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Winter Newsletter 2010 Volume 11 No. 10
Greetings!Merry Christmas! 
The Advent season is here in all its glory as we open our hearts to God among us. We have been overwhelmed by all your positive comments about our first e-Newsletter and are excited to share more Magnificat news in this Winter edition. We also had several inquiries about online registration for our upcoming Leadership Conference in March 2011. Look for e-mail updates regarding this feature after the Christmas Holidays!
On behalf of the Magnificat Central Service Team, we pray that you and your family experience the full blessings of our Lord this Christmas and throughout the New Year. What a wonderful season this is! Your sister in Christ, 
Marilyn Quirk
Coordinator
Central Service Team
For a copy of this newsletter, click FILE then PRINT
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29th ANNIVERSARY BREAKFAST OF THE MAGNIFICAT MINISTRY
by Paulette Renaudin
Song of Songs Chapter 5 vs. 1. "I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I gather my myrrh and my spices, I eat my honey and my sweet meats, I drink my wine and my milk. Eat, friends; drink! Drink freely of love!"
This indeed was the atmosphere of the 29th Anniversary Breakfast of the Mother Chapter on the Feast of the Holy Rosary.
 As I entered the room, the Music Ministry was leading the joyful praise, to the tune of Elyse O'Kane's Magnificat with the Jewish flavor, in honor of our speaker Annette Baber. The Service Team had even started to "second line" in true Magnificat form! Annette, as you remember, is our Jewish sister who converted to Catholicism. Annette was the founding coordinator of the Grapevine Chapter and the founding coordinator of the Mc Henry, IL Chapter. Annette is so filled with the Holy Spirit it rubs off on everyone around her. The Mother Chapter's Spiritual Advisor, Fr. Joseph Doyle, S.S.J., told her she was a cross between Bette Midler and Barbra Streisand!! She loved the compliments! The evening before, the Service Team had enjoyed New Orleans cuisine and Annette was raving over the oysters. Donna McNamara was so very Spirit-filled leading the breakfast.
 Marilyn Quirk, Elaine Chetta, and I were present representing the CST and Joan Lococo surprised us with her attendance. Joan had a word from the Lord for us about how much God loves us and how His presence was felt very strongly at the breakfast. We were also blessed to have Judi Lynx, Annette's prayer partner of thirty years, with us to share in the celebration and to pray with the guests. It was indeed a glorious occasion! As I pondered on the past twenty nine years of the Magnificat Ministry, I was overcome with the realization of the incredible blessings and healings that women all over the world have experienced through the witnesses given by women of how the Lord has worked in their lives.
The day was heralded by the launching of our first E-newsletter, the first product of our new Communications Ministry. It was delivered on its due date of October 7, the Feast of the Holy Rosary. It was a labor of love taking nine months from inception to delivery.
We indeed have so much to be thankful for to Our Lord and Our Lady for their leading of this awesome ministry. We knew all of you were with us in spirit, we felt your prayers and your presence at the celebration.
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 FR. KEVIN'S KORNER
by Father Kevin Scallon, C.M.
Magnificat Central Service Team Spiritual Advisor
In this issue, we wanted to use a few of Fr. Kevin's own words to priests and laity alike from his book, I Will Come Myself. Jesus always ministers to us through His priests.
"I will finish this work with the beautiful words of Pope Benedict XVI which he addresses to Mary, Star of the Hope: Through you, through your 'yes', the hope of the ages became reality, entering this world and its history. You bowed low before the greatness of this task and gave your consent: 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word' (Luke 1:38). When you hastened with holy joy across the mountains of Judea to see your cousin Elizabeth, you became the image of the Church to come, which carries the hope of the world in her womb across the mountains of history. But alongside the joy which, with your Magnificat, you proclaimed in word and song for all the centuries to hear, you also knew the dark sayings of the prophets of the suffering of the servant of God in this world... you saw the growing power of hostility and rejection which built up around Jesus until the hour of the Cross, when you had to look upon the Savior of the world, the heir of David, the Son of God dying like a failure, exposed to mockery, between criminals. Then you received the word of Jesus: 'Woman, behold your Son!' (John 19:26). From the cross you became a mother in a new way: the mother of all those who believe in your Son Jesus and wish to follow him. (Spe Salvi: 50)
Mary is the promised woman of the Old Testament. She enters the history of salvation as the one chosen by God to be the mother of our Savior Jesus Christ. Through her, Jesus speaks to a world waiting to be delivered from sin: 'I will come Myself (and cure him)' (Matthew 8:7). Mary draws us closer to her Son. The last words she speaks in the Gospels are, in effect, her final words: 'Do whatever He tells you' (John 2:5). And so, Mary not only brought Christ to the world of the past, she teaches us the way we must go in the present if we are to experience the power of the Risen Christ."
