Magnificat leaders urged to become ‘new wine’

The Magnificat mother chapter in Metairie, founded by Marilyn Quirk, shared its first meal on Oct. 7, 1981.

Forty years to the day later, the ministry for Catholic women, which now has more than 100 chapters worldwide, met for its annual ​​International Leaders’ Conference Oct. 7-10 in Kenner.

Early members of the Central Service Team (CST) – Quirk, Marilyn Heap, Joan Lococo and Judy Zelden – and deceased members were recognized and given the newly published “Magnificat Proclaims: Magnify the Lord,” a collection of 19  powerful testimonies written by clergy, religious and laity at Magnificat Meals around the world. They also received a pictorial book highlighting 40 years of Magnificat memories.

Beaumont bishop speaks

The conference began and ended with a Mass celebrated by Beaumont Bishop David Toups, Magnificat’s spiritual advisor. Father Tom Sparacino, seminary rector in the Pittsburgh Diocese, delivered the opening homily Oct. 7.

In the opening-day session, Father Mike Barry, a priest of Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary,  emphasized that now was the time for restoration and renewal under the leadership of the Blessed Mother.

The evening concluded with Father Michael Voithofer leading the group in “A Personal Encounter with Jesus” as hands lifted high in praise, worship and adoration of Jesus. Susan Potvin and the Living Praise Worship team of Steubenville, Ohio, accompanied Father Voithofer.

Jackie France opened the general session with “Power Tools.” She likened God to our power source, with each member’s individual charisms serving as the “power tools” that, as St. Paul writes in Corinthians, stir the flames of faith. Our heartfelt cry throughout the weekend went from “Fire, Fire, Fire!” to “Power, Power, Power!”

Bishop Toups encouraged the ministry to grow in holiness by knowing who we are and whose we are. Dr. Carol Razza discussed the “Essential Function of Magnificat,” a quarterly meal modeled after the encounter of Mary and Elizabeth at the Visitation, drawing on the charisms of hospitality and evangelization.

Patti Mansfield, a pioneer in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and the first guest speaker to give her testimony at a Magnificat Meal, spoke about borrowing Mary’s virtues and encouraged us to imitate Mary as we take her into our home.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond joined Magnificat Oct. 9 to celebrate Mass. During his homily, he took attendees through a prayer imagery with the woman at the well and her two buckets. He said the first bucket contains our sins, and the second bucket our brokenness. We contemplated Jesus as he asks for both buckets and holds them close to his heart in forgiveness and love.

In an afternoon session, “Living the Legacy,” Cathy Fletcher explained that our legacy is what we live: the example of who we are with our family, friends, in the work place and wherever God places us. She shared how our legacy has evolved and changed through the decades.

At the Magnificat evening meal Oct. 9, Nicole Johnson gave a humorous and exuberant testimony of her conversion to the Catholic Church. Denying she would ever become Catholic, she fought to overcome her mistaken ideas of the church. God had a better plan for her, she said, and she is now all in.

Donna Ross wrapped up the conference by encouraging Magnificat leaders to be intentional listeners, to discern God’s plan and to live in the sacrament of the present moment.

She expressed appreciation for the ministry’s spiritual advisors, who were prayed over for a fresh anointing as our spiritual shepherds.

Bishop Toups encouraged Magnificat servant leaders to grow and change for the good, “new wine for new wine skins,” as mentioned in the Gospel reading. “That means being stretched and challenged. Do whatever he tells you!” he reminded us.

Elise Botch is the newsletter editor for Magnificat’s Central Service Team’s communications ministry.