Mary Ann McNeil

ATLANTA—Mary Ann McNeil, the founder and director of PATH, the Post Abortion Treatment and Healing ministry, will be the guest speaker at the Magnificat breakfast for women on Saturday, Feb. 22.

The breakfast will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 2855 Briarcliff Road, NE, Atlanta, in the parish hall. All women are invited to attend.

Shortly after receiving her master’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia, Mary Ann McNeil noticed that there was a great, unmet need in the lives of women who were suffering emotionally following an abortion experience. This was the catalyst to form a ministry to serve this emerging population. With the help of a few dedicated individuals, she founded PATH in 1996 and obtained nonprofit status for the ministry in 1999.

Since then, PATH has served hundreds of women, and increasingly men, with the help of a small army of volunteers. As she walked others through a healing process, Mary Ann discovered that she found God in a new and exciting way. It became clear God wanted to heal his children from the pain and grief of abortion, and he manifests his mercy on every PATH retreat. The monstrance used is a beautiful wooden image of Mary, holding the Blessed Sacrament. She was Jesus’ first tabernacle and it brings to mind the gentleness of Mary as she holds her Son, and all of God’s children.

Mary Ann and her husband, John, have been married for 35 years and are the parents of four adult children.

The breakfast, which is a catered, seated meal, is hosted by the Atlanta Joyful Visitation chapter of Magnificat, which is an international Catholic women’s ministry.

The Atlanta chapter hosts four breakfasts each year. All women are invited to attend this morning of faith sharing from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. with other women as a time to recharge their spiritual lives. Doors open early and guests are encouraged to arrive by 9 a.m.

In addition to the story of the guest speaker, every Magnificat includes praise and prayer led by the music ministry and a time of intercessory prayer. The sacrament of reconciliation is usually available following the meal.

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 postmarked by Feb. 15. 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.