About St. Mary Magdalen Church · Evanston, Wyoming
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Cheyenne serving Evanston, Wyoming — a small city in the southwest corner of the state just three miles from the Utah border. The parish worships in a 1939 church modeled after a church in Ireland, which replaced an earlier wooden church that burned. St. Mary Magdalen also shares pastoral ministry with its mission church, St. Helen in Fort Bridger, and ministers to a bilingual community with weekend Masses in English and Spanish. It is currently led by Fr. Glen Szczechowski, who joined the parish in June 2024 after 19 years as a priest of the Diocese of Cheyenne.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- St. Mary Magdalen
- Rector
- Fr. Glen Szczechowski
- Diocese
- Diocese of Cheyenne
Why belong here
St. Mary Magdalen offers a small, bilingual Catholic community in southwest Wyoming with daily and weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, a two-year Confirmation preparation track beginning in 8th grade, active youth ministry for middle school, high school and young adults, and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for adults seeking Baptism, First Eucharist or Confirmation. As a sister parish to St. Helen Mission in nearby Fort Bridger, it welcomes registered parishioners to baptisms, marriages (with at least six months' notice and required formation) and the wider liturgical and devotional life of the parish.
Mass times at St. Mary Magdalen Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 pm in the Cry Room
- By appointment (Fr. Glen Szczechowski: [email protected])
- Wednesday 4:00–7:00 pm (per Diocese of Cheyenne parish finder)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 4:00–7:00 pm (per Diocese of Cheyenne parish finder)
About St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Cheyenne located in Evanston, Wyoming — a Uinta County city in the very southwest corner of the state, just three miles from the Utah border. The parish worships in a 1939 church modeled after a church in Ireland, which replaced an earlier wooden church that burned, and was formally incorporated in 1903. St. Mary Magdalen shares pastoral ministry with its mission church, St. Helen in Fort Bridger, and serves a bilingual community with weekend Masses in English and Spanish.
- Diocese of Cheyenne parish
- Current church building: 1939, Irish-style model
- Incorporated June 24, 1903
- Sister mission: St. Helen, Fort Bridger
Parish History
The parish of St. Mary Magdalen was formally organized in 1903, when it was registered under Wyoming law as the 'Church of St. Mary Magdalen.' The original wooden church burned to the ground and was replaced in 1939 by the present-day church, built in a style modeled on a church in Ireland. Over more than a century the parish has grown into a bilingual community, and today shares its pastor with St. Helen Mission in Fort Bridger. The parish has welcomed a succession of priests of the Diocese of Cheyenne, most recently Fr. Glen Szczechowski in June 2024, after the tenure of Fr. Jaime Bueno, a Colombian-born priest celebrated for ministering in English and Spanish.
- Original wooden church destroyed by fire
- Current church built 1939, modeled after a church in Ireland
- Incorporated 1903 as 'Church of St. Mary Magdalen'
- Pastoral Visit by then-Bishop Paul Etienne praised the parish's bilingual ministry
Architecture & Building
The present St. Mary Magdalen church is a 1939 structure whose design is modeled after a church in Ireland, replacing a wooden predecessor that burned. It remains the principal worship space for the parish and houses a Cry Room that doubles as the location for Saturday confessions.
- Built in 1939
- Modeled after a church in Ireland
- On-site Cry Room used for confessions
Clergy & Staff
St. Mary Magdalen is currently served by Fr. Glen Szczechowski as pastor of both St. Mary Magdalen and St. Helen Mission in Fort Bridger. Fr. Glen joined the parish in June 2024 and has been a priest of the Diocese of Cheyenne for 19 years. The parish office is staffed by Gara Klements, a parishioner of more than 37 years who handles day-to-day parish needs.
- Fr. Glen Szczechowski — Pastor, St. Mary Magdalen / St. Helen Mission (since June 2024)
- Gara Klements — Front Office / parish staff
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Mary Magdalen is a parish-wide program focused on religious education for all ages. The parish publishes an annual Faith Formation Letter, Schedule, Adult Faith Formation outline and Registration Form for each program year (most recently 2025–2026). Formation is described as a place for parish members to grow in faith by seeing the face of God in others, with programming that includes Children's Faith Formation, Confirmation Preparation, Adult Faith Formation and Youth Ministry.
