ATLANTA—Nicole Lea Hartman, who has founded the Embrace ministry, will speak about her faith journey at the Magnificat gathering for women on Saturday morning, Nov. 15.

All women are invited to the Magnificat breakfast, which will be held at Holy Cross Church in Atlanta, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. This morning of faith offers a catered, seated breakfast where women can gather with friends or make new friends while sharing prayer and praise and hearing of God’s work in the lives of women today.

Nicole Lea Hartman

Hartman grew up in the Midwest in a loving home with a large family. Faith wasn’t part of her everyday life, but she always knew something was missing. Visiting her grandparents and attending Mass with them planted the seed. Right after college, she attended RCIA and entered fully into communion with the Catholic Church. She sensed that God was going to use her for the sake of others. She was a youth minister for over 10 years.

But nothing fully prepared her for what her journey would entail. In 2006 Nicole and Peter Hartman were married and were eager to start their family. After years of struggling with infertility, they were joyfully awaiting the arrival of their first child, Caine, when Nicole had a miscarriage. Two more miscarriages later, doctors told them they would never have children naturally. Feeling alone and disconnected from family and the church, Nicole felt Christ empowering her with his grace to start a ministry called Embrace for families who have faced the struggles and loneliness that losing a baby brings. Shortly after starting the ministry, God blessed Nicole and Peter with a beautiful daughter, Olivia, through adoption.

Nicole will share how this journey has been a gift from God with a purpose and a promise.

Magnificat is an international Catholic women’s ministry with local chapters formed with the approval of the bishop. The Atlanta Joyful Visitation chapter of Magnificat hosts four breakfasts a year.

The inspiration for each meal is the friendship between Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, described in St. Luke’s Gospel, where women share their daily lives in an atmosphere of joy, encouragement and faith.

In addition to the story of the guest speaker, every Magnificat includes praise and worship music and a time of intercessory prayer. The sacrament of reconciliation is available afterward.

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 Nov. 8. 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.

Doors open early and guests are encouraged to arrive by 9 a.m. Holy Cross Church is located at 3773 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta, less than a mile from the Chamblee Tucker Road exit on Interstate 285 outside the Perimeter.