We welcome you to the webpage of the Visitation Chapter of Magnificat in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These are exciting times that we live in, and Magnificat was begun in 1981 for such a time as this. There are now over 100 chapters throughout the United States and its territories and in many foreign countries. Our Chapter also has a website at www.magnificatpittsburgh.org.

Magnificat Meal

Hosted by the Our Lady of the Visitation Chapter

Saturday, August 15, 2026

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

LOCATION:

Hilton Garden Inn/Southpointe

1000 Corporate Drive

Canonsburg, PA 15237

Speaker: Tracy Riffon

Tracy is married with five children and ten grandchildren. She currently lives in West Virginia but lived in five other states, from coast to coast, before making West Viginia her home. Being raised in a military family, she attended seven elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools before graduating. She suffered from depression from middle school to college while trying to work through childhood trauma on her own.  Feeling tremendous hurt and guilt, she struggled with understanding who God was, and His love and forgiveness for her.  Having no traditional religious upbringing, she was confused as to who God really was. Her story is one of finding love, healing, forgiveness and peace through a loving God.

Tickets & Reservations

We do not assign seats so arrive early to check in at the Reservation Table and find seat(s) before the program begins.

Online Registration: Magnificat Pittsburgh Registration

Mail-In Reservation: Magnificat Pittsburgh Registration

Future Meals for Our Chapter – 2026

• October 31, 2026, Marriott North, Cranberry Twp., PA

Upcoming Events

Rosary Blanket of Prayer

Remember our chapter’s commitment to Eucharistic Adoration and to pray the Rosary on the 6th of each month for the intentions of Magnificat, the Church, a New Pentecost, Sanctity of Life, Marriage and Family, and World Peace.

Our Prayer Groups

Is God calling you to be in a Prayer Group? Jesus said, “Wherever two or three are gathered in My Name, there I am in their midst.” Our prayer groups are open to all.

Service Team Members
Christine Miles, Coordinator
Rosemary Taddeo, Assistant Coordinator
Donna Melnick, Treasurer
Janice Palko, Secretary

Deborah Kraus, Assistant Secretary

Sheila Derian, Historian
Fr. Tom Sparacino, Spiritual Advisor

History of the Our Lady of the Visitation Chapter

(Diocese of Pittsburgh, PA)

Our Lady of the Visitation: How it Began

• As told by Mary Samsa, founding member and 1^st Coordinator of the Magnificat Pittsburgh chapter
• Others mentioned in the story:
• Kay Burkot, founding member, 1^st Assistant Coordinator of the Magnificat Pittsburgh chapter
• Loraine Sarver, 1^st Leader of the Intercessory Prayer Team of Magnificat Pittsburgh chapter

Kay and I became friends through church shortly after I moved here in 2001. We both attended the prayer group on Thursday night lead by Lorraine Sarver and her husband.

I was at the 7 pm Mass at St. Ferdinand’s in the day chapel, which is small, so it was easy to notice some new people at Mass. One of the people I recognized was Patty Mansfield, who was a well-known Catholic speaker and part of the group at the Duquesne weekend in the 60s which started the Charismatic Renewal in the U.S.   Patty was traveling with some other people. I ran out after Mass to greet Lorraine telling her Patty Mansfield was at Mass and saying let’s invite her to prayer group.

Patty and her friends were on their way to Steubenville and wanted to attend Mass and Confession and St. Ferdinand had the evening Mass. So, we invited them to prayer group, they stayed and prayed with us.  One of her travel companions was Marilyn Quirk, the founder of Magnificat. Marilyn said to Kay during the evening, “maybe you should start a Magnificat chapter”.  That was that.  A day or so later Kay and I went to breakfast before Kay left for Louisiana for a month to visit her family. During the breakfast, we talked about starting a Magnificat chapter. I had lived in Alexandria Virginia for several years, and they had a chapter there, so I knew of Magnificat. We were both interested in starting a chapter. Then Kay left for Louisiana and that was that.

We sent for the information about starting a chapter, and in reading it we learned that Magnificat was inspired by the Visitation, Mary visiting Elizabeth to care for her during her pregnancy.  Then we noticed the calendar and that the day we had gone to breakfast and decided to start the chapter had been May 31, the Feast of the Visitation.  So, God sent special messengers to us. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mary and Elizabeth were at our table joining us for a cup of tea.  We knew it was God’s will to start the chapter, and we did. We named our chapter Our Lady of the Visitation and knew Jesus and Mary wanted this ministry in Pittsburgh and that the ministry is theirs.