Father David A. Runnion, vice chancellor of the Diocese of Charleston, S.C., will be the featured speaker at the Magnificat breakfast on Saturday, April 28.

Father Runnion will share the story of his journey to the priesthood at the popular event, which will be held at Killian Hall in Lilburn. After attending Emory College and School of Law, he became an attorney and served on the staff of the Attorney General for the state of Georgia for 29 years. Raised Catholic, he left the church during college but had an adult conversion experience during his service in the military and returned to the Catholic Church. An active lay Catholic, he first discerned a call to the priesthood in 2001 following a period of health problems from which he was healed. Heeding that call to vocation, he attended seminary and became a priest for the Diocese of Charleston on June 3, 2006. In addition to his role as vice chancellor, Father Runnion serves as a parochial vicar at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston.

Women are invited to attend the breakfast, which is held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Killian Hall, 908 Killian Hill Road, Lilburn.

The meal is served in an atmosphere of friendship and faith, modeled on the friendship between Mary and Elizabeth in Luke’s Gospel. The Magnificat meal includes a music ministry, time of intercessory prayer, the testimony of the speaker, breakfast served by the Columbiettes, and the opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.

Tickets are $10 and must be obtained in advance by mailing name, address, phone and parish name, along with a check payable to “Magnificat Joyful Visitation,” to Lynda Cupell, 2140 Briarwillow Drive, NE, Atlanta, GA 30345. Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope in which tickets can be returned. Ticket requests need to be postmarked by April 18 to allow adequate time.

Tickets for priests and Religious are complimentary, but reservations are still requested to ensure proper seating. There is limited seating and tickets are not sold at the door.

Magnificat is an international ministry to Catholic women that was founded in the New Orleans Archdiocese. Magnificat’s purpose is to help Catholic women open more and more to the Holy Spirit through a deeper commitment of their lives to Jesus as Lord and to impart the Holy Spirit to one another by their love, service, and sharing the good news of salvation. It hopes to offer women ways to grow in holiness while also providing a welcoming place for those seeking to renew their relationship with God.

The Joyful Visitation Chapter of Magnificat was established in 1992 and offers four Magnificat meals each year.

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.