We welcome you to the Mother of Mercy Chapter of Magnificat in Fort Myers, Florida. These are exciting times. Magnificat began 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. Our Chapter has a website at magnificatfortmyers.com.
Magnificat Meal
Hosted by the Mother of Mercy Chapter
September 14, 2024
Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Doors open at 9:00 a.m. for open seating.
No Reserved Seating
Location:
Crowne Plaza Fort Myers
Gulf Coast
9931 Interstate Commerce Dr
Fort Myers, Florida 33913
Our Guest Speaker, Esperanza Liszewski
Esperanza is the third of six children born in Ibague, Colombia. At age 10, her family moved to the capital city of Bogota. Education in Columbia was taken very seriously, so most of her memories were studying hard during the school year and vacationing at the family farm during the summer. These are some of her happiest and fondest memories. She studied International Law and Diplomacy and completed her Master’s in Social Work from Barry University. Esperanza worked as a mental health counselor in private and public agencies, then in the Lee County School System until her retirement.
Leonard and Esperanza were married in Bogota and then moved to Michigan. They were involved in Marriage Encounter. They welcomed their first child, daughter Jessica. She was a great blessing! After moving to Key West a few years later, their second great blessing, Audrie, was born. Eventually, they settled in Fort Myers, where they seriously grew in their Catholic Faith. They served in several ministries in the Catholic Church when family time allowed it. In 2016, Esperanza introduced and continues to be the facilitator of the Divine Mercy Cenacle at St. Cecilia Catholic Community, where the message of God’s mercy is proclaimed.
Leonard and Esperanza dreamed of living many years together, but the Lord had different plans. Esperanza became a widow in 2013. Nevertheless, she has learned that she is never alone. The Lord is with her, so she lives trusting in Him. The scripture verse Esperanza lives by is – “Fear not, I am with you. Be not dismayed; I am your God. I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with My right hand of justice.” Isaiah 41:10.
Prayer ministry is available after the meal.
Since the day is designed to speak to the hearts of women, free of distractions, it is respectfully requested that young children under the age of 14 not be in attendance.
Tickets & Registration
Online registration will be available for this Meal! Please click here to register online by September 10, 2024.
Tickets for priests, deacons, religious brothers, and sisters are complimentary, but registration is required.
Tickets are $26 and are payable in advance. Registration postmarked by September 6, 2024. Your canceled check is your receipt. No onsite registrations are available.
Email Felice for her address to mail the form: felicegerwitz@gmail.com
Checks payable to “Magnificat Ft. Myers.”
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Upcoming Speakers and Events for our Chapter – 2024
Maria Boylan, October 26, 2024
A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Maria grew up in Canada, where her family immigrated when she was a child. Now, she and her husband live in the United States in Vero Beach, Florida, where she teaches Senior Religion at John Carroll High School.
Raised in a loving home, Maria was taught the Catholic faith and embraced it. In her final year of college, she and her siblings relied on their faith and God’s strength and provision when their parents were victims of a violent attack and were killed. By God’s grace, they were able to forgive their parents’ attacker and thrive after the traumatic incident.
Maria has also experienced God’s grace after years of prayer, healing her infertility, and clarifying her indecision about her vocation and how to find God’s will for her life. She is joyful in sharing with others her experiences in daily life and in crisis, where God has been faithful in answering prayers and filling her with a love for souls and a deep desire to lead others to Jesus.
Join us for breakfast, fellowship, praise & worship, and Maria’s powerful and inspirational testimony.
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NEW! Life in the Spirit Seminar For Magnificat Women
You are invited to a Life in the Spirit Seminar on November 15 and 16 at Our Lady of Light Catholic Community. If you want to learn more about living a faith-filled, spirit-filled life, join us for this event. The Magnificat Mother of Mercy Service Team will host the seminar for Magnificat women or other women interested in the ministry.
The seminar begins on Friday evening, November 15, at 6:00 p.m. and continues until 9:00 p.m. Registration starts at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 16, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A continental breakfast and bagged lunch will be provided. Please contact felice@mediaangels.com if you have severe allergies or dietary restrictions.
This is a free seminar! Please sign up to attend. (Love offering accepted and appreciated!)
Our Lady of Light Catholic Community, 19680 Cypress View Dr., Fort Myers, Florida 33967
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Rosary Blanket of Prayer
Our Chapter is assigned to pray on the 8th of the month.
The Magnificat Ministry sponsors a Rosary Blanket of Prayer in response to our Holy Father’s call to prayer. Each Chapter is assigned one day of the month for concentrated prayer, fasting, Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary, etc. Of course, we are called to pray daily, but this day should be specially designated. It can be done individually and collectively if possible. Magnificat women and others who care to join us are invited to participate in this concerted effort. The general intentions are for a New Pentecost, the Church, Magnificat, the sanctity of life, marriage & family, and world peace.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God, my savior. Luke 1:46-47
Service Team Members
Felice Gerwitz, Coordinator
Cristina Martinez, Asst. Coordinator
Margaret Mengle, Treasurer
Janice Neyer, Secretary
TBA, Historian
Spiritual Advisor: Rev. Hugh McGuigan, OSFS
Chapter email: magnificatmotherofmercy@gmail.com
Visit our Chapter’s website at magnificatfortmyers.com.