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 MAGNIFICAT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
New Orleans Hilton Hotel
Theme: "In Christ, a New Creation"
A "must attend" for all Service Team members.
Be a part of the momentum that will carry Magnificat
into the future.
On-line registration will be available soon.
It will be a slice of heaven in 2011!
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 | L to R: Bernadette Patrick, Kathy MacInnis,
Pope Benedict XVI (picture), Donna Ross. |
POWER FROM ON HIGH FOR ALL GENERATIONS
National Catholic Charismatic
Leaders' & Ministries' Conference
October 29-31, 2010 St. Paul, Minnesota
All generations were well represented. Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, the pope's preacher, emphasized the importance of passing on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and keeping the flame alive.
After being baptized in the Holy Spirit, Peter Herbeck shared how his life dramatically changed from being hopeless in a dysfunctional family to one of HOPE. In his workshop, he stated that the Church exists to evangelize and all baptized Catholics are called to this Mission ... 24/7! He quoted a recent survey which said only 44% of Catholics are "practicing" and 21% attend Mass at least once a month!
In the same survey, Catholics 18-29 years of age thought the following areas were Morally Acceptable or Not a Moral Issue: Same-Sex Marriage: 63%, Gay/Lesbian Relationships: 65%, Sex Between Unmarrieds: 80%, Embryonic Stem Cell Research: 67%. There is obviously a need for good catechesis.
Peter also noted that Pope John Paul II observed that in the new authentic apostolic movements of the Catholic Church, they shared 4 characteristics, namely:
1.) Conversion - Radical and Total
2.) Community - Brothers & Sisters together. Small groups: accountability
3.) Orthodoxy - Passion for the truth. Practical Training and Formation
4.) Mission - First three (Conversion, Community & Orthodoxy) lead to this one.
It was a powerful conference with much information to ponder. Come, Holy Spirit!
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MAGNIFICAT WESTERN USA REGION RETREAT
"CALLED AND GIFTED"
by Kathleen Beckman, Regional Rep for Western Region
Eighty-five Magnificat leaders representing twelve Western Region Chapters gathered for retreat to be spiritually edified by two anointed priests, Fr. James Kubicki, S.J. (www.apostleshipofprayer.org ) and Fr. John Hampsch, CMF (www.claretiantapeministry.org ).
 The Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, CA was the perfect setting for the "Called and Gifted" retreat. Fr. James Kubicki taught on the theme of being "Called" according to the St. Ignatius Spiritual Exercises. Fr. John Hampsch taught on the theme of being "Gifted", stressing the need for us to share our gifts and use charisms to build up the Church. I spoke on "Magnificat Virtuous Leadership" encompassing the virtues that distinguish a Catholic leader namely, magnanimity and humility. I quoted Fr. John Hardon, S.J. from his Apostolate of Women, "I am confident that the Holy Spirit is sending down His gifts of fiery tongues on the Church today-and with emphasis on the women. He is inspiring them to follow in Mary's footsteps and do for the beleaguered faithful in our day what she did for the infant Church in her day."
One highlight was Mary's Beauty Pageant. Each coordinator was given a "tiara" to crown her respective service team and chairwomen. As she did so, she named one charismatic gift and one virtue of the Immaculate Heart for each team member. It was edifying to hear each coordinator "build up" her team by naming their charism and virtue.
One part of the retreat packet included a personal inventory on the spiritual gifts to help each person discover new gifts and confirm charisms. I was given a model from Magnificat assistant coordinator, Jane Guenther of the St. Louis, MO Chapter when I spoke in St. Louis on September 11. The form is called "Discover Our Gifts, St. Louis Program" by Dr. Carr Elizabeth Worland and Jane Guenther (Janeguenther@archstl.org). Another highlight was the "Healing of the Family Tree" Mass with family genealogy by Fr. Hampsch. Father's homily gave us a much deeper understanding of the importance of praying for multi-generations of our family tree. Donne Lee's (www.donnaleemusic.com ) music ministry added much to our weekend as she led us to "proclaim the greatness of the Lord", (Lk. 1:46).
