Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory will be the speaker at the Aug. 9 breakfast hosted by the Magnificat ministry to Catholic women.

The Saturday gathering from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. is held at Killian Hall, 908 Killian Hill Road, Lilburn. Magnificat is an international ministry to women begun in the Archdiocese of New Orleans with local chapters around the country and abroad.

The Joyful Visitation chapter in the Archdiocese of Atlanta was founded in 1992. Magnificat meals are held quarterly and bring together women in an atmosphere of friendship and faith reflecting that shown between Mary and Elizabeth in the Gospels.

In addition to the reflection by Archbishop Gregory, there will be a time of prayer and praise with a music ministry. All women are warmly invited.

The archbishop is a native of Chicago who decided to become a Catholic while he was attending Catholic grammar school. He went on to study at Niles College, now St. Joseph’s College Seminary, and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary.

Ordained in 1973, he has been a priest for 35 years. The archbishop holds a doctorate in sacred liturgy from the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome, Italy. He was ordained an auxiliary bishop of Chicago in 1983. Eleven years later, Pope John Paul II appointed him as the bishop of the Diocese of Belleville, Ill., where he served for the next 11 years. On Dec. 4, 2004, Pope John Paul II appointed him as the sixth archbishop of Atlanta. He was installed on Jan. 17, 2005.

Archbishop Gregory has served in many leadership roles for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, most prominently as its president from 2001-2004. He is currently chairman-elect of the USCCB Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.

Reservations for the Magnificat may be obtained in advance by sending name, address, phone number and parish, along with a check for $10 per person payable to Magnificat Joyful Visitation, to Lynda Cupell, 2140 Briarwillow Drive, NE, Atlanta, GA 30345.

Reservations are made in advance only. Seating is limited. Requests must be postmarked by July 31.

Priests and religious may attend on a complimentary basis, but reservations are still requested to plan for the meal.

Since the day is designed to speak to the hearts of women free of distractions, it is respectfully requested that young children not be in attendance. Car-pooling is encouraged. No reservations are accepted at the door.