About St. Mary Magdalene · Apex, North Carolina
St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church is a growing parish of the Diocese of Raleigh located in Apex, North Carolina, in the heart of southwestern Wake County. The parish was founded in 1997 by Monsignor Donald F. Staib at the request of Bishop Joseph Gossman, celebrated its first Mass on September 12, 1999, and opened its parish school in August 2000. Today it serves as both a worshipping community and the home of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School (Pre-K through 8), with a full sacramental life including daily Mass, Saturday Vigil and Sunday liturgies, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and a broad Faith Formation program for children, youth, and adults.
- Established
- 1997 (parish established); first Mass September 12, 1999
- Patron
- St. Mary Magdalene
- Rector
- Very Reverend Randy V. Gonzales, C.I.C.M., V.F. (appointed Pastor effective June 30, 2026, succeeding Fr. Michael E. Coveyou, who served as Pastor from June 25, 2024)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
St. Mary Magdalene is a vibrant, multigenerational Catholic community offering daily and Sunday Masses (including a 9 AM Mass livestreamed on YouTube), Saturday Vigil and a 6 PM Youth Mass, a robust Saturday confession schedule, and First-Friday Eucharistic Adoration. Families benefit from St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School (Pre-K–8) and the parish's K–4 'Gather' family faith formation program, while middle-school, youth, and adult ministries, plus strong liturgical and family-life programs (Chrysalis marriage enrichment, Men's Friday Morning Faith Development, Young Adults, Music ministry), give every member a clear way to belong and serve.
Mass times at St. Mary Magdalene
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM (check the weekly E-News bulletin for any schedule changes)
- By appointment — contact the Parish Office at 919-657-4800 or [email protected]
Adoration times
- Friday 9:45 AM – 7:00 PM on First Fridays (immediately following the 9:00 AM daily Mass)
Parish History & Founding Story
St. Mary Magdalene Parish was born in 1997 when Bishop Joseph Gossman appointed Father Donald F. Staib to found a new parish and school in southwest Wake County. The first Mass was celebrated at Apex Middle School on September 12, 1999, and the parish moved onto its present campus on August 13, 2000, when Bishop Gossman blessed the newly built classroom and parish-office building. The current church was dedicated in July 2017, and a 25,000-square-foot Parish Life Center is now in design.
- 1997 — Bishop Joseph Gossman appoints Msgr. Donald F. Staib as founding Pastor
- June 6, 1999 — Groundbreaking
- September 12, 1999 — First Mass (at Apex Middle School)
- August 5, 2000 — Parish school opens with 330 students, Pre-K–8
- August 13, 2000 — Bishop Gossman blesses the campus; parish moves to present site
- 2004 — Completion of the Activity Building
- July 2017 — Dedication of the church by then Auxiliary Bishop-elect Bernard 'Ned' Shlesinger
- June 30, 2020 — Msgr. Staib retires after 23 years; Father Christopher Koehn becomes Pastor
- June 25, 2024 — Father Michael Coveyou becomes Pastor; Father Francis Xavier Kayondo joins as Parochial Vicar
- May 2024 — Diocese approves design phase for the Parish Life Center
- June 30, 2026 — Father Randy V. Gonzales, C.I.C.M., V.F., appointed Pastor
Clergy, Staff & Parish Leadership
The parish is led by its Pastor with the assistance of a Parochial Vicar and two permanent Deacons. Monsignor Donald F. Staib serves as Pastor Emeritus. Liturgical music is directed by Andrew Witchger. Faith Formation contacts include Suzanne Will (Gather program) and Julie Hoffman (scholarships).
- Pastor — Very Rev. Randy V. Gonzales, C.I.C.M., V.F. (effective June 30, 2026)
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Francis Xavier Kayondo
- Deacon Dev Lobo
- Deacon Rick Stevens
- Pastor Emeritus — Monsignor Donald F. Staib
- Music Director — Andrew Witchger
- Gather (Family Faith Formation) — Suzanne Will, 919-657-4800 x7280
- Scholarships — Julie Hoffman, [email protected]
Sacraments
Information and registration for all seven Catholic sacraments is provided through the Parish Office. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are prepared through the Gather family faith formation program; Reconciliation is offered weekly on Saturdays or by appointment; Anointing of the Sick and Marriage preparation are arranged through the Parish Office.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (via Gather)
- Confirmation
- Reconciliation (Saturday 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM or by appointment)
- Anointing of the Sick (by appointment)
- Marriage (Marriage Prep required; Wedding Team assists)
- Funerals
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Mary Magdalene centers on the family. 'Gather' is the parish's K–4 program designed to help parents as the primary educators of their children in the faith; it meets Tuesday evenings 6:15–7:30 PM in the church and school buildings. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist is built into the second year of Gather. Separate programs serve middle-school youth, high-school youth, and adults, and the parish publishes First Reconciliation and First Eucharist dates annually.