Fr. James Kubicki's final talk included information on his ministry as the USA National Director of the Apostleship of Prayer. This apostolate distributes the Pope's monthly intentions around the world. The core of the Apostleship of Prayer consists of: 1) The morning offering of our day to God; 2) Offering up everything as a prayer; 3) Living the Eucharist. As Father Kubicki spoke, I recalled the biblical scene when Jesus spoke to the women of Jerusalem on the Via Dolorosa; that they should not weep for Him but for themselves and their children. Our call to travailing prayer fits beautifully with the Apostleship of Prayer (in which St. Therese of Lisieux enrolled). 
Having "magnified the Lord", we departed the retreat with rekindled zeal for God and Magnificat. I am still receiving reports of physical, spiritual, emotional healing. The talks were recorded on CD and can be purchased as a set or individually by emailing: christspaladin@hotmail.com or at www.stjosephradio.com . Each Chapter would be blessed to listen to the anointed retreat masters: Fr. James Kubicki, S.J. and Fr. John Hampsch, C.M.F.
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THE MAGNIFICAT INTERNET PRAYER MINISTRY
by Susan Shaw, Atlanta, Georgia
Matthew 18:20" For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the  midst of them."
Matthew 21:22 "Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
In August 2005, a powerful and destructive hurricane hit the U.S. primarily affecting Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. After the hurricane, we heard on the news how desperate the people were who did not evacuate from New Orleans.
As all of you know, the Ministry of Magnificat originated in the New Orleans area with the CST office being there. Olga Meyers, Southeastern Team Regional Leader, who lives in the Atlanta, GA area, tried to reach as many of our chapters by e-mail for prayers for the people and the CST. This prayerful decision by Olga began what we know today as the Magnificat Internet Prayer Ministry.
In the fall of 2006, Olga was traveling for a few weeks, and asked me to take over sending out prayer requests to the chapters in her absence. I prayerfully said "Yes." God had prepared me for this job in my working years for the U.S. Government Center for Disease Control and Prevention. I was responsible for the development of a Health Alert Network which sends emergency health alerts to state and local departments notifying them of urgency and precautions for their residents. These Health Alerts were sent in an email template.
When Olga returned, I told her how mu ch I enjoyed taking her place in this ministry. After prayer, the CST asked me to chair the Magnificat Internet Prayer Ministry.
Back in 2007, the CST sent a letter to the coordinators of the chapters asking them if they would prayerfully discern if their chapter wanted to participate in this ministry. If the answer was "Yes," they would designate a chairwoman for this ministry. She would start receiving email prayer requests from her chapter and forward them on to me. When I receive them, I edit them, and put them into an email template and send them to the chapter chairwoman. She sends the requests to her chapter members for prayer.
The Lord has been gracious and answered so many of these prayers. Many healings and restorations of body, mind and spirit have been granted through all of these prayers and I have developed many friendships with those involved. It is my honor and privilege to serve the CST in the ministry.
The Magnificat Internet Prayer Ministry is a good gift from God and a blessing for all in the Ministry. May God continue to hear our prayers, and may the Holy Spirit continue to guide this ministry.
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 LITURGY OF THE HOURS
From a commentary on Luke by Saint Ambrose, Bishop
Mary visits Elizabeth
When the angel revealed his message to the Virgin Mary he gave her a sign to win her trust. He told her of the motherhood of an old and barren woman to show that God is able to do all that he wills.
When she hears this, Mary sets out for the hill country. She does not disbelieve God's word; she feels no uncertainty over the message or doubt about the sign. She goes eager in purpose, dutiful in conscience, and hastening for joy. Filled with God, where would she hasten but to the heights? The Holy Spirit does not proceed by slow, laborious efforts. Quickly, too, the blessings of her coming and the Lord's presence are made clear: as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting the child leapt in her womb, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Notice the contrast and the choice of words, Elizabeth is the first to hear Mary's voice, but John is the first to be aware of grace. She hears with the ears of the body, but he leaps for joy at the meaning of the mystery. She is aware of Mary's presence, but he is aware of the Lord's: a woman aware of a woman's presence, the forerunner aware of the pledge of salvation. The women speak of the grace they have received while the children are active in secret, unfolding the mystery of love with the help of their mothers, who prophesy by the spirit of their sons.