- Children's Faith Formation (annual registration)
- Adult Faith Formation
- Confirmation Preparation — two-year journey starting in 8th grade
- Annual Faith Formation Letter and Schedule published each year
Confirmation Preparation
Confirmation at St. Mary Magdalen is a two-year journey of faith. Students typically begin their first year of study in 8th grade and continue into 9th grade. Registration for Year One requires the student's name and grade, parent/guardian contact information, and a brief note on how the family is living the Catholic faith at home. Parents register by emailing [email protected].
- Two-year program (8th and 9th grade)
- Registration via [email protected]
- Family faith-at-home reflection required
OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
OCIA (formerly RCIA) at St. Mary Magdalen welcomes adults who have not yet been baptized, as well as those seeking Confirmation or First Eucharist. The parish describes it as 'more than joining a church — it is embracing a way of life' and invites inquirers to contact Fr. Glen Szczechowski to begin the process of study, prayer and community discernment.
- For unbaptized adults, candidates for Confirmation, and those seeking First Eucharist
- Contact: Fr. Glen Szczechowski, [email protected]
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
St. Mary Magdalen is proud to offer Middle School, High School and Young Adult programming. Middle School Youth Ministry (grades 6–8) centers on an annual retreat and ongoing faith-and-fellowship nights; High School Youth Ministry (grades 9–12) offers mission trips, retreats and monthly fellowship; the Young Adult Ministry serves college-aged, working and 'taking-some-time-off' young adults.
- Middle School Youth Ministry (grades 6–8)
- High School Youth Ministry (grades 9–12): mission trips, retreats, monthly fellowship
- Young Adult Ministry: college, workforce, gap year
Sacraments
The parish offers the full range of Catholic sacraments. Baptisms are reserved for registered parishioners, with preparation classes offered in both English and Spanish on the 2nd Tuesday of each month or by appointment. Marriage preparation requires engaged couples to contact the parish priest at least six months before the desired wedding date. OCIA provides adult initiation into the Church, and Reconciliation is offered weekly with weekday adoration.
- Baptism — for registered parishioners; classes in English & Spanish
- First Eucharist — via OCIA for adults; faith formation for children
- Confirmation — two-year program starting in 8th grade; adult OCIA track
- Marriage — six-month preparation process with the priest
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:00–4:00 pm and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — on request
Baptism Information
At St. Mary Magdalen and St. Helen Mission, baptisms are reserved for registered parishioners. Baptism preparation classes are scheduled for the 2nd Tuesday of every month (available in English and Spanish) or by appointment, with scheduling handled through the parish office.
- Open to registered parishioners
- Classes in English and Spanish
- 2nd Tuesday of each month or by appointment
Marriage Preparation
The Catholic Church requires all engaged couples to participate in marriage formation. St. Mary Magdalen asks couples to contact the parish priest at least six months before their desired wedding date. Inquiries are handled by Jimmy Montoya ([email protected]) or the parish office.
- Six-month notice to the parish priest required
- Contact: Jimmy Montoya, [email protected]
Parish Office & Contact
The parish office at 813 Center Street is the front door for most parish business. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm (closed Wednesday). The mailing address is PO Box 163, Evanston, WY 82931. The pastor can be reached at [email protected]; the office at [email protected]; and the religious education office at [email protected].
- Office: 813 Center St., Evanston, WY 82930
- Mailing: PO Box 163, Evanston, WY 82931
- Phone: 307-789-2189
- Office hours: Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri, 10:30 am–3:30 pm (closed Wednesday)
Sister Mission: St. Helen, Fort Bridger
St. Mary Magdalen shares its pastor with St. Helen Mission in Fort Bridger, a small historic town east of Evanston. A Sunday Mass is celebrated at St. Helen at 11:00 am, and the parish hosts an annual St. Patrick's Day auction and dinner that brings both communities together. The combined pastoral assignment reflects the small Catholic population of southwest Wyoming and the diocese's pattern of pairing parishes across Uinta County.
- Sunday Mass at St. Helen: 11:00 am
- Annual St. Patrick's Day auction and dinner at St. Helen
- Shared pastor with St. Mary Magdalen
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Jaime BuenoBefore June 2024
Priest from Colombia who served St. Mary Magdalen and St. Helen Mission during then-Bishop Etienne's pastoral visit; bilingual (English/Spanish) ministry.
- Very Rev. Louis SheaListed in Diocese of Cheyenne parish finder
Listed in the Diocese of Cheyenne parish finder associated with St. Mary Magdalen / St. Helen.
- Fr. Glen SzczechowskiJune 2024–present
Current pastor; a priest of the Diocese of Cheyenne for 19 years.