Lorraine V. Murray will be the speaker on Saturday morning, Nov. 12, at the Catholic women’s ministry of Magnificat held at Killian Hall.

At the gathering, which includes a breakfast, she will talk about her journey of faith. A newspaper and magazine columnist and an author, Murray says it was through her vocation of writing that she discovered, as an adult, God’s mercy and healing.

The chapters of her life include her childhood growing up in an Italian-American Catholic family in Miami, and her college experience where, in the process of earning a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Florida, she lost her faith and embraced atheism. This time and the deaths of both of her parents when she was 29 were years of great struggle and difficulty. It was not until her early 40s that she found her way back to Catholicism. Her husband, Jef, was received into the Catholic Church shortly thereafter.

Murray is now the author of three books of spiritual reflections, and her columns appear in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution “Faith and Values” section and in The Georgia Bulletin and other Catholic publications. “Grace Notes” tells the story of her journey from Catholicism to atheism and back again. “Why Me? Why Now?” was written after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in order to help women with cancer find emotional and spiritual healing and “How Shall We Celebrate?” is a series of reflections on the presence of Jesus revealed through holidays and feast days. The Murrays belong to St. John Chrysostom Melkite Catholic Church.

The Atlanta Joyful Visitation chapter of the Magnificat ministry holds a meal four times a year. The meal is a time for women to gather in the spirit of gratitude and praise of God exemplified by the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth in Luke’s Gospel where Mary proclaims her Magnificat. An international Catholic ministry to women, Magnificat began in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Atlanta chapter was formed more than 12 years ago.

The gathering includes a breakfast prepared and served by the Columbiettes at Killian Hall, 908 Killian Hill Road, Lilburn. There is a time of prayer and intercession, as well as the speaker’s talk. A music ministry contributes to the morning of prayer and there is an opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.

The Magnificat meal is held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and must be ordered in advance. Seating is limited and no tickets are sold at the door.

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.

Tickets can be obtained by mail by sending one’s name, address, phone number and parish, if applicable, along with a check payable to Magnificat Joyful Visitation for the requested number of tickets to Lynda Cupell, 2140 Briarwillow Drive, NE, Atlanta, GA 30345. Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope for the tickets to be sent to you. Ticket requests must be postmarked by Nov. 2.

For ticket information contact Lynda Cupell at (404) 634-8303.