ATLANTA—At the May Magnificat gathering for women, Sally Kazin, a spiritual director and religious artist, will be speaking of her faith journey, which brought her into the Catholic Church.

The Magnificat meal will be held on Saturday morning, May 3, at Holy Cross Church in Atlanta. All women are invited to attend the breakfast, which is held from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Sally Kazin

Now a member of St. Benedict Church in Duluth, Sally Kazin grew up in Yorkshire, England. Though christened as a baby, she was not raised with a Christian faith and sought her own winding path of spirituality, which led her to the United States and a blind date with U.S. Marine Capt. Gerry Kazin, who became her husband.

After suffering a personal crisis of faith and identity, the Lord guided Sally in a new direction. In 1995 she entered the Roman Catholic Church. Struggling with the church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sally almost discontinued the RCIA program. Soon after, she encountered the Holy Spirit—an experience that would forever change her.

In 2004, after praying the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Sally felt called to share the gift of Ignatian prayer with others. She attended the Cenacle School of Spirituality, graduating as a certified spiritual director. She is the director of the community chapter of the Marian Servants of the Blessed Trinity, a private lay association of the Christian faithful. As a spiritual director, Sally feels blessed to accompany others into a deepening faith encounter with Christ through Scripture, prayer, retreats, the Ignatian spiritual exercises, and her gift of writing and religious art.

She and her husband, who is a permanent deacon, have been married for nearly 25 years and have two daughters.

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 Magnificat gathering is a catered, seated breakfast.

All women are invited to come to this morning of faith sharing as a time to relax and recharge their spiritual lives. 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 April 26. 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.