MORE THAN 14 % OF SAINT MARY MAGDALENE HAS BEEN DESTROYED

Saint Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church in Waveland, Mississippi, is primarily a Retreat House. It is located approximately 550 feet from the Gulf of Mexico and beautiful beaches, the main property being approximately 100 feet by 350 feet. We have carefully maintained the natural aspects of the land, which is fenced on all sides and borders at least three subdivisions.

Most of the residents in the area have appreciated the natural beauty of our facility, and, though they really are not supposed to, often stroll and pass the time in our beautiful woods. The building itself is set in the woods in a manner designed to cause the least disturbance of nature.

Imagine beautiful trees, interspersed with underbrush, with winding paths upon which one can walk, pray, think, and expedience the beauty God has created. That was Saint Mary Magdalene

These pictures are not very good, but they do give one a decent impression of the beauty that once was everywhere at Saint Mary Magdalene.

Now imagine it stripped, raped, denuded, and made barren, like this.

All because some people decided they wanted our timber, then tore down our fences to get to the timber, cut a swath about 100 feet by 50 fee on Church property, and piled up on Church property the debris from the felled trees.

Then they said "oops, we made a mistake" and started blaming each other for the damage to St. Mary Magdalene, but they have not even removed the dump they created on Church property.

As best we can determine, a small lot which adjoins Saint Mary Magdalene, was recently purchased by some people in the construction business. The new owner(s) contracted to build, and the builder contracted with a logger to remove trees from the site - or may have sold the trees on the site to the logger. The builder had a survey, but did not refer to the survey when he told the logger what was to be cut. He told the logger some 100 feet by perhaps 200 feet of land which belongs to Saint Mary Magdalene, was to be logged, with the debris pushed to the rear of the property. All of the Saint Mary Magdalene property was sturdily fenced.

The loggers had to climb over the fence to enter Saint Mary Magdalene property, then "bulldozed" the fence, cut nine or more major trees (some pines over 150 feet tall) of various varieties, each worth several thousands of dollars for just the timber. The loggers bulldozed the ground clear for an area approximately 100' x 50'.

Then the builder told the loggers a mistake had been made and the wrong property had been clear cut.

This occurred March 30 and 31, 2000.

Archbishop Paul arrived at Saint Mary Magdalene the evening of Friday, March 31. Saturday morning, April 1, 2000, Archbishop Paul discovered the situation and immediately telephoned the police, then he telephoned his brother, attorney Michael B. Mc Colloster, who has rendered invaluable assistance in discovering who was responsible for the destruction.

We will omit the names of the individuals and companies responsible for this unless restoration negotiations take too long or fail. We will note there has been a lot reluctance to provide us with documents on the part of some of the individuals involved, and it is through the efforts of Michael B. Mc Colloster that progress has been made.

It is our intention to have the property restored to its original condition.

We will post updates as appropriate.

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