✦ About Us
Our Mission &
Our Community
✦ Who We Are
A Brand-New
House Church Community
We're a fledgling community of seekers, a brand-new, independent Catholic community in Phoenix. We're starting as a house church—meeting in a home, keeping things intimate and real. We're building something from the ground up, and we're looking for people like you to help shape what we become. No institutional baggage. No pretense. Just people seeking Christ together, with radical welcome for all.
We're part of the Ascension Alliance, an independent Catholic network that provides spiritual oversight and helps us stay connected to the broader Catholic tradition.
Our name comes from St. Mary Magdalene—a woman who was wounded, who sought Christ, and who became the first to proclaim the Resurrection. She's our patron because her story is our story: a place for those seeking, healing, and encountering Christ.
Radical Welcome
You are fully welcome here—exactly as you are. LGBTQ+, divorced, wounded, skeptical, questioning. All are welcome. Not tolerated. Welcomed. Embraced. LGBTQ+ couples can bring partners to worship and community events. LGBTQ+ people serve in all roles in our community. Your identity is not something to hide—you are beloved exactly as you are.
Divorced & Remarried
You are fully welcome to participate in communion, regardless of your marital history. Your past marriage does not disqualify you from the sacraments. We do not judge your choices or your journey. You are welcome at this table.
If You've Been Hurt
If you've been harmed by the church, by a priest, or by faith itself—we understand. You're not alone. We're a community of healing and honest seeking. Your pain is valid. Your journey matters. You belong here.
Real Community
We're not a performance. We're real people building real relationships. We share meals, celebrate together, and support each other through hard times.
Honest Seeking
Questions are welcome. Doubts are welcome. You don't have to believe everything to belong here. You don't have to have it all figured out. We're a community of seekers, not a community of certainty.
Growing Together
We're a young and growing mission, with families, singles, and people of all ages and backgrounds. We're learning what it means to be a community together.
✦ Our Patron
St. Mary Magdalene
Apostle to the Apostles
Our community takes its name and its spirit from St. Mary Magdalene—the woman who stood at the foot of the Cross when others fled, who came to the tomb in the darkness of early morning, and who became the first witness of the Resurrection. The Risen Christ entrusted to her the greatest news in human history: "Go and tell my brothers."
We chose her as our patron because she embodies the spirit of this community: a place for those who have sought Christ through darkness and doubt, who have encountered him in the breaking of bread and the light of the Resurrection, and who now carry that encounter to others. She is the patron of the wounded, the seeking, and the found.
"I have seen the Lord."— St. Mary Magdalene, John 20:18
✦ Her Feast Day
July 22
The feast of St. Mary Magdalene is celebrated on July 22. At Magdalene House, this is our patronal feast—a day of worship, festive fellowship, and special devotion to our patron.
First Witness
Mary Magdalene was the first person to encounter the Risen Christ and the first to proclaim the Resurrection. She is a model of faith, courage, and love.
Patron of the Seeking
Her story of encounter, loss, and renewed encounter with the Risen Christ makes her the perfect patron for a community that welcomes all who are searching for God.
For the Wounded
She is the patron of those who have been hurt, rejected, or lost. If you've been wounded by the church or by life, she understands. And so do we.
✦ Our Pastor
Fr. Joseph
Priest · Pastor · Teacher
Who He Is
Father Joseph is a priest-in-formation, ordained as a subdeacon and preparing for diaconal ordination. But more importantly, he's a pastor—someone who walks alongside people through their spiritual journeys.
His own path hasn't been linear. He's experienced loss, doubt, and profound encounter with Christ. He brings decades of pastoral experience—working with families, children, and seekers through moments of real transformation. He knows what it's like to be wounded. He knows what it's like to seek. And he knows what it's like to find Christ in the midst of it all.
Why Magdalene House
Father Joseph founded Magdalene House because he believes the Church should be a sanctuary for the seeking, the wounded, and the faithful alike—not a fortress. He envisioned a community where ancient Eastern liturgy meets radical welcome, where LGBTQ+ people are fully affirmed and welcomed into every aspect of parish life, where divorced and remarried couples are invited to the table without hesitation, and where questions are honored as much as answers.
Magdalene House exists because he believes Christ's love is boundless—and the Church should reflect that. He doesn't see priesthood as authority, but as a calling to walk alongside you—to listen without judgment, to guide with compassion, and to help you encounter the living Christ in a way that transforms your life. He meets people where they are, not where he thinks they should be.
If You're Struggling
We believe mental health is spiritual health. If you're dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, or crisis, we're here to support you. Fr. Joseph can connect you with counseling resources and pastoral support. You don't have to handle this alone. Reach out.
An Invitation
Whether you're exploring faith for the first time, returning after years away, seeking a community that truly welcomes all of who you are, or simply curious—Father Joseph and Magdalene House are here for you. Come as you are. Questions, doubts, and all. There is a place for you at this table.
✦ Our Bishops
Apostolic Oversight &
Episcopal Leadership
Magdalene House is part of the Ascension Alliance, an independent Catholic community that provides spiritual oversight and helps us stay connected to the broader Catholic tradition. We're blessed to be under the leadership of two dedicated bishops.
Archbishop ALAN
(Kemp) — Presiding Bishop
Presiding bishop of the Ascension Alliance, providing canonical oversight and apostolic succession for all member communities.
Bishop HILDEGARD
(Longoni) — Local Ordinary
Local bishop for Magdalene House, providing direct pastoral and episcopal oversight for our community.