Angela Rizzo (Rockville Centre, Long Island, NY) was born and raised in the Bronx, New York where, at the age of 23, she experienced the Baptism in the Holy Spirit at her local parish.  This event transformed her life forever and she describes it as the “beginning” of the “Great Adventure” of following Christ!  Angela and her husband moved to Long Island in 1981 where they raised their two children and it was during that time that she felt restless in the Catholic Church.  The family began to attend a charismatic Episcopal church for the next 10 years.  It was in 1994 that the Blessed Mother began to tug at Angela’s heart, gently encouraging her to start praying the Rosary.  After listening to the testimony of a former Presbyterian minister, Scott Hahn, a Bible Scholar and Theologian who converted to Catholicism in 1986, Angela and her family made the decision to return to their Catholic roots.  Within two weeks of returning, she read a book that mentioned a Catholic women’s ministry called Magnificat.   She was intrigued especially since Magnificat was a Catholic Charismatic ministry.  After speaking with Marilyn Quirk, the Coordinator and foundress of Magnificat, she was led by the Holy Spirit to found a Chapter on Long Island and in 1997 The Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapter began holding Meals.  Angela served on the Service Team as Coordinator and then became Regional Rep for the Northeast in 2011.

After 33 years of marriage, Angela went through a painful divorce.  It was during this time that the Lord showed her the depth of His love and faithfulness.  She continued to grow in her faith, graduating from the St. Joseph Prayer Center’s course on inner healing and spiritual direction and eventually became a certified Life Coach.  Angela also went through training with Unbound – a ministry of prayer and deliverance.  She currently serves as a facilitator and pastoral coordinator for her parishes’ Walking With Purpose Women’s Bible Study. She has participated and spoken at several Life in the Spirit seminars and also helped lead a Living Your Strengths program at her parish.   In July of 2024, Angela was invited to serve on the Central Service Team as an Assistant Coordinator.

Her life is rich and full with six grandchildren who keep her busy, as well.  The Great Adventure continues!

Last Updated on February 27, 2025.