Emmanuela Medina will be the guest speaker at the Magnificat breakfast for women on Saturday, Nov. 17, at Holy Cross Church, Atlanta.

The Atlanta Joyful Visitation chapter of the international Catholic women’s ministry hosts the breakfast. All women are invited to attend this morning of faith sharing and hospitality.

The story inspires her choice of a Psalm for her Magnificat: “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.”

Years before coming to the United States in 1981, she taught in Catholic institutions administered by the Holy Spirit Sisters and the Daughters of Charity. Open to whatever additional graces God might provide, she met Catholics who told her of giving her life to the Lord and receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. She experienced physical healing and this new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This was like a new breath of life, leading to a desire for this once quiet woman to declare God’s love to others.

Since 1983, Emmanuela has been part of the prayer community at Corpus Christi Church, Stone Mountain, growing in faith, giving her witness in Life in the Spirit seminars, and praying for many needs. She also helped lead many Life in the Eucharist seminars, with an irrepressible longing to share God’s love with others.

Recently retired from Emory University’s Health Sciences Center Library, she is the coordinator of the Atlanta Catholic Charismatic Renewal and serves on a national council for the charismatic renewal to foster the dynamic grace of baptism in the Holy Spirit.

In her Magnificat, she will speak of how she fell in love with the Lord and her realization that “there is more” that God longs to pour out on those living the Christian life, a message for anyone seeking a deeper relationship with the Lord to hear.

The Magnificat breakfast is held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Doors open early and guests are encouraged to arrive by 9 a.m. Holy Cross Church is located at 3773 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta, near the Interstate 285 exit of Chamblee-Tucker Road.

In addition to the story of the guest speaker, every Magnificat includes a time of praise and prayer, music ministry, the opportunity to share a meal with other women in a relaxing, faith-filled environment, a time of intercessory prayer, a Catholic gift and book table, and the opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation following the meal.

Magnificat is an international Catholic women’s ministry founded in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, with local chapters established with the approval of the bishop. The ministry is designed to help women to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and to experience the fullness of faith made possible by the work of the Holy Spirit.

The inspiration is found in the Magnificat of Mary, who said “yes” to the plan of God for her life, and in the friendship of Mary and her cousin, Elizabeth, who came together to support one another and to proclaim in faith the greatness of God and his miraculous works in their lives. The Atlanta Joyful Visitation chapter of Magnificat was established in May 1992.

All women are invited and encouraged to come and invite a friend to come with them. Reservations are $15 apiece and must be made in advance. Please send name, address, contact information and a check made payable to Magnificat Joyful Visitation to Kathy Timony, 6170 Rachel Ridge, Norcross, GA 30092. Reservations must be sent by Nov. 10. No tickets will be returned. Check-in will be at the door for those with reservations only.

Priests and religious are invited to attend free of charge, but reservations are still requested to plan for the meal. Since the Magnificat is designed to speak to the hearts of women free of distractions, it is respectfully requested that young children not be in attendance.