- Gather (K–4 Family Faith Formation) — Tuesday 6:15–7:30 PM
- First Reconciliation preparation (year 2 of Gather)
- First Eucharist preparation (year 2 of Gather)
- Middle School and Youth Ministry
- Adult faith formation offerings
- Registration: July 1 – August 31 ($80/child; $50 late fee after Aug 31)
St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School
St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School is a parish school serving grades Pre-K through 8 under the motto 'We Pray. We Learn. We Care.' It opened August 5, 2000 with 330 students under founding principal Bob Cadran, and today operates from the parish campus (school.stmm.net). Peggy Lane became principal in 2023.
- Grades Pre-K through 8
- Opened August 5, 2000 — 330 students
- Founding Principal — Bob Cadran
- Current Principal — Peggy Lane (since 2023)
- Motto — 'We Pray. We Learn. We Care.'
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve Mass in a wide variety of liturgical roles, from proclaiming the Word and distributing Holy Communion to caring for altar linens. Youth in 5th grade and above may become Altar Servers; practicing confirmed Catholics may serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Music ministers rehearse most Wednesday evenings and lead the sung prayer of the community at weekend Masses and Feast Days.
- Altar Servers (5th grade and up)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Ministers of Hospitality / Ushers
- Lectors / Readers
- Music Ministry (adult choirs; Youth Music Ministry)
- Extraordinary Ministers to the Sick and Homebound
- Altar Linen Committee
- Marriage Ministry / Wedding Team
Family Life, Marriage & Adult Ministries
Family Life ministries at StMM are designed to strengthen marriages, form men and women in the faith, and build community. Programs include Chrysalis (marriage enrichment fellowship), Men's Friday Morning Faith Development, and a Young Adults group. Childcare is provided at selected sessions, and adult and teen volunteers are needed.
- Chrysalis — Marriage Enrichment Fellowship (meets 2:45–4:00 PM; childcare provided)
- Men's Friday Morning Faith Development — Fridays 6:30–8:00 AM in the Adult Room
- Young Adults ministry
- Marriage Prep (contact Janine McGann)
- Volunteer opportunities for adult and teen childcare teams
Contact, Location & Visiting
The Parish Office sits inside the main school building on the parish campus on Magdala Place in Apex, NC. Visitors can find Mass and Confession times, directions, and parish news on the parish website; the 9 AM Sunday Mass is livestreamed on YouTube for those who cannot attend in person.
- Parish Office — 625 Magdala Place, Apex, NC 27502
- Church — 725 Magdala Place, Apex, NC 27502
- Phone — 919-657-4800 (ext. 7281)
- Fax — 919-657-4805
- Email — [email protected]
- Website — https://www.stmm.church
- Mass Times/Directions — https://www.stmm.church/mass-times-directions/
- Sunday 9 AM Mass livestreamed on YouTube
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Donald F. Staib1997 – June 30, 2020
Founding Pastor. Native of Williamsport, PA; ordained 1960 (Pontifical College Josephinum); Ph.D. from UNC-Chapel Hill. Retired after 23 years at StMM and 60 years since ordination; named Pastor Emeritus.
- Rev. Christopher S. KoehnJune 2020 – June 2024
Appointed by Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama. Added new ministries and programs, oversaw design phase of Parish Life Center (Diocese approval May 2024). Transferred to St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Raleigh.
- Rev. Michael E. CoveyouJune 25, 2024 – June 30, 2026
Succeeded Fr. Koehn; oversaw early planning of Parish Life Center and acquisition of new rectory. Subsequently appointed Pastor of St. Mildred Parish, Swansboro.
- Very Rev. Randy V. Gonzales, C.I.C.M., V.F.effective June 30, 2026
CICM (Missionaries of Scheut); previously Pastor of Transfiguration Parish, Wallace, and Dean of the Newton Grove Deanery.