We welcome you to the webpage of the Servants of the Immaculata Chapter of Magnificat in Walnut Creek, California. These are exciting times that we live in and Magnificat was begun in 1981 for such as time as this. There are now over 100 chapters throughout the United States and its territories and in many foreign countries.
Magnificat Meal
Hosted by the Servants of the Immaculata Chapter
Saturday, June 13, 2026
9:30 – 12:30 Prayer Breakfast
Location:
Cathedral of Christ the Light
2121 Harrison Street, Oakland
Magnificat SOTI Guest Speaker: Peggy Murray, mother of Fr. Matthew Murray (St. Isidore, Danville)
Tickets & Reservations
ONLINE PAYMENT – $35.00 + plus a small processing fee
Please mail checks payable to MAGNIFICAT SOTI
Mail to: PO Box 4826, Walnut Creek, California 94596
Since the day is designed to speak to the hearts of women, free of distractions, it is respectfully requested that young children not be in attendance.
Save the Date 2026:
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Saturday, June 13, 2026, 0930-1230 p.m., Cathedral of Christ the Light, 2121 Harrison Street, Oakland. Speaker: Peggy Murray, mother of Fr. Matthew Murray (St. Isidore, Danville)
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Saturday, November, 14, 2026, 0930-1230 p.m., Mission San Jose Church, Fremont, 43300 Mission Blvd, Fremont, CA 94539. Speaker: Sister Mary Vianney Owens, Marian Sisters of Santa Rosa
Rosary Blanket of Prayer
Remember our chapter’s commitment to pray the Rosary on the 29th of each month (and, the 28th in February), joining our sisters in Magnificat for the intentions of a New Pentecost, the Church, Magnificat, Sanctity of Life, Marriage and Family, and World Peace.
November 29, 2025, 7:00 p.m., Zoom Rosary Blanket of Prayer
December 29, 2025, 7:00 p.m., Zoom Rosary Blanket of Prayer
January 29, 2026, 7:00 p.m., Zoom Rosary Blanket of Prayer
February 28, 2026, 7:00 p.m., Zoom Rosary Blanket of Prayer
March 29, 2026, 7:00 p.m., Zoom Rosary Blanket of Prayer
April 29, 2026, 7:00 p.m., Zoom Rosary Blanket of Prayer
May 29, 2026, 7:00 p.m., Zoom Rosary Blanket of Prayer
June 29, 2026, 7:00 p.m., Zoom Rosary Blanket of Prayer
Our Prayer Groups
If you would like personal prayer, prayer teams are available following the Meal.
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
Michelle Heckle, Coordinator (925) 818-3111
Tammy Vo, Assistant Coordinator (925) 698-4559
Josephine Otto, Secretary (925) 330-8586
Belinda Russo, Treasurer (925) 432-3000
Jennifer Lantin, Historian (925) 981-7852
Annette Friedeberg, Co-Historian (925) 951-7852
Spiritual Advisor: Fr. Erick Villa
magnificatsotiwalnutcreek@gmail.com
History of Servants of the Immaculata Chapter, Walnut Creek, CA
(Diocese of Oakland, California)
Mary Johnstone is the Founding Coordinator of Servants of the Immaculate of Magnificat, Walnut Creek Chapter.
Mary shares how the Chapter began, “In the early nineties, my husband and I and our 3 kids moved to Atlanta, and it was then that I went to my first Magnificat Prayer Breakfast. I attended many more after that and I felt so uplifted every time I went to them, and this was definitely a part of my conversion. Every time I would go the Breakfast, a little voice inside me would say that someday you are going to be speaking at these Breakfasts. I would just laugh and say to myself, yeah right, you can hardly speak in front of two people. In 1997 we moved to Northern California, and I was so disappointed that there were no Chapters in the area. However, I was busy raising my three children and knew I couldn’t start it at this time.”
Then on March 26, 2008, I turned on the TV during the day, which I never do, and put on EWTN, and lo and behold, it was Marilyn Quirk and Kathy MacInnis speaking to Fr. Mitch Pacwa about the Magnificat Ministry. It was then that the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, “Now is the time.” I immediately called and asked about how to go about starting a chapter. Who would have thought that so many years later and 3,000 miles away from Atlanta, that I would be starting this.
Servants of the Immaculata
A group of us prayed for a year, we named the group, ‘the Servants of the Immaculata,’ and then started gathering our team together to form this chapter. In April 2010 a small group of us met with Bishop Cordileone along with Kathleen Beckman. At the end of the meeting, Bishop Cordileone asked how quickly we could start having our Breakfasts. We told him as soon as he could be our speaker, which turned out to be in December.
Shortly after our meeting for Bishop Cordileone’s approval of our ministry, he asked me if I would come back and meet with the Presbyteral Council and present the possibility of having the Magnificat Ministry in the Diocese of Oakland. In attendance were 25 priests, the Bishop and me. After I did my presentation and left, I was told that the Presbyteral Council unanimously approved it as a Ministry for the Diocese, praise the Lord!!!
We dedicated our Chapter to St. Maximillian Kolbe who founded the Militia of the Immaculata in 1917 for Consecration to Mary. However, our pastor did not like the name “Militia” for our prayer group and thought ‘Servants’ would be better. We became “The Servants of the Immaculata” and that also became the official chapter name in Walnut Creek.
December 11, 2010, was our first Magnificat Prayer Breakfast with Bishop Salvatore Cordileone as our first speaker with 560 women in attendance. As the Coordinator, I was the MC at all of the Breakfasts and then I remembered how the little voice said that I would be speaking at these Breakfasts someday, which I did as the MC at all of the Breakfasts. Our original service team was comprised of: Mary Johnstone, Coordinator, Felice Mateo, Assistant Coordinator, Martha Joannes, Treasurer, Veronica Brown, Secretary, Arci Petersen, Historian.
It’s wonderful to read how much Mary values her involvement with the Chapter! Fourteen years of making a positive impact is an achievement. The Walnut Creek Servants of the Immaculata Chapter is a truly special community, bringing joy and support to so many.
Last Updated on December 26, 2025.
