Elyse O’Kane will be the May speaker at the Magnificat breakfast for women held at Killian Hall in Lilburn.

While she is known for her singing voice and her leadership of liturgical music groups in the archdiocese, O’Kane only recently stepped out in faith with the support and encouragement of others to record her first CD of her compositions entitled “With All My Heart.” Local musicians who sing with her on the CD include Mary Welch Rogers, Ed Bolduc and Father Tim Hepburn.

A wife, mother of three, and teacher, she was the music chairwoman for the Joyful Visitation Chapter of Magnificat in Atlanta for 10 years and now serves on the Southeast regional team.

After singing for many years, the first song she composed was a joyous setting for the Magnificat prayer of Mary. The arrangement is now used regularly in the Catholic women’s ministry. Since then she has composed many spiritual songs and as she overcame her initial sense of inadequacy has been grateful to make her music widely available as a way of sharing and spreading God’s grace.

At the breakfast on Saturday, May 13, O’Kane will relate how God prepared her for this ministry through a number of personal challenges, which allowed her to experience the love of Jesus and his healing power. She has learned how God can and will do extraordinary things with ordinary people.

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 May 3 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.