Our Church Staff

Pastor

Fr.Xavier Arockiasamy Santiago
715-258-2088 ext 105

Fr. Xavier Arockiasamy Santiago

Fr. Xavier Santiago is a priest from the diocese of Sivagangai, a southeast region in India. He is the oldest in the family of three with the brother and a sister. He is from a rural community. He was ordained as a priest in April 2007. He was an associate pastor in three different parishes for three years. From 2010-15, he was a pastor in one of the parishes in the diocese. He came to the diocese of Green Bay in 2015. He was a pastoral administrator at St. Peter and Paul Weyauwega and Sacred Heart in Manawa. In 2018, he started his ministry as a pastoral administrator in Waupaca. He is happy to be here. Welcome everyone to the community!

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Pastoral & Worship Minister

John Laedtke
715-258-2088 ext 106

Lauri Wenninger

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Business Manager

Teri Darby
715-258-2088 ext 102

Teri Darby

Teri joined St. Mary’s on November 5, 2018 as their Business Manager. She is a native of Waupaca and has recently returned “home” after spending the past twenty years in Milwaukee and Madison respectively. She is a graduate of Marquette University with a BA in Business and also holds two HR Certifications, an SPHR and a SHRM-SCP. Her wide range of experience and knowledge are an asset to guiding the Parish forward. Her door is always open for general parish finance and business questions or to discuss things such as donations or contributions. Generally you will find her at Saturday evening Mass with her Mother. In her spare time Teri enjoys spending time with her family, snuggling with her rescue dog Tiffany and playing video games. “Coming home and back to the Church has been a great awaking for me, I enjoy talking and helping our parishioners in any way that I can.”

Bio

Administrative Assistant

Carol Klismet
715-258-2088 ext 101

Carol Klismet

Carol has held the role of Parish Secretary since November 2018. Her responsibility is to keep things running as smoothly as possible in the office. You will usually find her handling the volunteer Lector and Server schedules, keeping sacramental records up to date, office supplies in stock, managing incoming email, distributing postal mail and packages, scheduling mass intentions, answering the phone, or helping out where ever she is needed.

Prior to joining the staff here at St. Mary Magdalene, Carol worked as an Appraisal Review Officer for a local Bank for 14 years. Carol has been married to Steve for 15 years and they together have five children. Carol stays very busy with her children’s activities, as well as caring for three dogs, one cat and one fair fish that has 9 lives!

If you have any questions Carol would be happy to help! Just give her a call at 1-715-258-2088 or email at carol@smm-waupaca.org.

Bio

Coordinator of Religious Education

Kelly McKibben
715-258-2088 ext 110

Kelly McKibben

Kelly joined the St. Mary Magdalene staff in July 2018 as the Religious Education Coordinator for the younger grades of (3yrs old – 8th Grade).
She is responsible for providing opportunities for grade school and middle school youth to discover and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. This includes coordinating faith formation programs, youth ministry activities and outreach to the RE families. "Family is my greatest joy. God has blessed me with a loving & supportive husband and two wonderful sons. Being a part of God’s family through Jesus is what fuels my desire to share Jesus. Relationships are very important to me so I love to spend time with family and friends. I also enjoy meeting & getting to know new people. I enjoy cooking, baking, music, reading, playing board games, and being outdoors."

"My prayer for our parish is that we create a genuine feeling of “homecoming” to everyone that comes to through the church’s doors. Let Jesus shine in us with a welcoming smile, words of love or hands to help. Being a part of God’s family is a beautiful gift that needs to be shared."

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Coordinator of Relgious Education

Ashley Gordon
715-258-2088 ext 109

Ashley Gordon

Ashley Gordon is known for her energy, creativity, love of Catholic theology and a general disposition that can be describes as a “Pollyanna”. When she’s not being a mother to her three amazing children, creating art, cutting a rug on the dance floor, enjoying time on the water and enjoying live music; you can find her at St Mary Magdalene wearing multiple hats. Ashley was called by the Holy Spirit to be the Coordinator of Religious Education at St Mary Magdalene where she runs the programing and Sacrament preparation for our high school students and Confirmation candidates. She also lends her talents to providing opportunities for a vibrant Youth Ministry as well as learning how, in her new added responsibilities, to advise as the Liturgist here at St Mary Magdalene.

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Maintenance Supervisor

Philip Slomski

715-258-2088 ext 114

Philip Slomaski

Philip has been a member of the St. Mary Magdalene Parish for five years, ever since his wife Denise and he moved here five years ago. They bought a house with a few acres just north of town. Philip has been employed my St. Mary Magdalene for the last 2 ½ years. He enjoys his duties here cleaning and maintaining the church. He really enjoys fixing things, talking to the other parishioners that come by for the morning Mass during the week and before and after morning Masses. If you see Philip out and about please stop and say hi. He always has time to say hello and meet new people. “God Bless and hope to see you soon.”

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Music Minister

Emma Kelley

Emma Kelley is a Board Certified Music Therapist who graduated from the University of Evansville. She was an active member of the parish growing up. She has been an alter server, volunteer, choir member, cantor, and has now stepped into the role of Music Minister this year. She is grateful for the support she has received and hopes to continue leading the choir and congregation in joyful song each week by integrating both contemporary and traditional songs into each Mass.

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Parish Accompanist

Jason St. James

Originally from Milwaukee, Jason took up organ lessons at age 8. As a child, he would sit by the piano or organ in church, although at the time had no interest in playing in front of people. After moving to Wild Rose in August 2008, Jason began playing the organ again after stepping away for many years. In January 2009, he became the organist for Christ Lutheran church in West Bloomfield where he stayed until May 2013. In June 2013, he started playing for St, Mary Magdalene as an accompanist.

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Cemetery Sexton

Bob Lewinski

715-258-9456

Bob Lewinski

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Our Mission

“We are St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Community, witnessing the Good News. We will strive through word and action to welcome, to pray, to teach, to share, to heal – reflecting Christ to the total community.”