Pastoral staff
Fr. Steve Breck
Pastor
440-854-6017
Bishop Lennon appointed Fr. Steve Breck to serve as pastor of St. Mary Magdalene which commenced on May 2, 2016.
Fr. Steve Breck was ordained a priest on May 20th, 2000. Prior to coming to Saint Mary Magdalene, Fr. Steve served as a parochial vicar at Saint John Neumann, Saint Charles Borromeo, Saint Raphael, and Saint Hilary Parish. Fr. Steve’s home parish is Saint Francis Xavier in Medina. He feels extremely blessed to have had Fr. Mark Hollis as pastor and both Fr. Ron Wearsch and Fr. Stephen Kaminski as parochial vicars at Saint Francis Xavier.
Fr. Steve’s parents come from the Fleet Avenue Neighborhood. Both of his parents are deceased. Fr. Steve is the youngest of seven. He has four older brothers and two older sisters. Most of his siblings live in Northeast Ohio. One brother lives near Indianapolis and another brother, Mark, went home to God in the Spring of 2013. Fr. Steve enjoys being a member of the parish family of Saint Mary Magdalene and is very happy to serve as Pastor.
Bob Soeder
Director of Liturgy and Music
440-854-6015
After being retired for a little over 2 years, Bob Soeder has recently returned to full time parish ministry as Director of Liturgy and Music at Saint Mary Magdalene Church, where he served from 1987 - 1999.
Before retiring in 2022, he served for 22 in the same position at St. Monica Church (Garfiled Hts.) Bob also served as Music Director at St. Francis of Assisi Parish (Gates Mills) and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish (Wickliffe) as well as Associate Organist at a number of parishes throughout the Diocese of Cleveland.
His ministry includes:
- Directing Liturgical & Music Ministry
- Composing media for communications, including emails, newsletters, worship aids, electronic bulletin board, etc.
- Providing workshops, speaking engagements, and musical support as requested by the Diocese of Cleveland and the American Guild of Organists
- Co-Founder of Sustaining the Journey, a ministry resource for Churches, Ministers, and Liturgical Musicians across Northern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania www.SustainingtheJourney.com
Bob holds Lay Ecclesial Ministry Certifications from the Diocese of Cleveland and Notre Dame College of Ohio, and has an Associate of Arts Degree from Cuyahoga Community College. He has studied organ and piano with Dr. Margaret Scharf, Crandall Hendershott, Dr.Joseph Howard and Art Brozé - and conducting with Dr. Warren Scharf.
Stacy Polasko
Religious Education Leader
440-854-6001
Stacy is a lifelong SMM parishioner, where she also attended kindergarten through eighth grade. She was raised by her disabled mother and maternal grandparents, who were active members in the SMM community dating back to the early years. As a family, they traveled to Lourdes, The Holy Land, Rome, Fatima, and various other places. Stacy is blessed to have been given the spiritual and educational experiences from those amazing journeys that she now shares with our children and youth in our SMM programs.
As an adult, Stacy went on to pursue a career in education and taught in both Kenston and Willoughby-Eastlake Schools. After her son completed the SMM PSR program, they together taught the 2nd grade PSR class. She later stepped away from teaching to be a caregiver for her mother and then her grandmother.
She is excited about bringing her experiences and talents to SMM in her new role as the Religious Education Leader. This includes Families in Faith / PSR Principal. Stacy will also be guiding our Sacramental programs, as well as taking on some related office duties.
Stacy is blessed to have a wonderful, supportive husband, Mike, of over 25 years. Their greatest joy is their adult son, Tyler, who has also grown up within the SMM community. As a family, they feel fortunate to be a part of a bigger family at St. Mary Magdalene.
Administrative staff
Rosemarie Sisler
Parish Secretary
440-854-6001
Rosemarie was baptized at St. Mary Magdalene’s but moved away as a child. She returned in 2008 with her husband Jim and daughter Mandi. As a family, they frequently volunteer to support Parish activities. Rosemarie and Jim have been running the annual Parish festival since 2019. Rosemarie and Mandi have served as Altar Servers since 2014. The Sisler family enjoys worshipping together and have found an extended family in the St. Mary Magdalene community.
Rosemarie looks forward to serving the Parish in her new role as Parish Secretary.
Jim Arndt
Business Manager
440-854-6011
Jim and his wife Eve have been members of SMM since 1978. Jim has a Business Degree from Cleveland State University and an MBA from Baldwin Wallace. He was a member of SMM Finance Council for 18 years. Jim has served as St. Mary Magdalene's Business Manager since 2008.
Coletta DiCello
Bulletin Editor and School Liaison
440-854-6003
Coletta and her husband John have been parishioners at St. Mary Magdalene for over 45 years, moving to Willowick in January, 1976. She feels very blessed that together with John they have four children, two sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law and 12 grandchildren. Three of her children and their families belong to SMM, while the fourth lives in New York City.
Coletta has been an employee of SMM since 1984. She began her career in the 1984-85 school year, working in the school office. As time went on and the school closed, she transitioned to working in the parish office. Her focus is as the bulletin editor, the school liaison with area Catholic schools and SMM families enrolled in those schools, and assisting the Parish Secretary in the everyday operation of the parish office.
Tony Ban
Maintenance Manager
440-854-6014
Tony Ban has served as St. Mary Magdalene’s Maintenance Manager since 2014. He brings with him over 30 years of experience running a machine shop in the Cleveland area, along with assisting the church maintenance crew at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Wickliffe, OH. Tony has well-rounded expertise in HVAC, working as a machinist, and running equipment such as the lathe, hydraulic press, and grinders.
Tony is a native of northeast Ohio. He and his wife, Marla, have two children.
Useful Links
St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Community
32114 Vine Street
Willowick, OH 44095
440.943.2133