The child leaps in the womb; the mother is filled with the Holy Spirit, he fills his mother with the same Spirit. John leaps for joy, and the spirit of Mary rejoices in her turn. When John leaps for joy, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, but we know that though Mary's spirit rejoices she does not need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Her son, who is beyond our understanding, is active in his mother in a way beyond our understanding. Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit after conceiving John, while Mary is filled with the Holy Spirit before conceiving the Lord. Elizabeth says: Blessed are you because you have believed.
You also are blessed because you have heard and believed. A soul that believes both conceives and brings forth the Word of God and acknowledges his works.
Let Mary's soul be in each of you to proclaim the greatness of the Lord. Let her spirit be in each to rejoice in the Lord. Christ has only one mother in the flesh, but we all bring forth Christ in the faith. Every soul receives the Word of God if only it keeps chaste, remains pure and free from sin, its modesty undefiled. The soul that succeeds in this proclaims the greatness of the Lord, just as Mary's soul magnified the Lord and her spirit rejoiced in God her Savior. In another place we read: Magnify the Lord with me. The Lord is magnified, not because the human voice can add anything to God but because he is magnified within us. Christ is the image of God, and if the soul does what is right and holy, it magnifies that image of God, in whose likeness it was created and, in magnifying the image of God, the soul has a share in its greatness and is exalted.
If you would like more information about Liturgy of The Hours, visit www.divineoffice.org
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 WHY THE CST IS PASSIONATE ABOUT THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS
We have included in the past few issues of the Magnificat Newsletter, a reading from the Liturgy of the Hours. We hope you have noticed and enjoyed the readings selected for meditation, or to enhance your own personal prayer. In the Apostolic Letter, Novo Millenio Inuente, at the end of the Jubilee Year 2000, Pope John Paul II said, "It is therefore essential that education in prayer should become in some way a key-point of all pastoral planning. I myself have decided to dedicate the forthcoming Wednesday catecheses to reflections upon the Psalms, beginning with the Psalms of Morning Prayer with which the public prayer of the Church invites us to consecrate and direct our day. How helpful it would be if not only in religious communities but also in parishes more were done to ensure an all pervading climate of prayer. With proper discernment, this would require that popular piety be given its proper place, and that people be educated especially in liturgical prayer. Perhaps it is more thinkable than we usually presume for the average day of a Christian community to combine the many forms of pastoral life and witness in the world with the celebration of the Eucharist and even the recitation of Lauds and Vespers. The experience of many Christian groups, also those made up largely of lay people, is proof of this."
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 PUTTING ON THE ARMOR
by Kay Burkot
The Bible says to put on the armor of God so that "you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Eph. 6:11). The best weapons to use against spiritual warfare are the sacraments.
First, our initiation into the kingdom occurs through baptism. This is the "helmet of salvation", which we "put on" when we are born of water and the spirit and given a new, spiritual life. The Catechism teaches that in baptism, "the imperishable seed" of the Word of God produces life-giving effect (1228). Baptism, the helmet of salvation, is the first piece of armor.
Because of habitual sin preventing us from bearing fruit, we need another piece of armor: the sacrament of confession which restores grace to our souls, represented by the breastplate of righteousness. Even though we receive new life in baptism, it "has not abolished ... the inclination to sin" (CCC 1426). Therefore we need confession to restore our relationship with God. We should take up this breastplate frequently to fight against spiritual warfare as temptations enter our hearts.
The next piece of armor is the shield of faith, which is the source and summit of our faith. The Eucharist empowers us to fight the "flaming darts" which come from every side. With frequent reception of the Eucharist, we are able to move this shield of faith to the left, right, or wherever the attacks come from.
With the sacrament of confirmation, we receive the sword of the Spirit. With the Holy Spirit, we defend ourselves by slaying anything the evil one sends. "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). With this sword of the Spirit, we "Fight the good fight" (1 Tim. 6:12).
The belt of truthfulness can be symbolized by marriage and Holy Orders. Truthfulness and fidelity are very important in these two sacraments. The graces of these sacraments empower us to work with our spouse, our children, our church family to bring about God's kingdom.
We shod our feet with the gospel of peace when we receive The Anointing of the Sick. The Catechism says "The first grace of this sacrament is one of strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the ... frailty of old age" (1520). This sacrament prepares us for spiritual warfare near the end of life. "This last anointing fortifies the end of our earthly life ... for the final struggles before entering the Father's house" (CCC 1523). The peace that accompanies anointing with oil is a glimpse of the peace we will enjoy for eternity.
By receiving the sacraments, we are equipped to handle spiritual warfare. But we also must "Pray at all times" (Eph. 6:18). And "to that end keep alert with all perseverance." We need prayer in addition to the sacraments.
