By Mary Kroner
Lincoln (SNR) - “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden.”
Named after Mary’s song of praise, Magnificat is a private association of the faithful within the Catholic Church ministering to Catholic women. By following the examples set by the Blessed Mother and her relative Saint Elizabeth, this woman-to-woman ministry encourages a lively, active faith in the Lord, along with a love for Mary and the Church.
The organization started as a prayer meal for 200 Catholic women in 1981 in New Orleans and has become an international ministry spreading across the world with chapters in the U. S., Canada, the Caribbean, Malta, Poland and Africa.
Born out of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, members are encouraged to become more open to the Holy Spirit through a deeper commitment of their lives to Jesus as Lord. They also seek to impart the Holy Spirit to one another by their love, service and sharing the good news of salvation.
The apostolate has five objectives, which include living out the joyful mystery of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, helping Catholic women open their lives to the Holy Spirit, providing opportunities for women to grow in holiness, sponsoring the quarterly Magnificat prayer meal, and imitating Mary through the spiritual adoption of priests and seminarians in prayer.
Magnificat of Lincoln, the Morning Star Chapter, was approved by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz and held its first event in 1996.
Rhonda Litt of St. John the Apostle Parish in Lincoln, and president of the Magnificat Morning Star chapter, discussed the significance of Magnificat in her own life.
“For me, Magnificat is what Pope Saint John Paul II called us to be as Catholic women. Magnificat is this ‘visitation’ of women coming together to be imitators of Our Blessed Mother, filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, to proclaim Jesus Christ as King, to support one another, to encourage one another, to be Marys for one another and all those we meet afterwards!”
Msgr. Paul Witt, one of Magnificat’s former spiritual advisors, spoke about the fruits to be derived from participation in the organization.
“What it boils down to,” he said, “is women seeing other women witnessing to their faith and it’s a collective joining together, a bonding, a faith-builder. It’s wonderful. If someone is having a bad day, they ought to go to Magnificat.”
The group hosts quarterly prayer meals, retreats, healing workshops and other activities to support its members.
Magnificat’s International Conference is held every other year. The conference includes prayer, praise and worship, time for fellowship and networking, and daily Mass and confession. There is a procession in which each Magnificat chapter in the world honors the Blessed Virgin Mary with a rose.
Speakers deliver presentations on various topics to encourage growth in holiness and faithfulness to the teachings of the Church. There is a prayer meal to model how chapters should organize their prayer meals. Attendees may also participate in pilgrimages to nearby shrines or churches.
According to Litt, the conference is a life-changing experience.
While no members of the Morning Star Chapter Service Team were able to attend this year, they are busily preparing for their own prayer meals, which take place quarterly at Hillcrest Country Club from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
“It’s like a little bit of heaven,” Litt said, “as we all pray, praise and worship during the prayer meal with the angels and saints! Hearing the speaker, hearing the words of the Holy Spirit through them, is transforming.
“Our hearts are softened, melted and molded by the Holy Spirit through the mercy of Jesus Christ through their witness to His love,” she said.
For women interested in participating, there will be multiple opportunities to do so over the next few months.
“We would like to invite women to our next three scheduled Magnificat Prayer Meals which we are calling, ‘A New Beginning,’” Litt said.
The speakers at these meetings will be Jenny Hall Nov. 13, Father Allan Pham Feb. 5, and Jen Brown May 7.
Hall will present Saturday, Nov. 13, at Hillcrest Country Club, 9401 E. O St., Lincoln. The event, from 9:30 a.m. to noon, will include a buffet meal.
Hall is currently the artist for the Ablaze Ministry in the Omaha Archdiocese. Founder Father Michael Voithofer will also be present. To attend, mail a $25 check (students $15) payable to Magnificat by Thursday, Nov. 4 to Magnificat c/o Tina Colgan, 521 N 56 ST, Lincoln, NE 68504. Pre-registration is required.
With questions, contact Coordinator Rhonda Litt by texting 402.525.6396 or calling 402.489.3819. Or, go to https://magnificat-ministry.net.
Msgr. Witt encouraged, “If you’ve never experienced it, try it out! People not of the Catholic faith are also welcome. Bring a friend!”
