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 as 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 17, 2024

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

LOCATION:

Hilton Garden Inn, Pittsburgh/Southpointe

1000 Corporate Drive

  Canonsburg, PA 15317

About Our Speaker: Sister Rita Clare Yoches, T.O.R.

You have preserved my life from the pit of destruction” (Is 38:17). That is exactly what the Lord did for me. I went to a Catholic grade school and high school in Dearborn, Michigan. We went to Mass every Sunday as a family, and I thought that was all you had to do as a Catholic. I had Bernadine Franciscan Sisters teach me there, but I never thought about becoming a nun. I excelled in school and sports. I played volleyball, soccer, softball, golf, and basketball in high school. It’s no wonder there was not any time for God – except for a quick prayer here and there that I would get all my homework done and a Hail Mary every time one of my teammates was shooting a foul shot in basketball.

I received a full scholarship to play Division I basketball at the University of Detroit-Mercy. My faith still just consisted of Mass on Sundays. In college I was being exposed to the culture and becoming more and more desensitized to right and wrong. I did not know how to defend my faith and I did not search for anyone to explain it to me. I graduated with a degree in Sports Medicine.

After college I opened a private training facility for athletes and played women’s professional football for six years. At this point in my life, I lived to party. My life started steamrolling down the wrong path until one Sunday at Mass the Priest preached on 1 Corinthians 11:27-30. I realized I was sick and dying on the inside and needed to run to confession. I slowly started converting back to the Lord and He gently started calling me to religious life and 15 years later I am more fulfilled than I ever thought possible.

Prayer teams are available following the meal.
Religious books, CD’s and audio file links 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

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 – 2024

Sat., Oct. 5:  Speaker Nikki Kingsley – Marriott, Cranberry

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
Joyce Mundy, Coordinator
Christine Miles, Assistant Coordinator
Donna Melnick, Treasurer
Rosemary Taddeo, 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.