments

48. Mission Statement of Saint Mary Magdalene ParishA welcoming Roman Catholic ParishThat witnesses the love of Jesus ChristThrough evangelizationCelebration of the sacramentsFormation and Outreach

49. To explore joining us on our journey

50. To explore joining us on our journeyContact Richard SchonhoffPastoral Minister

51. To explore joining us on our journeyContact Richard SchonhoffPastoral Minister480-279-6737richard@smarymag.org