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
October 24, 2026
9:00 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, Father Shawn Roser
“Father Shawn Roser is a priest of the Diocese of Venice in Florida and currently serves at Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church in Fort Myers. Originally from Ohio and Indiana, he has spent most of his life in Florida. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2018.
Father Shawn studied philosophy at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami before completing his theological studies in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University while living and receiving priestly formation at the Pontifical North American College. He earned a degree in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian and later pursued further studies in spirituality at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum).
Since ordination, Father Shawn has served in parish ministry and as Vocation Director for the Diocese of Venice. Much of his priestly ministry has centered on helping people deepen their relationship with Christ through the sacraments, spiritual formation, young adult ministry, retreats, pilgrimages, and personal accompaniment. He has a particular interest in bringing together the intellectual, spiritual, and practical dimensions of the Catholic faith and helping people recognize God’s presence and providence within the concrete circumstances of their lives.
Father Shawn also has a lifelong love of the outdoors, aviation, history, travel, and pilgrimage. Whether celebrating the sacraments, teaching the faith, walking a trail, or accompanying someone through a moment of discernment, he seeks to help others hear more clearly the invitation of Christ and respond generously to wherever the Lord may be leading them.”
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.
Tickets for priests, deacons, religious brothers, and sisters are complimentary, but registration is required.
Tickets are $30 and must be paid in advance. Your canceled check is your receipt. No onsite registrations are available.
Email Peg for her address to mail the form: pegmengle@gmail.com
Checks payable to “Magnificat Ft. Myers.”
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Upcoming Speakers and Events for our Chapter – 2026
TBA
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 set aside for special prayer. It can be done individually and collectively if possible. Women of the Magnificat 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:
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 October 3, 2026.
