History of St. Mary Magdalene Church & School

Our nickname, “The Madeleine,” is attributed to Father Thompson, which he connected to a church in France.

The Setting

Archbishop Christie entrusted Father George Thompson with the task of creating a parish in Irvington, the summer of 1911. At a cost of $20,000 a tract of land covered with trees and heavy underbrush was purchased and became the site for the original church on our campus. Prior to its being blessed by Archbishop Christie on February 22, 1912, Mass was celebrated at the homes of James F. Clarkson, on the corner of 21^st and NE Klickitat, and at those of other parishioners. A fire in the original church, September 19, 1913, caused an estimated damage of $500.00

By September 1912 the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, who served for over 50 years as teachers and continue to serve in other capacities, opened the parish school. Soon about 500 parishioners came to the Open House for the Convent, October 5, 1913. Work on the New School began April 11, 1927, under the direction of Mr. George Mangas. The High School opened September 6, 1927. However, on March 20, 1946, the decision was made to close the Madeleine High School. Later the new wing of the parish school was formally opened on January 14, 1962. Madeleine School principals were: Sisters Mary Gladys, Mary Antonella, Esther Mary, Flavia Maria, Mary Basilla, Mary Petronella, Veronica Mary, Ann Myra, Marita Anne (Marie Dawson), Mary Inez Joan (Josephine Tierney), Mary Jean Michele (Ann Paradis), Mary Andrea (Rosalie Orr); and Rich Shea, Bernadette Kunnen, and Susan Steele.

The campaign to raise $250,000 toward building a New Church took off on June 28, 1953. The “New Church” and Rectory constructions, with rose-colored Willamina brick and a roof of asbestos slate, were begun on December 31, 1953, to accommodate 600 people. Inside the Church one finds bronze, copper, terracotta, marble, and other liturgical art materials and forms from France, Belgium, Italy, and elsewhere. The general contractor was A.M. Linden, and the architects were Francis Jacobberger and John J. Stanton. Archbishop Howard dedicated the New Church, May 26, 1955. The documented cost for Church and Rectory was $500,000.

On October 29, 1967, Archbishop Dwyer blessed a new convent, which was to house 18 sisters; it had its own private chapel as well. Approval was given to add a 6,500 square foot parish hall, on May 18, 1984. Toward the end of the century, in 1995, Cardinal Basil Hume of England dedicated the renovated gymnasium, a reality made possible by a grant from Meyer Memorial Trust, of $450,000 and a later matching grant of $142,000 for the renovation of the gym and the unstable building.

Pastoral Leadership

The Madeleine has kept each of its 7 pastors for some time. During the past 100 years, each facilitated growth of the Faith community at the Madeleine, oversaw many changes, and engineered the buildings to house parishioner spiritual and educational needs, as one notes from the descriptions above. In 1911 Reverend George F. Thompson was appointed to a parish of approximately 70 families. Reverend George Campbell became the second pastor in July 1939. Monsignor Edmund Van der Zanden followed him as the third pastor in 1964. Reverend Frank Campbell was appointed pastor in 1980, when the new parish center was built, and Reverend Richard Sirianni was the fifth pastor. Reverend E.B. Painter, S.J. became the sixth pastor, in 1998; sudden death took him, but not before the Field of Dreams became a reality. Reverend Michael Biewend, “Fr. Mike,” was appointed as seventh pastor in 2008. With his leadership, the parishioners of Madeleine carry on the parish mission of building a community to welcome all, with the restoration of the “The Old Madeleine Church” to serve all God’s People in the geographic area. In earnest these seven pastors, in these 100 years, have led parishioners to live out the Madeleine mission, “Furthering the Reign of God, Where All are welcome.”

During those same 100 years a number of newly ordained priests have returned to celebrate their First Mass: Father William S. Walsh, Father John Larkin, Father Patrick Dooley, Father William Dooley, Father William S. Stone, Father Thomas McMahon, Father Edward Altstock, Father Ronald Warren. Currently Madeleine welcomes seminarian interns, transitional deacons, and a permanent deacon, to serve and to learn from the Madeleine Faith Community.

Some Unique Historical Highlights

On October 11, 1918, the parish schools and churches were quarantined and closed for five weeks, in the city’s efforts to decrease the spread of Spanish influenza. May 31, 1929 the first Sodality of Mary in the Madeleine Parish was organized by the high school girls. A concert grand piano was donated to the school by the Mothers’ Club on October 29, 1936. Because of the “war effort” sugar rationing began April 23, 1942. The Madeleine celebrated the 50 years of education by the Sisters of the Holy Names, May 19, 1963. By June 1966 the school year closed with an enrollment of 715 students. The Madeleine School was the first Catholic School to undergo the scrutiny of the State Evaluation Team, and they passed with flying colors, February 23, 1978. February 21, 2012, The Madeleine Parish celebrated its Centennial, 1912-2012. This year was the 50^th Anniversary of the Vatican Council II, celebrated in the parish in October 2012.

Visioning the Future

Not only does the Madeleine extend a welcome to all, but it also reaches out to serve through its many ministries described elsewhere in this handbook. Some examples of Outreach are: ministry to the Homebound, Blanchet House, Janus Greenhouse, St. Vincent de Paul, a School in Haiti, Peace and Justice Committee involvements, Sanctity of Life work, Knights of Columbus services, Cub Scouts of America, and Arts and Environment ecosystems preservation endeavors. Our Field of Dreams offers recreational and gathering space to others beyond the Madeleine community

In 2019, after 8 years of planning and fundraising which began during the parish’s centennial year, our The Old Madeleine Church was fully restored, and is home to many activites, liturgies, events, ministries and much more and much more. You can find out more about our Old Church Project at our dedicated website, OldChurchProject.com