Bishop Luis R. Zarama, auxiliary bishop of the Atlanta Archdiocese, will be the speaker at the breakfast hosted by the Magnificat ministry to women on Saturday, Aug. 13, at Holy Cross Church in Atlanta.

Bishop Zarama, who was ordained to the priesthood in 1993, was the beloved pastor of St. Mark Church in Clarkesville and St. Helena Church in Clayton for a decade, working especially with young people. He was then asked to be a vicar general of the Atlanta Archdiocese by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, called to new roles in leadership and administration. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as the auxiliary bishop of Atlanta to assist Archbishop Gregory in any way he is needed to shepherd the Church throughout the archdiocese.

A native of Colombia, South America, Bishop Zarama holds degrees in philosophy, theology and canon law. His motto as a bishop is “God is love.”

Bishop Luis R. Zarama

He will relate his story of faith—how what he expected in life has been dramatically changed by God’s plans—and the spiritual wisdom that is a part of his life in striving to follow the Lord faithfully.

The Magnificat will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Holy Cross Church, 3773 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta. The morning includes a seated breakfast and a time for fellowship, a time of prayer and worship led by the music ministry, intercessory prayer, and the speaker’s talk. Doors open at 8:30 a.m.

Magnificat is an international ministry to Catholic women that is a private association of the faithful within the Catholic Church under the jurisdiction of the local bishop. Its purpose is to help Catholic women to 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.

The Joyful Visitation Chapter of Magnificat in Atlanta hosts Magnificat meals quarterly and has been active in the archdiocese for 19 years.

In an effort to reach more women from across the archdiocese, the Magnificat is being held on this occasion at Holy Cross Church. Holy Cross is located on Chamblee-Tucker Road just outside the perimeter, easily accessible from the Chamblee-Tucker Road exit on I-285.

“I am always saddened when I talk to women around the archdiocese and they have never heard of the Magnificat ministry,” said Beth Gowasack, coordinator of the Joyful Visitation Chapter. “I realize we need to try harder to make ourselves known throughout the archdiocese. One way to do that is to have a meal in a different location in an effort to be accessible to more women.”

She described the Magnificat as a time for women to step aside for a morning to grow in faith.

“Sometimes as women, our lives are so busy we don’t stop and take time for ourselves spiritually. This is a morning to be fortified spiritually to go out and do whatever it is each of us is called to do,” she said.

“We underestimate how uplifting it can be in our lives to spend time with women who share your faith. Praying with them, sharing the morning with them can really be renewing and uplifting,” she continued.

The faith stories of Magnificat speakers are stories of ordinary people, most often women from the archdiocese itself, for whom God has done extraordinary things.

“There is something very powerful, very encouraging about that,” the coordinator said. “It makes us realize each of us has a faith story.”

All women are invited to the Magnificat meal. Reservations are $15 a person and must be made in advance. Seating is limited and no reservations are taken at the door. Please send your name, address, parish and contact information, with a check payable to Magnificat Joyful Visitation, to Kathy Timony, 6170 Rachel Ridge, Norcross, GA 30092. Requests must be postmarked by Aug. 6. No tickets will be returned. Those with reservations will check in at the door on Aug. 13.

Priests and religious may attend as guests of Magnificat, but reservations are still requested in order to plan the meal appropriately. Those who would like to receive an invitation to Magnificat by e-mail are asked to send a request to joyfulvisitation@gmail.com.

For further information, please contact Kathy Timony at (770) 263-6957.