ATLANTA—Dianne Aube, a parishioner of St. Stephen the Martyr Church, in Lilburn, will be speaking of her faith journey at the May Magnificat, a prayer breakfast open to all women.

The Magnificat will be held on Saturday, May 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Holy Cross Church in Atlanta, which is just off the Chamblee-Tucker Road exit on Interstate 285. All women are welcome to come as the Atlanta Joyful Visitation Chapter hosts this catered breakfast. The morning of friendship, of faith sharing, and of the work of the Holy Spirit begins with music, a decade of the rosary, and a good meal, and continues with a time of praise and worship and the speaker’s sharing of her walk in faith.

Dianne Aube

At the May gathering, Dianne Aube will talk about her spiritual journey, which began when her parents took her to a Catholic charismatic renewal event at Notre Dame University when she was in middle school. She will share how through difficulties in her life, including bullying and the experience of miscarriages, she has felt the continuing presence of God and how in her work, her marriage and her son she has found fulfillment and joy.

She was originally scheduled to speak in February, but the breakfast had to be canceled due to bad winter weather.

Dianne Troncalli, who comes regularly to the gatherings, described the Magnificat as a blessing for women.

“We start our morning with beautiful music to bring us into a time of praise and thanksgiving to God and soak in his healing and peace before we pray a decade of the rosary knowing Our Lady is with us,” she said.

“We hear stories of women living the challenges of life,” she added.

“I have shed tears of pain for those who have encountered sorrows and tears of joy for those who have had prayers answered. We grow in awareness of the pains and struggles we all encounter, the ‘I never knew that’ or ‘I never experienced that’ or ‘that sounds just like me.’”

“Our hearts grow bigger every time we go to a breakfast and we leave with a spirit of renewal to go back out into the world and conquer our struggles one by one, united in spirit and love for one another,” she said. “Often you know just the right someone who needs to hear the message and can offer it to them on a CD.”

She invited women to “come join us for a morning of joy in the Spirit and love for our Blessed Mother. You will be glad you did and leave greatly blessed.”

Juanita Altschuler, who coordinates intercessory prayer for the ministry, said, “I enjoy hearing how our Lord and his dear Mother work in the lives of everyday women like myself. The witness talks are inspiring, the music is lively, the meal is delicious and the table company is always fun.”

Magnificat is an international Catholic women’s ministry inspired by the friendship between Mary and Elizabeth in St. Luke’s Gospel. Magnificat meals are offered four times a year in Atlanta.

There is time for intercessory prayer during the morning and the sacrament of reconciliation is available afterward.

Reservations are $15 apiece and have to be made in advance. To register, please send your name, address, contact information and a check made payable to Magnificat Joyful Visitation to Jo Ann Rademacher, 1260 Mountain Ivey Court, Sugar Hill, GA 30518. Reservations must be postmarked by May 2. No tickets will be returned. Check-in will be at the door for those with reservations only.

Those who had registered and paid for a ticket to the February meal are asked to contact Jo Ann Rademacher with any questions.

Priests and religious are invited to attend free of charge, but reservations are still requested to plan for the meal. Since the morning 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. 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.

For more information, please contact Jo Ann Rademacher at 770-831-0693.

To receive an invitation to this or future Magnificat meals by email, please send a request to joyfulvisitation@gmail.com.