So a life of prayer and frequent reception of the sacraments will dress us in the armor of God and equip us to deal with the enemy. It is the best way to fight spiritual warfare.
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 MAGNIFICAT - POCKET MASS COMPANION
Did you know ... that Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women has a very special relationship with the publication called Magnificat?
Our ministry has given the publication written permission to use our trademark name, Magnificat. As a result, the ministry financially benefits from each paid subscription. In addition, we feel this is one of those win-win situations for everyone.
For those of you who might not be familiar, Magnificat is a lavishly printed, pocket-sized worship aid designed to help you: 1) develop your prayer and spiritual life; 2) find a way to a more profound love for Our Blessed Savior; and
3) participate in the holy Mass with greater fervor. It features beautiful prayers for both morning and evening, drawn from the treasures of the Liturgy of the Hours, and it contains the official texts of the daily Mass. It also has meditations written by the renowned Fathers of the Church, and a great variety of spiritual writings with essays on the lives of the saints of today and the past. In each Magnificat, you will also find an article giving valuable spiritual insight into a masterpiece of sacred art.
Considering there are many benefits to be derived from this wonderful little booklet, it would be prudent for us to build up a high subscription rate within our ministry. If you need help in promoting subscriptions in your chapter, Magnificat will generously make free sample issues available for your breakfasts. We are trying to get a baseline number of how many subscriptions are already circulating throughout our ministry. You could help by adding a "box" on your meal table flyer that the women could check if they already have a subscription.
An annual subscription has fourteen issues - one for each month plus special issues for Holy Week and Christmas. If you are not already enjoying your subscription to Magnificat, we encourage you to treat yourself to this monthly liturgical prayer book filled with much to ponder on the spiritual journey.
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 FR. HAMPSCH LEADS DAY OF RENEWAL
for McHenry, IL Chapter "Mother of the Eucharist"
by Miki Hayden
A Day of Renewal for the Mc Henry, Il, Chapter " Mother of the Eucharist" was blessed on August 14 to have Fr. John Hampsch as their featured speaker. Fr. Hampsch is a member of the Claretian Missionaries. He is a prodigious author of many books on healing and related subjects, listed in Who's Who in Religion in America, has served as a parish priest, seminary professor and rector, college professor, lecturer, writer and editor. His main interest is bringing Jesus to the heart of the people through mass media.
Fr. Hampsch is a master teacher with a flair for wit! He taught in depth on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The group of almost 300 in attendance sat in rapt attention as he elaborated the Gifts with his fresh teaching.
Appearing with Fr. Hampsch, was Kristin Taylor from Florida. Kristin is a par- excellent vocalist and songwriter whose music and lyrics are given to her by God and often brought tears to the eyes of many as she worshipped God with great poignancy. She interlaces her music with charming, entertaining and funny commentary and witness to her remarkable life. This admirable woman is a mother of 12 children and if this wouldn't keep her busy enough, she feeds around 1000 homeless every week in the Tampa area. She also has a special ministry to the Islands of Samoa in the South Pacific where she has been named an honorary princess. All proceeds from the sale of her CD's go to these selfless ministries.
This wonderful, rich day was capped with a Charismatic Mass with Fr. Hampsch officiating-a perfect end to a perfect day!
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 PRAISE REPORT!
Holy Spirit: God, I felt you today in the speaker's words. Your ever-present glory is so strong and fills me with peace. I love you.
Relationships: Thank you, Lord, for the words of the speaker. Thank you for helping me to understand how much I need to work on my marriage and unconditional love.
Healing Forgiveness: Thank you, God, for touching my heart, for helping me release and forgive those who hurt me so very much.
Fellowship: Dear Lord, thank You from my whole being for Your call to join these women today and to receive Your love through their fellowship and the inspired words of the speaker.
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 *NEW* MAGNIFICAT PIN & PENDANT Show and share your devotion to Our Lady with this beautiful new "Visitation" pin designed exclusively for Magnificat. This unique design, crafted in Sterling silver, may also be worn as a pendant.
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We hope you have enjoyed our Magnificat e-Newsletter and will share its message on the wings of the Holy Spirit to friends near and far. Website and article links are independent of our Magnificat ministry and may prove helpful in your search for additional information faithful to the Magisterium of the Church.
Sincerely,
Marilyn Quirk
Coordinator, Central Service Team
Magnificat, A Ministry To Catholic Women |
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