About St. Mary Magdalene Mission · Magdalena, New Mexico
St. Mary Magdalene Mission is a mission Catholic church in the small village of Magdalena, New Mexico, served from the mother parish of San Miguel (Old San Miguel Mission) in Socorro. It is part of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and is one of several historic mission communities along the Rio Grande, alongside missions in Polvadera, San Antonio, Lemitar, Luis Lopez, and Alamillo. Sunday Mass is celebrated at noon, with confessions heard right before Mass. Although the mission has no independent web presence, its schedule, sacraments, and staff are administered through the San Miguel parish office (575-835-2891, [email protected]).
- Patron
- St. Mary Magdalene
- Rector
- Fr. John Anasiudu
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Why belong here
St. Mary Magdalene is a small, historic mission church in the heart of New Mexico ranching country, offering a weekly Sunday Mass at noon for Catholics in the Magdalena area. As part of the wider San Miguel parish family in Socorro, it gives parishioners access to a full sacramental life — baptisms, first Communion and Confirmation preparation through CCD, RCIA, weddings, quinceañeras, and a vibrant annual San Miguel Fiesta each September. The community is supported by an active Parish Council, deacons, religious education, and a gift shop and museum at the parent church, making it a welcoming place to worship within a centuries-old Catholic tradition.
Mass times at St. Mary Magdalene Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday before Mass (at St. Mary Magdalene, Magdalena)
- By appointment — call the parish office (575-835-2891) between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon during the week
About St. Mary Magdalene Mission
St. Mary Magdalene Mission is a Catholic mission church serving the village of Magdalena, New Mexico, and is one of seven surviving mission churches of Socorro County. It is a mission of Old San Miguel Mission in Socorro and operates under the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. The mission draws its heritage from the centuries-old tradition of Franciscan evangelization along the Rio Grande that began with the 1598 Oñate expedition. Sunday Mass is celebrated at noon, with confessions heard right before Mass.
- Located at 204 Elm St., Magdalena, NM 87825
- Mailing/Parish office: 403 El Camino Real, Socorro, NM 87801
- Phone: (575) 835-2891 — Fax: (575) 835-1620
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.sdc.org/~smiguel/
History & Heritage
Magdalena lies in territory evangelized by Spanish Franciscans who accompanied Don Juan de Oñate in 1598. Mission churches were established along the Rio Grande to serve colonists and the native Piro Puebloans; St. Mary Magdalene in Magdalena was one of those communities. Today, the mission shares its sacramental and pastoral life with the parent parish of San Miguel in Socorro, the oldest Catholic church site in the United States. Sacramental records for St. Mary Magdalene from 1919–1956 are preserved on microfilm and accessible through FamilySearch.
- Part of the chain of Socorro County missions: San Miguel, San Lorenzo (Polvadera), San Antonio (Alamillo), La Sagrada Familia (Lemitar), San Jose (Luis Lopez), San Antonio (San Antonio), and St. Mary Magdalene (Magdalena).
- Inactive former missions in the cluster include Riley and Kelly.
- San Miguel's 400th anniversary (2015) was celebrated with Masses and concerts across the parish and its missions.
Mission Masses & Fiesta
The cluster of San Miguel missions celebrates a rotating weekly Mission Mass on Saturday evenings at 7:00 p.m., visiting each mission in turn throughout the month. The annual San Miguel Fiesta — typically held the last weekend of September — is the parish's signature community celebration, with food booths, a Mexican kitchen, BBQ, face painting for children, and volunteer opportunities throughout the weekend.
- 1st Saturday — San Lorenzo, Polvadera
- 2nd Saturday — San Antonio, Luis Lopez
- 3rd Saturday — La Sagrada Familia, Lemitar
- 4th Saturday — San Jose Mission, Luis Lopez
- Next Mission Mass: Saturday, July 11, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m. at La Sagrada Familia, Lemitar
- San Miguel Fiestas: Saturday & Sunday, September 26 & 27, 2026
Clergy & Staff
The pastor of San Miguel Parish — and therefore of St. Mary Magdalene Mission — is Fr. John Anasiudu. He is assisted by two deacons, Deacon Mike (Miguel) Ybarra and Deacon Nick Keller. Parish staff include an Administrative Assistant, Business Manager, Religious Education Coordinator, Bookkeeper, Sacristan, and gift-shop managers.
- Pastor: Fr. John Anasiudu
- Deacon: Mike (Miguel) Ybarra
- Deacon: Nick Keller (Newman Center)
- Religious Education: Christina Romero
- Administrative Assistant: Annie Anaya
- Business Manager / Bookkeeper: Rowena Romero / Belinda Green
- Lead Sacristan: Christina Carnagey
- Gift Shop: Barbara Martinez & Tina Garcia
Religious Education & Sacraments
Religious Education (CCD) is offered from Kindergarten through 12th Grade, including First Holy Communion and Confirmation preparation. Registrations for the 2026–2027 CCD year are being accepted at the parish office. RCIA — preparation for adults entering the Catholic Church — is coordinated by Deacon Mike Ybarra. Baptisms are celebrated at the mother church on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month, with a Baptism Preparation Class held on the 1st Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Parents are asked to register at least two weeks in advance.
- CCD — Kindergarten through 12th Grade
- First Holy Communion & Confirmation preparation
- RCIA — Deacon Mike Ybarra
- Baptisms — 2nd & 4th Sundays at San Miguel
- Baptism Class — 1st Thursday of the month, 6:30 p.m.
- Virtus training required for all volunteers (renewed every 5 years)
Parish Council & Ministries
Parish life is supported by a Parish Council and a range of volunteer ministries coordinated through the parish office in Socorro. The council meets regularly and welcomes new volunteers; Virtus training is required before beginning any ministry.
- Parish Council President: Frank Lewark
- Parish Council Vice President: Caleb Kerr
- Parish Council Secretary: Bernadette Zamora
- Gift Shop ministry (Barbara Martinez & Tina Garcia)
- San Miguel Fiesta committee (volunteer booths and food service)
Visiting & Directions
St. Mary Magdalene Mission sits in the small ranching village of Magdalena, two blocks south of 1st Street / US Highway 60, on Elm Street at the corner of 3rd Street. The parish office serving the mission is at 403 El Camino Real, Socorro, NM 87801. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Friday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon (closed 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. Monday–Thursday). For appointments during the week, call between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.
- St. Mary Magdalene — 204 Elm St., Magdalena, NM 87825
- Parish office — 403 El Camino Real, Socorro, NM 87801
- Phone: (575) 835-2891 — Fax: (575) 835-1620
- Email: [email protected]