Visit our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/magnificatfortmyers
If you would like to be an active part of Ft. Myers Magnificat or would like to be added to our mailing list, or if you have questions or comments for our Service Team, please send your contact information to our Chapter’s email address: magnificatmotherofmercy@gmail.com
History of Mother of Mercy Chapter
[Diocese of Venice, FL] Est. December 16, 20042000
Our Lord had a plan for this Chapter before its beginning! He set independent events in motion several years before the Chapter’s founding. Margaret Adams, Fernande Benjamin, Virginia Mc Hugh, and several others in Southwest Florida prayed weekly for a Marian, Charismatic ministry to start in the Diocese. Mary Zitnik, a vocalist and composer from Chicago, had written a praise song version of the Blessed Mother’s Magnificat before moving to the area in 2000. She became the music minister at Bob and Cristina Martinez’s “Jesus is Lord” Prayer Group in Ft. Myers.
2002
Gerry Mader and Marilyn Quirk had served simultaneously on the National Service Committee Advisory Council for several years, where Lois Ann Mader was introduced to Marilyn. Em Weiss, Lay Spiritual Director for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, had inquired about Magnificat. When Marilyn learned that Lois Ann was moving to Florida in the fall of 2002, she casually said, “I want you to form a Magnificat chapter when you move there.” All this took place as a prelude to the Mother of Mercy Chapter.
2003
After moving to Ft. Myers, the Maders were asked to serve on the Diocese of Venice Charismatic Service Team since both had formal experience serving the Renewal. Lois Ann met with Beryl Kinney, Eastern Regional Rep for Magnificat, who wintered in Florida. They invited Em Weiss to a meeting with Mimi Reilly, Bishop Nevins’ representative, to speak about forming a chapter. They were given the go-ahead to form a Discernment Team. The Central Service Team confirmed Em Weiss’ appointment of Lois Ann Mader as the Contact Person for the beginning of a Magnificat chapter in the Diocese of Venice.
Beryl provided Lois Ann with the names of several area women to invite to serve on the Discernment Team. Before calling, she prayed and heard, “You will have to dig deep, but you will find jewels.” She made many calls with no positive response.
Meanwhile, the Maders became active members of the “Jesus is Lord” Prayer Group, where they met Cristina Martinez, Mary Zitnik, and Margaret Adams, a long-time member of the group. One evening, Mary felt led to share her Magnificat, and Lois Ann recognized this as a go-ahead sign from God. She then asked Cristina, Margaret, and Mary to join the Discernment Team. They agreed and were encouraged to invite others to seek God’s direction.
Our Lord’s plan to form this SWFL chapter was truly multinational. The Discernment Team included Lois Ann Mader, Mary Zitnik, and Virginia McHugh from the USA, Cristina Martinez from Chile, Margaret Adams from Bermuda, Rosalia Brunco from Italy, Fernande Benjamin from Canada, and Ann Doherty from Scotland. The Regional Representative was Olga Myers, who provided encouragement and assistance. As the group met, in addition to studying the Magnificat Constitution and By-Laws at each weekly meeting, one member was asked to share her personal walk with Jesus, which bonded the women. They dubbed themselves “Super Glue Sisters.” Six of them attended the International Magnificat Conference in New Orleans, LA, in September 2003; upon returning, they decided to form a chapter in the diocese.
2004
While waiting for Bishop Nevins’ approval in April, Fr. Jack Smyth, a Redemptorist priest, was asked to meet the Team and to consider becoming the Chapter’s Spiritual Advisor. Much to the Team’s amazement, he asked what he could do to assist in forming the chapter and mentioned that he had dinner with the bishop every Sunday night. Within two weeks, the bishop granted his permission to move forward and appointed Fr. Jack’s Spiritual Advisor. In June, Em Weiss led the Team in discerning who would serve on the first official Service Team and in what roles. Lois Ann Mader was named Coordinator. Cristina Martinez and Margaret Adams were to serve as Co-Assistant Coordinators. Fernande Benjamin became Treasurer, Mary Zitnik was named Secretary, and Anne Dougherty became Historian. Rosalia Brunico and Virginia McHugh agreed to become regular intercessors. In discerning a name for the Chapter, all but one brought the name “Mother of Mercy;” once again, God’s inspiration was clear.
On August 22, a letter was sent to Bishop Nevins, asking him to review the Magnificat Constitution. The Chapter received approval on October 7, (The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary). Then, off went the official letter to the CST (Central Service Team) to request the Chapter License, which was granted on November 11. Mother of Mercy Chapter was officially incorporated in Florida on December 16, 2004.
2005
Aware of the finances and volunteers needed to host a Meal, the Service Team sponsored a Commissioning Mass followed by an informational coffee about Magnificat on January 22 at the Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord in Ft. Myers. Approximately 200 women baptized in the Spirit were invited; 100 women came, and some became ministry Chairwomen. Fr. Jack Smyth offered the Mass. The first Magnificat Breakfast was held on April 23 at the Holiday Inn Plaza in Ft. Myers. Beryl Kinney was the first speaker.
The “Super Glue Sisters” continued to serve as the Service Team for several years. As Team members have stepped down, the Mother of Mercy Chapter has been continually blessed with godly women to serve in their place. This Ft. Myers, Florida Chapter continually seeks to praise and serve God and encourage women to forge lasting relationships with Our Lord, Our Lady and each other, led by the Holy Spirit, under the patronage of Mary, Mother of Mercy.
Last Updated on August 27, 2024.
