With Magnificat Meals, Donna Brisse Helps Catholic Women Find Fellowship

Donna Brisse found renewal in her faith through encounters with others. She was raised Catholic, but it wasn’t until she moved to Algeria with her husband that she truly understood how essential a supportive faith community can be.

“I recognized the challenge of faith when in Algeria, which is a majority Muslim country, but even though it was small, I was also able to find a really close-knit Catholic community.” – Donna Brisse, Coordinator of the Joyful Visitation Chapter of Magnificat in Atlanta

She continued to practice the faith when they moved to Georgia, but it was once again gathering with others in an intentional way that deepened her connection to the Lord. At her current home parish, Holy Cross Catholic Church, she first attended a Life in the Spirit seminar. It helped her to witness more fully the Holy Spirit’s presence in her life and develop a more personal relationship with Jesus.  When she moved to Stone Mountain in the early 1980’s, she attended Corpus Christi Catholic Church and found a vibrant charismatic prayer group.  

Donna attended the first Magnificat Breakfast in Atlanta in 1992, which drew in 400 women from across the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Founded in the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1981 and inspired by the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Magnificat offers Catholic women the opportunity to share and deepen their faith in an inviting social setting. There are 71 chapters throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, several in Europe, and new chapters starting in Africa and the Philippines. Each chapter hosts four gatherings a year where women share a meal, engage in praise and intercessory prayer, witness personal testimonies, and grow in fellowship.  

The group’s name is in reference to the exchange between Mary and Elizabeth in the Gospel of Luke; the verb in the Latin phrase “Magnificat anima mea Dominum” – “My Soul magnifies the Lord.” The joyful meeting of these women also inspired the name of Atlanta’s Joyful Visitation Chapter.  

Now serving as the Chapter Coordinator, Donna is always struck by how the Holy Spirit touches the hearts of the women who attend the Meals. With a Service Team of six, plus 14 women who faithfully volunteer, Donna enjoys her joyful visits with an average of 75 participants at each meal, where over 20 parishes are regularly represented. 

A typical Magnificat Meal begins with women arriving for breakfast and gathering at tables. The group’s spiritual advisor, Father Joseph Mullakkara, MSFS, or another member of the Service Team, leads everyone in a period of spiritual reflection. Next, there is time for praise and worship through music. Finally, a speaker, usually a woman, will provide their personal testimony of God’s action in her life. Donna stated that this story of the individual’s journey of faith is the highlight of the meal.

“What a blessing! God knew exactly where I needed to be this morning. All the speakers were wonderful. Thank you so much! God bless this ministry.” – Recent Magnificat Meal Guest 

Donna was the first speaker back in 2021. Other speakers have included Maureen Smith, Chief Communications Officer of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Olive Haly, a native of Guyana and member of the Servants of the Lord prayer group, Tricia Borah, coordinator for St. Brigid’s ministry for teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta John N. Tran.  

At the end of each Magnificat Meal, Father Joseph is often able to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Chapter also has a special commitment to Eucharistic Adoration or praying the rosary on the 17^th of each month for the intentions of Magnificat, the sanctity of life, marriage and family, and world peace.  

Donna is working to share the joy of Magnificat with even more Catholic women. There is an interpreter for the deaf at Magnificat Meals, links to testimonies are made available to attendees for later viewing, and the Chapter is encouraging young women to become more involved.

Learn more about the next Magnificat Meal on Saturday, May 16^th, featuring guest speaker Janice Charbonnet. 

You can also follow the Joyful Visitation Chapter on Facebook and join the mailing list to stay up to date on future events by emailing joyfulvisitation@gmail.com.