When did Magnificat Start?
Magnificat was begun by a group of Catholic women from the Archdiocese of New Orleans who observed a need among Catholic Women for a faith-sharing experience in a relaxed social setting.
Archbishop Philip Hannan (deceased)
Bishop Stanley Ott (deceased)
Magnificat was the inspiration of the late Bishop Stanley J. Ott (then Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans) with the encouragement of the late Archbishop Philip Hannan (Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans). Its first function, a prayer breakfast took place on October 7, 1981.
Magnificat is a private association of the Christian faithful, whose statutes were originally approved by Archbishop Philip Hannan of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and are in accord with the norm of Canon 305.2 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law. While Magnificat began under the auspices of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and was first incorporated in the State of Louisiana, each local chapters functions with permission of the local ordinary and is incorporated in its respective state.
It was born out of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and has been nurtured by it.
Magnificat’s First Service Team and First Speaker
From left to right
Judy Zelden; Patti Mansfield, Speaker; Lorraine Levine; Marilyn Quirk; and Yvonne Hymel
