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 Breakfast
Hosted by the Servants of the Immaculata Chapter
Saturday, March 16, 2024
9:30 – 12:30
New Location:
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish
500 Fairview Avenue
Brentwood, CA
Our Guest Speaker: Jennifer Norton
Jen Norton is an award-winning artist and author who creates colorful work inspired by her Catholic faith. Her paintings represent our ancient traditions in a joyful, accessible style suited to both liturgy and home.
Jen graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in Fine Art with a Business Minor, and worked as a Graphic Designer in the high-tech arena for a decade before pursuing her art full-time. Painfully shy as a child, Jen was unable to communicate with anyone outside her family except through drawing. Visual language was her first language, and she never lost her passion for its ability to communicate her emotion. The process of painting helps her connect more deeply in her own prayer life.
Jen’s artwork can be found at The Sacred Art Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ, online at www.JenNortonArtStudio.com and on many editorial projects by prominent Catholic publishers. Jen is the author of “Surrender All: An Illuminated Journal Retreat through the Stations of the Cross” and “Arise to Blessedness: A Journal Retreat with Eight Modern Saints who Lived the Beatitudes” by Ave Maria Press.
Join us in welcoming Jen, and being inspired by her gifts!
Prayer teams are available following the meal.
Religious books and CD’s may be available at the meal.
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.
Tickets & Reservations
Register Now – $33
MAIL-IN RESERVATIONS
Click on, print and complete the form below (include the names and phone numbers of other ticket holders in your group). Seats are limited, but space is still available. Please submit reservations before March 9th. The best way to register is through the online registration, below. You do not need a Paypal account to use this.
Please Mail Reservation Form (saves color ink) and check for $33 per person, payable to “Magnificat SOTI” to:
Magnificat SOTI
PO Box 4626
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
ONLINE REGISTRATION
Use the drop down arrow to select the number of seats you want to reserve. Please note that there is a small processing fee added for each ticket. Please enter your guests name(s) in the corresponding box. Your name will automatically populate for us.
If you’d like to help us, the Comments Field would be a great place to let us know where you’re interested in serving: Registration, Greeter or Hostess. Click the Pay Now button to process your transaction. We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming meal!
(Please note, Paypal may look like it wants you to create an account, but you have the option to process the transaction as a guest. Below the credit card fields, there is a statement that says: Save info & create your PayPal account. Just toggle the blue switch to the right of these words if you do not want to create a Paypal account. If you need assistance, you can call Michelle or Jennifer.)
Our Upcoming Events 2024
February 29, 2024, 7:00pm – Zoom Rosary Blanket of Prayer
March 29, 2024, 7:00pm – Zoom Rosary Blanket of Prayer
April 29, 2024, 7:00pm – Zoom Rosary Blanket of Prayer
May 29, 2024, 7:00pm – Zoom Rosary Blanket of Prayer
June 22, 2024, Magnificat SOTI Chapter Meal
Rosary Blanket of Prayer
Remember our chapter’s commitment to pray the Rosary on the 29th of each month, joining our sisters in Magnificat for the intentions of a New Pentecost, the Church, Magnificat, 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.
Personal Prayer Ministry
Which prays with individuals following The Magnificat Breakfast.
Charismatic Prayer Group
Meets every Thursday from 7:30PM-9:00PM
St John Vianney Church, in the Vestibule
Contact Jim Crowley at jimjcrowley@sbcglobal.net
Service Team Members
Michelle Heckle, Coordinator (925) 818-3111
TBA, Assistant Coordinator
Jennifer Rogers, Secretary (503) 709-8449
Josephine Otto, Treasurer (925) 330-8586
Spiritual Advisor: Fr. Erick Villa
History of Servants of the Immaculata Chapter of Magnificat, 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.
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 name of our Chapter 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.
Mary has felt her involvement with the Chapter to be such a blessing! The Chapter has been going strong for the past 12 years. We are thankful that the Walnut Creek Chapter has touched so many hearts and souls.
Last Updated on April 24, 2024.
