ATLANTA-Marilyn Quirk, founder and leader of Magnificat, a Ministry to Catholic Women, received the pontifical award Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.

The Magnificat ministry was born out of the Charismatic Renewal. Women come together on or near a feast of Mary to not only share a meal, but to worship, have fellowship and listen to a speaker give thanks to God for what he has done in her life, as Mary did in her "Magnificat."

Magnificat held its first meal for 230 women on Oct. 7, 1981, in New Orleans with the encouragement of Archbishop Phillip M. Hannan and Bishop Stanley J. Ott.

It became a private association of the Christian faithful, whose statutes were originally approved by the Archdiocese of New Orleans and are in accord with the 1983 Code of Canon Law. There are 52 chapters worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Malta, Poland and the Caribbean Islands, with 21 chapters in the formation process and inquiries from many more potential chapters.

Quirk is married to Peter and has six children and seven grandchildren. Members of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, Quirk and her husband are also extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist in their parish.

While studying to become an Episcopal medical missionary, Quirk converted to Catholicism in 1958. Possessing a strong devotion to Mary, she has been involved in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal since 1970, serving in several capacities.

Presently, Quirk is a member of the steering committee of the Southern Regional Conference of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. She has spoken at seminars, conferences, days of renewal and retreats on prayer and Christian womanhood.

When Quirk received the award, she said she joyfully carried the women of Magnificat in her heart and again pledged their loyalty to the Holy Father.